Timeline

The airport still plans to bulldoze the rest of Bell Bowl Prairie. Act now to help save the prairie.

March 4 and 6, 2023: The Natural Land Institute files a Petition for Review (March 4th) and an Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Review (March 6th) with the Seventh Circuit Court, challenging the FAA’s Written Reevaluation. If granted, this would pause construction in the prairie until the lawsuit can be reviewed.

March 3, 2023: The Federal Aviation Administration issues their Written Reevaluation of the 2019 Environmental Assessment. Deb Bartell of the FAA states, “I find the proposed Federal action is consistent with existing national environmental policies and objectives of Section 101(a) of NEPA and other applicable requirements. I also find the proposed Federal action will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment or include any condition requiring any consultation pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA. As a result, FAA will not prepare any new NEPA Actions for these changes”. This gives GRAA the final approval to continue their construction on the prairie.

December 15, 2022: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources acknowledges having received and reviewed the Airport’s Biological Assessment. They agree with U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s determination that “adverse impacts are unlikely” so long as their outlined measured are followed. IDNR specifies that this dertermination does not imply the Department’s authorization or endorsement of the Airport’s plan, and that the Airport does not have permission to take Illinois threatened or endangered species without applying for a Incidental Take Authorization.

November 14, 2022: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sends their response to the FAA’s updates Biological Assessment. This letter issues their official “written concurrence of the action agency’s ‘may affect, not-likely-to-adversely-affect’ determination.” By issuing this response, USFWS officially ends federal consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

October 27, 2022: The Federal Aviation Administration resubmits their updated Biological Assessment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In the updated report, they now “conclude that the Action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the rusty patched bumblebee”. No other changes are made in the updated report.

August 31, 2022: A jurisdictional hearing is held to determine if the District Court has jurisdiction to make a ruling on Natural Land Institute’s lawsuit. That evening, the judge moved to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice, citing that the suit was not “ripe” to be reviewed yet, and that the lawsuit should be filed in a different court.

August 4, 2022: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sends their response to the FAA’s Biological Assessment. They request that the FAA “reconsider the implications and effects” of the construction within the prairie on the rusty-patched bumblebee. They also request clarification on the proposed conservation measures and the total acreage of prairie present within the action area.

April 18, 2022: The Federal Aviation Administration submits a Biological Assessment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), concluding that the Midfield Air Cargo Development project "may affect, and is likely to adversely affect the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee". A new Biological Assessment was first requested by the FWS almost six months prior, in October 2021.

March 1, 2022: The Federal Aviation Administration tells members of the press that construction will now be paused until June 1st, 2022.

February 24, 2022: Save Bell Bowl Prairie advocates hold a rally beforehand and give public comments during the Greater Rockford Airport Authority board meeting.

February 17, 2022: Initial status conference held for the lawsuit between Natural Land Institute vs. Greater Rockford Airport Authority and Federal Agencies—the lawsuit is NOT dismissed during this hearing. More details to come.

February 16, 2022: Youth activists disrupt airport director Mike Dunn’s speech at The Parks Chamber of Commerce annual meeting at the Forest Hills Country Club (view videos and photos). The Federal Aviation Administration confirms receipt of the airport’s letter from February 8th. The FAA also states that they still have not received the Biological Assessment from the airport’s consultants, which is required to move forward with the federal endangered species consultation process.

February 15, 2022: Natural Land Institute files their amended complaint, adding the Illinois Department of Transportation to the list of parties being sued and additional claims regarding Endangered Species Act violations.

February 10, 2022: Natural Land Institute and Greater Rockford Airport Authority file Joint Initial Status reports - summary document, NLI’s addendum, GRAA/Federal defendants’ addendum.

February 8, 2022: Zack Oakley at the Greater Rockford Airport Authority writes a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration, stating “Please allow this correspondence to confirm that the Greater Rockford Airport Authority has no intention and will not proceed with any construction in the area that is under Section 7 consolation, until said consultation is complete and final Federal Aviation Administration environmental approval has been obtained.” The FAA confirms receipt of this letter on February 16th.

February 7, 2022: Greater Rockford Airport Authority sends a threatening reply to the list of questions from Natural Land Institute.

February 4, 2022: The Natural Land Institute formally submits a list of questions to the Rockford airport and federal agencies with regard to open endangered species consultation and construction plans.

February 2, 2022: Greater Rockford Airport Authority files a reply in support of the motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

January 31, 2022: United States Attorney John R. Rausch, Jr. files a memorandum in support of the federal agencies’ motion to dismiss.

January 19, 2022: Natural Land Institute files a response to the Greater Rockford Airport Authority’s motion to dismiss for lack of standing. Attachments (linked above) include several written statements by people with standing, a resolution by the airport board, a management plan for the prairie, historic species inventories, and news articles about the airport’s plans to protect the prairie.

December 17, 2021: Attorneys for the Greater Rockford Airport Authority file a motion to dismiss the Natural Land Institute’s lawsuit for injunctive relief. They claim that Natural Land Institute “can claim no injury resulting from the development of the land” despite NLI’s decades of natural areas management activities at the prairie. The Illinois Environmental Council and others send out a new action alert urging elected officials to “publicly advocate for a consensus solution—partner agencies can use Rebuild Illinois funding to commission and execute a redesigned expansion plan that spares the prairie.

November 19, 2021: Attorneys for Natural Land Institute file a Sixty-Day Notice of Violations of the Endangered Species Act to federal agencies.

November 18, 2021: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources writes a new consultation letter to the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport board holds their first public meeting in two months and several conservationists speak during the public comment period (view video).

November 9, 2021: Airport staff continue to refuse to collaborate with local experts on a redesign of the expansion. They state that they plan to construct the road through the prairie as originally designed, as it is part of future expansion south of this area. (Note: any airport expansion plans at or south of Cessna Drive have not undergone any Environmental Assessment or other public review process in recent history).

October 28, 2021: Advocates hold an event at the airport, at the time of the previously scheduled board meeting, to gather and celebrate the prairie and bee. During this event, the airport releases a statement, indicating that Federal Aviation Administration is reinitiating consultation under the Endangered Species Act with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to evaluate impacts to endangered species, so construction initially scheduled for November 1 will be suspended until further federal consultation is completed.

October 26, 2021: The Natural Land Institute files a lawsuit for injunctive relief to temporarily halt the bulldozers from destroying the prairie (see all documents in this lawsuit against the airport board and federal agencies). The airport board cancels their public meeting planned for October 28.

October 2021: Public pressure builds and the grassroots movement around the Save Bell Bowl Prairie issue grows. Regional and international organizations such as the Illinois Environmental Council, Sierra Club, Xerces Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, and National Wildlife Federation speak out about the destruction of the prairie. The airport cancels their Planning & Finance meeting scheduled for October 21. Much is written about the call to Save Bell Bowl Prairie.

September 2021: Sinnissippi Audubon, NLI, and others begin seeking all alternative measures to avoid impact to the prairie, including political, public, and legal options. Conservation advocates are informed of the issue and form the Save Bell Bowl Prairie Facebook group, speak out at an airport board meeting, send emails, and make calls, asking for a redesign of the expansion to spare the prairie area. Advocates spread the word and reach out to the press and lawmakers. Construction activities continue in and around the prairie despite the discovery of the federally Endangered bee.

August 2021: Local residents notice grading work occurring at the airport at Bell Bowl Prairie and notify Natural Land Institute and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). On August 8th, IDNR biologist discovers federally Endangered rusty patched bumble bees on site. IDNR meets with the airport and their consultants and asks the airport to consider redesigning the expansion plan to avoid impacts to the high quality natural areas and endangered species.

Summer 2021: Construction work begins, including grading, stormwater detention installation, and access road construction. The amphitheater, or bowl, of the prairie is destroyed.

2019: Environmental Assessment (EA) is finalized and “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) is issued, despite the proposed destruction of a high quality, state-recognized prairie and multiple threatened and endangered species. Natural Land Institute (NLI), a non-profit organization that has managed the prairie for decades, is not notified of the draft or final EA.

2018: Chicago Rockford International Airport and Federal Aviation Administration conduct Environmental Assessment of the “Midfield Air Cargo Development” area, including a plan to destroy nearly all of Bell Bowl Prairie.

1980: Airport manager William Grady shares an updated agreement for management of Bell Bowl with Natural Land Institute. He tells the Rockford Register Star, “They know how to take care of it better than we do.”

1977: On November 1st, 1977, the airport board passes a resolution to safeguard the prairie and ensure its appropriate management. A Master Plan for Bell Bowl Prairie is assembled. Airport board Chairman Angelo Gaziano says “We have agreed we’re going to fence it and do all we can to cooperate with them to preserve it. … It’s not our intent to build on the area.”

1976: Airport consultants Talbert, Cox and Associates prepare an environmental impact assessment report detailing a runway expansion plan that will destroy the prairie. Sinnissippi Audubon Society and Natural Land Institute work with the airport to ensure the prairie be protected into the future. In October, the prairie is inventoried and assessed for its quality, and subsequently added to the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory.

1968: In the early spring, the Greater Rockford Airport Authority destroys a pristine section of the prairie. Following public outcry, the mining operations are halted for a brief period. The City-County Planning Commission votes “to preserve a prairie area at the Greater Rockford Airport along with the Bell Bowl amphitheater and picnic areas by incorporating them in the park and open space plan”. On May 28th, Governor Sam Shapiro steps in to save the prairie and the airport complies with the request.

1957: Dr. Egbert Fell learns that the prairie is used for grazing in the winter and endeavors to protect and preserve this already rare habitat.

1946: Approximately 1,000 acres of land at the former Camp Grant, including the Bell Bowl Prairie, were signed over to the Greater Rockford Airport Authority.

1917: First recorded history for the Bell Bowl Prairie, also known as Camp Grant Prairie. The site was part of 5,640 acres of land allocated to Camp Grant.