Idaho airport eligible for federal funding
February 29, 2012, 12:49 pm
The Federal Aviation Administration recently put the Sandpoint Airport in northern Idaho in tentative compliance, making the facility eligible for federal funding to make improvements to its services and infrastructure.
According to a Bonner County commissioner, the FAA placed Sandpoint Airport on its non-compliance list in 2008 after the county granted a perpetual access easement to a residential fly-in community called SilverWing. The access was granted without federal approval, thus the airport lost its ability to receive federal funding for infrastructure repairs. The FAA said the airport's decision put its operations and workers in danger due to safety hazards, The Associated Press reported.
A state transportation study found the airport contributed $33 million to the local economy, prompting local businesses and legislatures to realize the value of the airport to support the local community. The Bonner County is working with the FAA to resolve any conflicts regarding the 2008 incident, and is hoping to restore its credibility with the agency this year, the source reported.
Since 1982, the FAA has contributed more than $5.3 million in airport improvements for Sandpoint. But in 2008, the FAA cut off all funding for the next three years, due to the county's approval of upscale, fly-in housing development. The county has received a Gem Community grant to help resolve the problem and regain eligibility, The Bonner County Daily Bee reported.
The county developed a corrective action plan to bring the airport back into compliance. Initially, however, progress was slow. The FAA prohibits residential components to be built on public airports. However, the FAA agreed to waive the prohibition at Sandpoint Airport if the access points are certified and an access plan was developed. The conflict surrounding residential components in public airports is a national debate, and the FAA is expected to address this issue at another 77 airports across the country in 2014, the Bee reported.
County officials said the FAA could potentially fund the county's acquisition of property on the west side. This would enable the airport to develop a new taxiway without violating any rules. However, the county has standing agreements with companies, that would be tarnished by this move. Thus, officials continue talks with community businesses on the topic, the source reported.
In addition, the FAA also requires access fees for airports to pay while receiving federal funding. County officials are discussing these fees with the landowners of the housing development, but many are objecting the fees. The fees, however, are mandated by the FAA, thus local businesses have no control over the charges, the source reported.
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