FAA Selects West Bay Site 8,400-foot Runway as Preferred Alternative

The Panama City - Bay County Airport and Industrial District (Airport Authority) tells ANN that it has received the FAA's Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the proposed relocation of the Panama City - Bay County International Airport.

According to the FAA's FEIS:

"The FAA selects the West Bay Site 8,400-foot Alternative as its preferred alternative. For the reasons presented throughout this FEIS, the FAA has selected this alternative as its preferred alternative because of its superior ability to meet the purposes and needs of the project with fewer constraints than presented by any of the Existing Site alternatives. The FAA has also selected this alternative because the West Bay Site has been deemed the operationally preferable location as compared to the existing site." (FEIS, pp. S12)

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but this is a significant milestone," said Airport Executive Director Randy Curtis. "We are extremely grateful to the FAA for the time, attention and effort they have devoted to our airport. We clearly share the same goal - to provide the people of Bay County an airport that meets all federal safety and design standards and can operate without constraints. Today, we are one step closer to achieving that goal."

The proposed airport relocation site is near West Bay on land owned by The St. Joe Company.

The FAA has indicated it will issue its final Record of Decision (ROD) regarding airport relocation in September 2006.

FMI: www.pcairport.com