FAA Delivers Final Environmental Impact

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

Panama City, FL (May XX, 2006) - The Panama City - Bay County Airport and Industrial District (Airport Authority) announced Monday that it had received the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) 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 it's 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 that 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 FAA has indicated it will issue its final Record of Decision (ROD) regarding airport relocation in September 2006.

How to Get A Copy of the EIS

Copies of the Final Environmental Impact Statement will be available on compact disc (CD) at the airport administrative offices. To request a complete copy of the FEIS on CD, please submit a written request to the Executive Director of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport at 3173 Airport Road, Box A, Panama City, Florida 32405. The FEIS will also available for download from the airport's web site at www.pcairport.com.

Additionally, complete copies of the FEIS will be made available for public review during regular business hours at the following locations:

1. Panama City-Bay County International Airport Administration Office, 3173 Airport Road, Panama City, Florida 32405. (850) 763-6751.
2. Bay County Public Library, 25 West Government Street, Panama City, Florida 32401. (850) 872-7500.
3. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Panama City Regulatory Office, 1002 West 23rd Street, Suite 350, Panama City, Florida 32405. (850) 763-0717.
4. Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 32822. (407) 812-6331.

Published on Thursday, May 18, 2006