Runway extension environmental review still stalled; MAC to pursue interim airfield work

Ryan Anderson, manager of community relations for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, told the AAALAC on Nov. 20 that the FAA environmental review for the airport's runway extension remains unresolved and is delaying the project.

"We are still in conversations with the FAA on the environmental review process for that runway extension," Anderson said, adding that the delay stems from the FAA and MAC reaching agreement on terms related to a pipeline and its incursions. He said slow replies from the FAA — exacerbated by a government shutdown backlog — have prolonged the process.

Because the environmental review is taking longer than anticipated, Anderson said the MAC is considering interim airfield improvements and plans to fold near‑term items into an interim capital‑improvement program so the airport does not have to wait for the extension review to finish before addressing pressing airfield conditions. "A lot of that was kind of built into our runway extension plan that we didn't foresee taking this long," he said.

Commission members pressed for more detail about how long the review has been stalled and asked whether outside mediation might help. Dan Wolbert, an airport user, urged more active communication and suggested bringing in a mediator to move the process forward. Anderson said he would pass the suggestion to the MAC and reiterated that the project is constrained by FAA regulatory processes.

No formal policy change or vote occurred at the meeting. Anderson said the MAC and staff will provide more details at the commission's March meeting next year as the MAC develops interim scopes and timelines.

What happens next: The MAC will continue to negotiate with the FAA on the environmental review and pursue interim airfield work; the commission expects a more specific timeline and project list at its March meeting.