FW: Re: Kalispell City AirportFor your information I plan to only do an update to the original EA since there have been no significant changes in the area around the airport. That would not necessarily require another
public hearing. However, we might want to do a public hearing just to satisfy some individuals.
Fred A. Leistiko
Airport Manager
City of Kalispell
P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, MT 59903
406-250-3065
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary.Gates@faa.gov [mailto:Gary.Gates@faa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 12:22 PM
To: Rick Donaldson
Cc: Fred Leistiko
Subject: RE: Re: Kalispell City Airport
Rick - The timing of the EA is up to the City, however as you indicate it
makes sense to know the direction of the tower mitigation before they
initiate the EA for the airport, so as to better define the scope of work.
Please keep us up to date on the status of the towers, consultant selection
etc.
Thanks,
Gary M. Gates, P.E.
Airport Engineer and Planner
FAA, Helena Airports District Office
2725 Skyway Drive, Suite 2
Helena, MT 59602
Fred
We can put together a grant application, but remember this year's funding
cycle is done. The earliest you could expect to see FAA funds would be
next Spring.
I called Gary to verify / discuss the sequence of events that should happen
next:
1) Complete the engineering selection
2) Get the paperwork on Stokes liquidation
3) Having #2, the FAA would approve you moving into an Environmental
Update. However with the public climate there, the FAA will want to see
some public involvement / hearing in addition to the usual update
activities. We would check to see if there are any changes in
environmental conditions in each category, check for law changes, and
contacting agencies on any changed conditions for the preferred option
only. The EA update will be required before the FAA will reimburse for
land. But they don't really want to give the go-ahead on an EA update
until the tower removal is a sure thing. I have talked with Dan our
environmental specialist. A ballpark estimate on time required would be 3
- 4 months depending on what all the FAA wants to see for sure. So we
could get the EA update completed before spring when the money is available
anyway.
4) Complete FAA Preapplication.
5) Complete MT Aeronautics Grant / Loan Application
6) There are two ways to grant the EA update. It could be done as a stand
alone "planning" grant. Planning grant costs are fixed on cost, not
amendable, and cannot be done ahead of the grant and reimbursed. So I
would not recommend that since time is of the essence. Instead, we can tag
the EA Update onto the first phase of land acquisition. This would provide
more flexibility in schedule and grant amendment capability. The downside
is that the EA Update costs would not be participated in by the FAA until
the Grant is issued next year. If RPA is re-selected, I would propose that
we could help carry most of the EA Update cost if necessary until you
receive the grant if the City is still having a hard time with cash flow.
7) Complete FAA Grant Application.
8) When the FAA receives permission to issue funds for grants next year
(usually spring sometime) you will have access to all your Non-Primary
entitlement funds. There may be some opportunity for State Apportionment
(SA) funds, but don't count on it, as they have already planned much of
next year. 2011 may be more likely for State Apportionment funds.
9) To get the grant funds, a Final Land Report will need to be completed,
which we could do as the EA Update is underway.
Please move forward on the advertisement for engineering services. We will
start to plan on the Environmental Update sequence of events and present it
to the FAA for concurrence. Keep us informed on the Stokes' status and get
copies of any paperwork documenting his demise. We will also prepare a
draft of a FAA Preapplication and complete the refresh on the CIP for your
review.
I am copying Gary in case he has any comment of correction to the above.
Rick Donaldson, P.E. | Vice President
Robert Peccia & Associates Inc. | PO Box 5653 | Helena, MT 59604
406.447.5000 | 406.447.5036 (fax) | 406.439.4905 (cell) | rick@rpa-hln.com
http://www.rpa-hln.com
Rich:
We need to get together on the CIP so we don’t miss that
deadline which is September 11th, I believe. What do you need from me to
fill in the forms provided from the ADO?
Thanks,
Fred A. Leistiko
Airport Manager
City of Kalispell
P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, MT 59903
406-250-3065