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Post by jean on Dec 24, 2014 8:48:08 GMT -5
*NOTE: the 17 million projected in this article is for Phase 1 of 3 phases as is shown in this link to the Airport Layout Plan which was prepared by the Airport Boards engineering firm: www.greensburgairport.com/expectedpricetag.phpQUOTE FROM : Greensburg Daily News (GDN) today, 12/24/14 "The board also learned from a consultant that its planned airport expansion will require a cost-benefit analysis, which will cost about $95,000. Don Manley, with Butler, Fairman and Seufert, said that the Federal Aviation Administration wants to make sure that any project it supports makes financial sense, and the agency may reduce its grant depending on the results of the analysis. For example, if the FAA’s grant for a hypothetical project were $20,000, but the analysis showed the project’s return to be only $10,000, the FAA may reduce its grant to $10,000. The board’s proposed $17 million airport expansion would include a larger runway. The board plans to acquire about 180 acres of land next year, at a projected cost of about $3 million, 90 percent of which would be paid by the federal government." www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/airport-board-keeps-hangar-rental-fees-plans-to-reevaluate-next/article_797d9e7a-1154-51d1-aef3-ca2e7c057a08.html |
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Post by jean on Mar 7, 2015 13:44:02 GMT -5
Harrison Ford's plane crash could spur efforts to close Santa Monica Airport Actor Harrison Ford was injured Thursday when his vintage airplane experienced engine trouble and crash-landed on a Venice golf course — an accident that could well spur efforts to close Santa Monica Airport. Shortly after the accident, anti-airport activists and Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, whose Westside district borders Santa Monica Airport, reiterated their positions that the embattled facility should be shut down. They contend that the airport is unsafe, and that surrounding neighborhoods are affected by noise and air pollution from flight operations. City officials have tried repeatedly to close the facility and to ban certain types of jets, but they have lost in court battles with the FAA. "Really, for me, the first concern has always been the fear of a plane falling out of the sky and landing in someone's home," Bonin said. "That has happened in the past." NTSB records and news reports show there have been 42 Santa Monica-related crashes since 1982 within five miles of the airport. Eleven planes came down in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles neighborhoods. www.latimes.com/local/westside/la-me-0306-harrison-ford-crash-20150306-story.html |
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Post by jean on Jun 27, 2015 7:38:55 GMT -5
Consultant: Airport expansion accelerating www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/consultant-airport-expansion-accelerating/article_b6a7fc07-9fb1-5566-86b9-d1192daedb12.htmlp JEANS COMMENT: This project will not move forward (even though they say it is "accelerating" until the Environmental Assessment (EA) is approved by the FAA which as yet it is not approved. The next step will be , if approved, will likely be court issues.....and then whether the FAA approves a grant for this project. I would also like to note that the $17 million dollar quote in the above article is only Phase 1....the airport board's airport layout plan (ALP) , which I have a copy of shows 3 phases to the expansion project at a total of $32 million dollars. |
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Post by jean on Jul 1, 2015 8:38:30 GMT -5
We can only hope that INDOT will prioritize their funding for needed rail lines instead of expanding unneeded airport expansions like the one proposed for Greensburg, IN See the article below. Iowa Pacific rail partnership launch delayed in Indiana LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - The Indiana Department of Transportation won’t be able to meet its goal of launching a public-private rail partnership by mid-year. The agency has asked Amtrak to continue operating the Hoosier State line between Indianapolis and Chicago until it can negotiate contracts with Amtrak, Iowa Pacific Holdings and communities served by that route. This is the fourth time the agency has requested an extension on an October 2013 contract with Amtrak after losing state funding, the (Lafayette) Journal and Courier (http://on.jconline.com/1NuSLH9 ) reported. Congress passed legislation in 2008 that ended funding in late 2013 for passenger rail routes less than 750 miles long, including the Hoosier State line, which runs four days a week. Read more: www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/30/iowa-pacific-rail-partnership-launch-delayed-in-in/#ixzz3ee7ajxDg Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/30/iowa-pacific-rail-partnership-launch-delayed-in-in/ |
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Post by jean on Aug 3, 2015 14:42:53 GMT -5
The Following is a follow up letter that was sent to the FAA today, concerning the Draft Environmental Assessment on the proposed expansion of the Greensburg airport.
Here is the letter:
From: The Concerned Citizens of Decatur County 8/3/15
Jean Johannigman
119 North Broadway St.
Greensburg, IN 47240
Decoratorj4@gmail.com
812-663-4664
TO: Patrick J. Wells, FAA Attorney-AIP
Federal Aviation Administration
CC: Bobb Beauchamp
Dear Mr. Wells,
I am respectfully inquiring as to whether you received my letter of 6/30/15 on the subject of the draft Environmental Assessment for the Greensburg, IN I34 airport . As I stated in that letter, it has now been over 3 years since the approved draft Environmental Assessment was issued and therefore the information it contains is out-of-date and, pursuant to FAA regulations and orders, a new Environmental Assessment must be done. As I also stated in that letter, many things have changed since their data for this EA was collected and much of it is outdated, thus, the public must have the opportunity to comment and be heard on this matter.
Here are just a few of those examples:
* The Skydiving Business is no longer located in Greensburg.
*Custom Conveyors is no longer in existence.
*The Clean Water Act implemented by President Obama needs to be considered in relevance to the wetlands and stream that is on the property in question.
As specified in the formal comments submitted by Steven M. Taber on our behalf:
“THE DRAFT EA INCORRECTLY STATES THE STANDARD FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF CONVERTING PRIME FARMLAND AND FAILS TO PROPERLY ASSESS THE DAMAGE THE PROJECT WOULD DO ON PRIME AND UNIQUE FARMLAND.”
There is another very large issue that we have called attention to and has not been resolved as yet. The question is whether the Board of Aviation Commissioners (“ BOAC”) or “eligible entity” (the city of Greensburg) has the authority to exercise eminent domain on land that is outside of their “corporate limits”? In looking at IC 8-22-2-5(b)1, this section of the Indiana code allows the BOAC to ACQUIRE property outside the “corporate limits of the entity” (the city of Greensburg). We take this to mean that if someone WANTS to sell their property to the BOAC and they live outside of Greensburg, they can. If “acquire” means to “take” land pursuant to eminent domain outside of the entity’s jurisdiction then it could take land anywhere in the State. This could not possibly be the law in Indiana and such a reading of the law is rediculous. The BOAC as a board of the City of Greensburg, was given the power of eminent domain power under a completely different section, IC 8-22-2-10. This section does not mention that the BOAC can exercise eminent domain outside the jurisdiction of the “eligible entity” (which, in this case, is the City of Greensburg), as IC 8-22-2-5(b)1 does when used for an acquisition. The BOAC could not possibly have greater eminent domain power than the City of Greensburg and Greensburg could not exercise eminent domain outside the city limits of Greensburg. Since eminent domain is a very intrusive power of the government, courts look closely at the “need” for such application of the law. This “need” has never been shown or proved to the community and if this situation has changed then a public hearing should be held pursuant to the rules of the FAA.
Since the facts and the law seem to be against this application, this entire endeavor appears to be an incredible waste of the taxpayer’s money.
The Concerned Citizens of Decatur County are very concerned about all the expired information in the current EA proposal and the lack of legal authority to obtain the necessary land. This proposed expansion will have a negative impact on our community. We want to encourage the FAA to please consider giving the people of this community the opportunity to respond to any changes in this Environmental Assessment before there is FAA consideration of approving this.
We would very much appreciate if you could respond and let us know that you received our previous letter and this letter.
Sincerely,
The Concerned Citizens of Decatur County
Jean Johannigman
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