All Legal Actions Against Airport are Over

A recent ruling ended all pending legal actions against the airport as the United States Court of Appeals denied all legal challenges to the relocation of the Panama City Bay County International Airport. The legal challenges were brought upon by The National Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife and Friends of PFN, who argued against the FAA and Airport on January 23, 2008. Baring an appeal to the United States Supreme Court, all legal challenges should be over.

Here is the press release:

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on May 1 denied a pending petition for review of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Record of Decision approving the relocation of the Panama City – Bay County International Airport to a new site in West Bay, Florida.

The National Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife and Friends of PFN argued against the FAA and Airport on January 23, 2008. The court ruling denying the petition for review ends all pending legal challenges to the airport relocation, absent a petition for rehearing or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The new airport is currently under construction and is 55% complete. The Panama City – Bay County Airport and Industrial Board’s current schedule anticipates a May 2010 opening for the first international airport built in the United States since Denver International Airport was completed in 1995.

The airport is being built on 4,000 acres donated by The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) and is part the West Bay Sector Plan, a 75,000-acre regional planning effort, one of the largest ever in Florida.

The West Bay Sector Plan includes 41,000 acres of conservation land. Already approximately 10,000 acres have been permanently protected through an irrevocable conservation easement to the State of Florida as a result of the relocation of the airport. Ultimately, 33 miles of undeveloped West Bay shoreline and an additional 44 miles of creeks and tributaries that feed the bay will be protected forever.

“We are very grateful to the Court for its conscientious consideration of the case,” said Airport Authority Vice Chairman Bill Cramer. “I do not believe that a petition for rehearing or appeal will be successful if attempted. Therefore, the Court’s ruling should bring full closure to all pending legal challenges. We continue to move forward building an airport that will better serve Bay County and Northwest Florida for many decades to come.”

In it’s ruling, the Court found:

The FAA complied with the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in evaluating the proposal to build the new airport at West Bay, and
The FAA’s decision that no prudent alternatives to the proposed West Bay Site existed was “not arbitrary, capricious, and abuse of discretion or otherwise contrary to law.”

“We are focused on building a state-of-the-art facility that will be one of the greenest airports in the world,” said Cramer. “The Court’s ruling and the consequent resolution of all pending legal challenges will provide a boost to our airline marketing and business recruitment efforts.”

“The Court’s action last week represents another important milestone in our effort to improve air service for the people of Bay County and Northwest Florida,” said Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill. “We are now past the halfway point with construction. We are ramping up our airline and economic development marketing efforts, and we have redoubled our commitment to building and operating a ‘green’ airport. We are looking forward to opening the new airport in less than thirteen months.”

Airport Authority Submits Stormwater Plan to DEP

Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill reported that the airport construction team and engineers had completed their plan for addressing stormwater management deficiencies at the new airport site in West Bay. The Airport Authority submitted the plan to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for review and approval.

“This represents the first step in correcting stormwater management issues at the airport site,” said Tannehill. “We have hard work ahead, but we are committed to correcting deficiencies on the site as soon as possible. I have instructed our construction team to begin implementing our plan immediately. If FDEP requests changes or suggest ways to strengthen our plan, we’ll make adjustments as necessary.”

Last week FDEP officials and representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) toured the new airport construction site and expressed concerns that current efforts to mitigate excessive stormwater runoff had become inadequate in the wake of unusually heavy rains during the month of April.

FDEP requested that the Airport Authority submit its plan for correcting the deficiencies by April 29. Chairman Tannehill quickly convened the site contractors and pushed them to address the stormwater management issues as aggressively as possible.

Under the plan submitted to FDEP by the airport construction team will:

Finalize the site’s western perimeter ditch, which includes sodding the entire channel allowing water from north of the site to by-pass the site and not be degraded in quality. This work should be complete in approximately two weeks.
Set up filtration pumping system to remove sediment from water on site so when it leaves the site it will meet permit requirements. This new system will be operational within one week.
Finalize the outfall area to Morrell Branch which includes riprap, seeding and sodding.
Complete the drainage system in the crosswind runway area, which will also finalize the outfall system to Morrell Branch.
The airport construction team noted that one of the biggest stormwater management issues is managing water flows on to the property from “outside the fence.” Old logging ditches and pipe systems have become overgrown and filled with debris through the years. The ditches filled during the massive rain storms and the water flowed onto the site.

The Airport Authority has asked permission from the Army Corps of Engineers to work on these problem areas outside the 1300 acre construction area.

“We have put together a good plan to address the deficiencies,” said Tannehill. “We look forward to any suggestions and improvements that FDEP may provide. Our immediate focus is to implement these corrective measures as soon as possible. We have begun work already.”

“Developing this plan was the first step in addressing the problem,” said Tannehill. “We will continue to review the root causes and the lessons learned from what has happened. In the days and weeks ahead we will continue to share information with the public and keep the community informed with the steps we are taking to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Regular updates on stormwater management and other issues will be posted on the Airport Authority’s public information web site at http://www.newpcairport.com.

“I learned long ago that you learn more from difficult situations than easy ones,” said Tannehill. “This has most certainly been a difficult situation. This airport Board resolved long ago to make the new Panama City – Bay County International Airport one of the world’s most environmentally-friendly, and the events of the last week have taught us a lot and strengthened our commitment to the environment.”

“We will continue working with FDEP to ensure our new airport ultimately results in a net environmental gain for our region, and to build and operate one of the nation’s greenest airports,” said Tannehill.

The plan the Airport Authority submitted to FDEP can be downloaded here.

New Airport Addresses Stormwater Issue

Tannehill Pledges Accountability for Deficiencies, Stronger Oversight

(Panama City – April 27, 2009) — Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill pledged a full public accounting of the actions and events that led to stormwater control deficiencies at the new airport site in West Bay during the recent deluge.

Last week Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) officials and representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) toured the new airport construction site and expressed concerns that current efforts to mitigate excessive stormwater runoff had become inadequate in the wake of unusually heavy rains during the month of April.

“Whatever the cause, any deficiencies in stormwater management at the new airport site are simply inexcusable,” said Tannehill. “The people of Bay County and Northwest Florida deserve to know what went wrong and what we are doing to correct the situation. The Airport Authority will provide a full public accounting.”

“Our first priority is to address the stormwater issues as soon as possible,” said Tannehill. “We committed to submitting our plan for corrective action to FDEP by Wednesday, April 29. We are moving aggressively to correct the situation, and we are preparing for the tropical storm season ahead.”

Tannehill has begun meeting with site contractors and engineers to review the situation, determine the cause of the deficiencies, and most importantly, to establish a clear plan for correcting the situation and ensuring it never happens again.

Tannehill said the Airport Authority would continue to work closely with FDEP and USACOE to ensure the stormwater management deficiencies are corrected.

“But our commitment goes beyond addressing the current deficiencies. Once we have reviewed all the facts we will provide the citizens of Bay County a full accounting,” said Tannehill.

“It is not enough simply to say that the stormwater management issues were the result of an extraordinary amount of rain — so much rain that Bay County was declared by the state and federal government a disaster area. If there was mismanagement the public has a right to know,” said Tannehill.

The Airport Authority said it would keep the public informed of its efforts to address the deficiencies through regular updates to the new airport’s public information web site at www.newpcairport.com.

“This was not an environmental disaster as some of the airport opponents have declared. Our limits for turbidity were exceeded and that is a problem we will fix. I think that every stream and bayou in Northwest Florida had elevated silt levels with the 20 inches of rain we experienced. There will be no lasting environmental damage from this event,” said Tannehill.

“This airport Board resolved long ago to make the new Panama City – Bay County International Airport one of the world’s most environmentally-friendly and this latest event and what we will learn from it will only strengthen that resolve,” said Tannehill.

The Airport Authority has been working with FDEP for years, including several years on the Ecosytem Team Permitting process. Under the Ecosystem Team Permit, the airport site and surrounding West Bay Sector will produce a net environmental gain when the airport project is complete.

Walton County TDC to Raise Bed Tax for New PC Airport

Following in the footsteps of Bay County, Walton County is looking to increase their bed tax from 4 cents to 4.5 cents. The anticipated increase in revenue is expected to be around $1 million.

If approved, the TDC plans to use the funds to step up their marketing efforts for the Emerald Coast and attract a low-cost carrier to the new airport slated to open in Panama City of Highway 388 in May 2010. The ultimate goal is to help attract more businesses to the Walton County area. Walton County is right next to Bay County and stand to benefit greatly from the development of the new airport.

Other ideas for the use of the increased revenue include a new complex that could include sports fields, an amphitheater and performing-arts venue.

As with in Bay County, Walton County has its own set of opponents claiming that there is no real plan of action for how to spend the funds, and that the ideas seem to “flip-flop”.

The vote will be in front of Walton County Commissioners tomorrow night at their regularly scheduled meeting.

Quoting Investing.Businessweel.com:

Southwest Airlines was mentioned several times at Wednesday’s TDC meeting during a presentation about the results of a marketing study.

The presentation, given to show the possible new markets that the new airline would serve, focused on the cities Southwest already flies out of. The top five markets are Nashville, Houston, Orlando, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Mares said that with the right marketing, the local tourism industry could reach more than 3 million households that fit the demographic profile of visitors to South Walton.

The study determined the top markets by categorizing visitors by age, income and net worth. Also included was information such as their preferred lodging and dining preferences, magazines they read and the television and radio programs they listen to.

How It's Done – Paving a Runway Video

So, I thought it would be cool to shoot a video on how they paved the runway, and turns out, I was right – it is cool. Maybe I’m a nerd, but I found it amazing how they brought in the concrete material, then formed it into a beautiful, nearly flawless, 15 inch slab, working many yards in mere minutes.

The dump trucks would pull under a huge loader that would fill its bed with 10 yards of concrete in 2 minutes. With the time it takes for the truck to stage its position, load and move for the next truck, a truck can be filled every 2.5 minutes.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3972906&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1
Paving the Runway at the new Panama City Airport from Jason Koertge on Vimeo.

The runway paving process was, I thought, interesting. Consisting of 15 inches of concrete on top of 4 inches of asphalt, the runway will be capable of handling the load of the largest of aircraft.

Each dump truck would back the loads down the asphalt sometimes up to a quarter mile, then dump their load right in front of the first machine. As the machine worked the pile of concrete to fit under its 15 inch clearance, workers would grab a sample of the concrete with shovels to take back and test. Each load of concrete was tested to be sure that it met the proper strength requirements.

As the concrete passes under the machine, 1 inch rods comb through the mixture vibrating at a high rate of speed to be sure the mixture compacts. It exits the other side a basic form, but not smoothed. The next machine refines the shape, vibrates and compacts more and spits the smoothed almost finished runway out the back end.

The main 8,600 feet of the runway is paved as of right now and upon arrival of the FAA approval of the extension, the remaining 1.400 feet will be paved in about 10 days.

Airport bringing in third-party for commercial and industrial development

This news is a little stale, but I needed to get this up.

The Airport Authority decided last week to bring in a third-party developer to manage the development of the 1,400 acres set aside for commercial and industrial uses. Authority members voted for Jones Lang LeSalle over four other companies including Hunt Development Group, St. Joe/Haskell, Taylor & Mathis and TranSystems.

The Jones Lang LeSalle website touts that they are a global company with over 750 locations worldwide, and they manage properties in countries ranging from India to New Zealand and everywhere in between. They will bring their expertise here not only to ensure that the area around the airport is developed correctly, but that it has the best opportunity to be occupied by quality businesses and/or services.

I think this is great as it, again, opens up our area to people and organizations that are outside our market and operate on a much larger scale.

New Airport Aerial Pictures and Update

Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
Approximately 80% of the contract work is complete with only 55.8% of the contract time used.

Underground utilities are being installed in the General Aviation area.
Fine grading along the runway is continuing.
Seeding is ongoing in the North section of the site.
Installation of the centerline lighting cans is approximately 75% complete.

Approximately 115 pieces of heavy equipment are in operation at any one time with approximately 160 personnel on site for the heavy civil (contract 1) and utilities (contract 3) contracts.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings
Approximately 18% of contract work is complete with 25% of contract time utilized.

Terminal:
All shoring has been removed from Area A.
Installation of re-steel on Level 2 of Area B is complete.
Beginning to prep the slab on grade between areas B and C.

Air Traffic Control Tower:
Pile cap complete using approximately 350 cubic yards of concrete.
Beginning to form up the 1st level.

Air Maintenance Facility:
Backfilling of maintenance pit is complete. Preparing for slab on grade.

Air Cargo Facility:
Installation of pre-engineered metal building is ongoing.

Public Safety Building:
Completed concrete pour of perimeter footings/elevator footing.

Rental Car Facility:
Completing installation of underground utilites.

The average manpower on site for Contract 2 per day is 105 people based on a five day work week. Manpower on Saturdays is approximately 31 people.

Contract 3: Utility Contract
Approximately 18% of contract work is complete with 15% of contract time utilized.

Main Access Road:
3W2” Power Distribution Duct Bank: 53% complete.
Street light duct work: 65% complete.

Joyner Road:
24” water main: 90% complete.

GA Access Road:
30” water main: 45% complete.

Lift Station:
30% complete.

CR-388 & Main Entrance:
8” Directional Drill is complete.

Source: newpcairport.com

Our New Airport Shows up on Airport-Technology.com

An article on our new airport has surfaced on Airport-Technology.com.

“Environmentalists filed six suits against the development but were assuaged by an undertaking from the airport authority supported by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to create a 40,000-acre (60-square-mile) conservation area around West Bay (9,609 acres of this were provided by the St Joe Company).

“Panama City-Bay County International is expecting to host 600,000 passengers a year by 2020.”

The West Bay Preservation Area will include 33 miles of untouched shoreline and 44 miles of creeks and tributaries.

The plans were approved by Bay County and the State of Florida in 2002 and specific plans for the area were approved in 2003. Following this agreement the FAA issued a final environmental impact statement in May 2006 and a record of decision for the move in September 2006. The US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) issued their 404 permit in August 2007 allowing the construction to begin.”

Read the entire article here.

Airport Update – Pictures of the Terminal Progress

The terminal at the new Panama City Airport located in West Bay in Bay County is moving along at a swift pace. The percentage complete is just under 20% with all the pilings in place and the second floor structure being formed right now.

Construction of the terminal will last for the duration of the project.

Source: newpcairport.com

Airport Construction Update – Terminal 18% Complete

Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
Approximately 80% of the contract work is complete with only 54% of the contract time used.

90% of the 15” concrete paving lanes have been placed on 8,400 linear feet of Runway 16-34.
On Taxiway D and main terminal apron, all lime rock base and the first lift of asphalt paving is in place with the 2nd of four lifts going down this week.
The centerline cans on the runway are approximately 36% complete.
The lighting cans in the Touch-down zone are approximately 55% complete.
Paving will begin this week on the General Aviation Access road.
150 pieces of heavy equipment are in operation at any one time with approximately 200 personnel on site for the heavy civil and utilities contracts.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings
Approximately 18% of contract work is complete with 22.6% of contract time utilized.

Terminal:
Concrete pouring complete for Level 2 Area A. Shoring of Level 2 Areas B and C continues

Air Traffic Control Tower:
Cutting of auger cast piles to design length is complete. Forming for the pile cap has started.

Air Maintenance Facility:
Forming for pit walls continues.

Air Cargo Facility:
Continuing the installation of the pre-engineered metal building.

Public Safety Building:
Rough-in of the plumbing continues.

Rental Car Facility:
Installation of underground facilities continues.

Manpower:
The average man power on site for Contract 2 per day is 95 people based on a five day work week.

Contract 3: Utility Contract
Approximately 8% of contract work is complete with 11% of contract time utilized.

Main Access Road:
3W2” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 36% complete.
Street light duct work is 50% complete.

Joyner Road:
24” directional bore is complete.
24” water main is 36% complete.

GA Access Road:
30” water main is 9% complete.

Lift Station:
Wet Well is installed.

Source: www.NewPCAirport.com