RUNWAY EXPANSION
Park Service OK's Jackson runway plans

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - A proposal to allow Jackson Hole Airport to expand a runway in Grand Teton National Park is acceptable, according to the park's superintendent.

Jack Neckels sent a "memorandum of concurrence" to the Federal Aviation Administration saying the FAA adequately addressed its concerns about the impact of runway improvements.

The agencies missed a Jan. 31 deadline to reach a decision because they could not agree on whether a specific analysis of the improvements' impacts on the land is required by federal law.

Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., who arranged a meeting with officials from the Park Service and FAA at his Washington office in July, applauded the cooperation between agencies.

"There was too much bureaucratic turbulence than one airport should reasonably expect to encounter when trying to make itself safer for passengers," he said.

"Fortunately now the airport board can finally move forward to make Jackson a better, more reliable and more desirable destination for everyone while maintaining the integrity of the national park," he said.

Franz Camenzind, executive director of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, also supported the move.

"I am glad that we finally have come to closure on the safety issues at the airport," he said. "Now I would like the community to address the noise issue that is becoming extremely noticeable in and around the valley."

The FAA's decision to start runway improvements comes after eight years of studying the airport's safety.

The airport has seen 17 overruns since 1986, including two in December.

Federal officials expect the runway will be lengthened and shifted to the north. The official runway length would remain at 6,300 feet, but 300 feet of pavement would be added to each end as safety stopways.