"Fence planning continues at Washington airport"

Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Fence planning continues
The Anacortes (WA) American


Port of Anacortes officials will continue to pursue alternative
proposals for a safety fence at the airport in the wake of negative
reaction from federal officials. 

Port commissioners discussed their current negotiations with the Federal
Aviation Administration during a regular meeting on April 27, but took
no formal action.

The meeting came after the Port received a letter from regional FAA
officials urging them not to build a safety fence around only the
operations area at the airport. The commission voted 3-2 in March to
build the operations area fence instead of one on the airport boundary,
as requested by the FAA.

Commission President Ray Niver, who developed the operations fence plan
with commission member Steve Hopley, said he believed an operations
fence, constructed with underground aprons and other features, would
meet safety concerns noted by the FAA and a Port staff consultant that
recommended the perimeter fence.

Commissioners said Port staff should continue to work on fence
alternatives.

Niver and Hopley have said the operations area fence provides at least
as much safety at the airport as the one endorsed by FAA. They say their
alternative also would cost less and meet land use objections raised by
city officials.


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