St. Marys Airport Facts

The St. Marys Airport

Ø The airport is a safety concern:

· As a force protection measure following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, Commander Submarine Group 10 requested a temporary flight restriction. The FAA imposed the restriction 14 September 2001 which included an area 5,000 feet in altitude and a five-mile radius from the center of NSB Kings Bay. It effectively prohibited any flights into or through the designated area.

· 30 November 2001 after close coordination between the United States Navy, the FAA and the city of St. Marys, all parties agreed to reopen the airport on 3 December 2001 with reduced restrictions. The new reduced temporary flight restriction is a two-mile radius centered on the NSB Kings Bay waterfront to an altitude of 2,999 feet. This agreement included verbal statements that the city would pursue efforts to relocate the airport.

· The temporary flight restriction became permanent 16 February 2006.

· The great majority of private plane crashes occur within 3 miles of an airport. Only one occurred outside 5 miles (Strategic Systems Command study of 31 January 1985)

· Two planes accidents in the last year (4/17/2007 and 4/8/2008) make it clear that the airport is a safety issue, both to our citizens and to Kings Bay Submarine Base. On average, a plane accident has occurred once every 2.14 years in the vicinity of St. Marys airport since the submarine base has been established (30 years). There have been 5 fatalities and 4 serious injuries associated with these aircraft accidents (National Transportation Safety Board records covering 1983 to present)

· The current base commander, as recently as March of this year, has publicly stated to our local officials and community leaders that the airport is a safety issue to the base

· The St. Marys Mayor, Rowland Eskridge, confirmed this in a letter he sent to the current base commander on April 2^nd

· The prior base commander, Captain Mike McKinnon, confirmed this to the Mayor and City Council at its regular meeting on April 14^th

· An accidental crash of an aircraft that would affect NSB Kings Bay’s operations can be marginalized to near zero with the airport at a location at least 5 miles from the Submarine Base

· The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, developed by the FAA, recommends a replacement St. Marys Airport (p. 10, 2007 Environmental Assessment for the Replacement St. Marys Airport). The firm hired by the City of St. Marys says the St. Marys Airport cannot meet minimum standards of safety and efficiency.

Ø The airport property can be much better utilized:

· The St. Marys Industrial Park on Point Peter Road, which was carved out of the original airport in 1980, generates directly more than 50 times as much city property taxes per acre as the airport

· The total city property taxes generated by the 286-acre airport, together with all airplanes based there, is approximately $790

· To put this in another perspective: the airport generates directly $2.76 per acre in city property taxes. One small business—Arby’s on Osborne Road—pays more than $1,500.00 per acre

· The city leases the airport to the St. Marys Airport Authority for $10.00 a year. Total revenue from taxes and rent is approximately $800 a year.

· The city’s Public Works department does a majority of the maintenance at the airport using taxpayer dollars. Accurate accounting information is not present to determine if those costs exceed the $800 a year in revenue for grass cutting, debris removal and other city services (water, sewer and police protection, etc.). In any case, the airport is generating little money for the city’s use in future development and may in fact, be an actual cost to the city. It is clear that the costs used to maintain the airport greatly exceeds the rent the city receives from the airport authority.

· Once the airport is relocated, increased revenue from the properly developed property can be utilized to offset and reduce the home owner taxpayer burden for infrastructure and utility support, as well as improved city services; necessary requirements to support the current and future planned economic and quality growth of St. Marys

· The airport on average, employees 6 personnel. With the airport property properly developed with small and large businesses, numerous new jobs can be generated for city residents and to support the expected growth of St. Marys and the surrounding community

Ø Three consecutive studies have recommended the airport be moved:

· A 2002 study commissioned by the Camden County Joint Development Authority and performed by the Savannah firm of Campbell & Paris, Engineers, says “the City of St. Marys and Camden County should begin the process of pursuing a new airport site if it desires an airport which can develop as an economic generator for Camden County.”

· “If it is the desire to operate an airport as recreational in nature, with limited business use, the existing facility can and will serve this role.”

· The 2005 Airport Feasibility and Site Selection Study by Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc. of Jacksonville, found that “A future airport allowed to function and grow free from outside constraints should generate significantly more economic benefit for the community than the existing facility.”

· The 2005 study commissioned by the City of St. Marys and costing $236,000.00, was advised by members of the Airport Authority, public officials, and two dozen or so representatives of local, state, and federal governments.

· After studying 9 potential sites, Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc. recommended a site south of Billyville Road and west of I-95 (p.5), which Sea Island Company agreed to donate at no cost. This site is 12 miles from NSB Kings Bay

· Land or funds that are donated may be used by the local government to offset their share of FAA grants. Such donations must be “arms length” (no conditions attached). With a donation, a local government can basically develop capital projects with no out of pocket contribution (DOT/FAA Letter dated 4/21/08).

· The 2007 Environmental Assessment again made it clear that “The relocation and replacement of the St. Marys Airport is the only option to assure a long-term, viable, airport system providing global access for the residents of Camden County.”

· The environmental study conducted last year is still valid. Assessments are good for three years and then can be revalidated for an additional 2 years (DOT/FAA Letter dated 4/21/08).

Ø The FAA has approved a specific site recommended by the city’s paid consultant:

· The FAA on March 27, 2007, sent the St. Marys City Manager a Finding of No Significant Impact, notice of which was required to be placed in a local newspaper and run for a minimum of three days. That finding should be available at City Hall, and finds, “the project is reasonably supported and should be processed for the Federal action to approve the proposed construction of a replacement airport for St. Marys, Georgia.”

· The FAA is still interested in the potential of constructing a new airport as a replacement of the existing St. Marys Airport (DOT/FAA memorandum dated 4/21/08).

· “We have previously advised that as a condition of the FAA’s participation in a new airport, funds equal to the Fair Market Value (FMV) of the existing airport must be dedicated to the construction of the new airport. That is still our policy, but we are willing to discuss something that is less than 100% if it aids in facilitating the new airport. We look forward to discussing this possibility with you. We believe that there may be an opportunity for a “win-win” here” (DOT/FAA memorandum dated 4/21/08).

· “To determine FMV, we would require two appraisals by appraisers experienced in complex appraisals such as this. We would also require a review appraisal” (DOT/FAA memorandum dated 4/21/08).

Ø Both state and federal agencies have concluded the current airport is unable to fulfill its role in the state and national airways systems:

· In 2001, the Georgia Department of Transportation issued an update to the Georgia Aviation System Plan. Its conclusion is stated clearly on page 3 of the 2005 study commissioned by the City of St. Marys: “the Airport cannot fulfill its role as defined in the GASP.”

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