No decisions yet, but study begins on Chelan airport runway future

CHELAN — A long-discussed idea about the future of the Lake Chelan Airport is entering a new phase — not construction, not funding, and not even a decision, but a required federal look at what could happen someday.

The City of Chelan has released a Draft Environmental Assessment examining what would be involved if the airport runway were relocated in the future to better meet Federal Aviation Administration safety standards. The document opens a public comment period that runs through Feb. 27.

City officials stressed that the assessment does not authorize any work, land purchases, or immediate changes at the airport. Instead, it is part of a federally required process under the National Environmental Policy Act that evaluates potential environmental and community impacts before any project can be considered.

Because the airport is part of the national aviation system, the Federal Aviation Administration is serving as the lead agency for the review, with the city coordinating public involvement and providing technical information.

The study looks at a roughly 209-acre area around the airport and evaluates several conceptual elements that would be associated with a runway relocation, including possible land acquisition and avigation easements (airspace rights), relocation of the runway and taxiway, adjustments to taxilanes, fuel systems and hangars, relocation of Howard Flats Road, irrigation system modifications, and installation of a new automated weather observation station.

In short, the draft document examines what the footprint of a future runway relocation might look like — not whether it will happen.

Completion of the Environmental Assessment does not approve, fund, or commit the city or the FAA to any project. Any future steps would require separate approvals, funding decisions, and additional public processes.

The draft document is available for public review at Chelan City Hall, the airport administration office, the Chelan Public Library, and on the city’s website.

Public comments may be submitted through Feb. 27 by email to J-U-B Engineers at zscott@jub.com. After the comment period closes, the FAA will review the feedback and determine whether additional analysis is needed or whether the environmental review can be concluded.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media