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WASHINGTON � The U.S. Department of Transportation�s Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a $27 million Airport Improvement
Program (AIP) grant to the City of Williston, N.D. to purchase land to build a
new airport and meet growing aviation demand by replacing Sloulin Field
International Airport. �This grant reflects our commitment to meet the changing
aviation needs of airports around the country,� said U.S. Transportation
Secretary Anthony Foxx. �As economic and
demographic changes occur, the U.S. Department of Transportation remains
committed to helping state and local governments provide the necessary
infrastructure to meet transportation demands.� North Dakota is the second largest oil-producing state in
the United States. Oil drilling
operations have increased Williston�s population and increased passenger
traffic, corporate aviation activity, and cargo operations at Sloulin Field. From 2008 to 2014, passenger enplanements
increased from 10,894 to 114,281, with more growth expected. The FAA has been working with the North Dakota
Aeronautics Commission and the City of Williston to address the region�s aviation
needs. The FAA recently completed an Environmental Assessment that
identified no significant environmental concerns with the proposed project. �Investing in our nation�s airports is important to the
national air transportation system,� said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. �We look forward to continuing to work with
our partners in North Dakota as we embark on this important project to provide
safe and efficient air transportation to the Williston region.� The new airport will be called Williston Basin International
with XWA as the three-letter airport identifier. It is expected to be open in 2018. Prior to the environmental work, the FAA funded a master-planning
study to determine how to best address capacity at the existing airport. The study showed that Sloulin Field is constrained
by surrounding development and the cost to improve the airport is not
economically feasible. The study
recommended building a new airport in a different location that could safely accommodate
current and future demand. This AIP grant will help with the purchase of 1,540 acres of
land. The land transaction is expected
to be completed by summer 2016. Construction
should begin in fall 2016. The total project cost, including land and construction of
the new airport, is an estimated $254 million. The airport will be built in phases, with future
funding from the City of Williston and the State of North Dakota with the
possibility of additional grants from the FAA. The AIP provides more than $3 billion in annual funding for
projects that are vital to maintaining the safety, security, capacity,
efficiency, and environmental stewardship of the nation�s airports. More than 3,300 airports are eligible for AIP
grants benefiting commercial passengers, cargo operations, and general aviation
activities throughout the nation.
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