The 404 Permit

The Airport Authority has been waiting for a final permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in order to move forward with construction of the new airport.

Everyone who has been following this project closely asks one question: When is the 404 permit coming?

Last week the News Herald reported that there were three issues that needed to be resolved before the permit was released.

First, there has been a complaint about “unauthorized activity” on the new airport site. Second, the NRDC has raised issues about native cypress on the site. And third, the USAC had financial questions about the mitigation program.

Keep this fact in mind. The airport site is not a pristine wetlands. It is, in fact, a industrial pine plantation, owned by the St. Joe Company. St. Joe has farmed pine trees on the site and periodically clear cut this property for more than 50 years.

Not also that the Airport Authority does not own this property yet. St. Joe has agreed to donate the land, but only after the Airport Authority has all permits, has its finances in order, and after all legal challenges have been settled or challenge periods have expired.

I have heard that the USACE is working expeditiously on resolving these issues, and my understanding is that soon everything will be in order. None of the remaining issues are deal-breakers, and I have every reason to believe the permit will be forthcoming soon. These things just take time.

It is my belief that the USACE is doing everything it can to make the permit “bullet-proof” because the NRDC has said it is going to sue over the issuance of the permit. The USACE has said it would review all “valid questions” about the project – but the valid questions are running out.

Project opponents continue to test our resolve and our patience by making complaints to the USACE. That is their right. As usual, Airport Executive Director Randy Curtis has the right attitude. He said, “It’s somewhat of a bureaucratic process that takes time. Everybody wants to make sure that when they issue permits that it is all done right.”

Here’s the final point to remember – where talking about when the 404 permit comes, not if it comes. Every indication is that we are very close to issuance. And I have faith that when it is issued, it will have been done right.

So remember my watchword: Patience.