Town of Mammoth Lakes Community Relations Manager Stuart Brown reported last week the Town is actively involved in numerous activities at the airport, many of which are related to reestablishment of regional commercial air service. The environmental reviews related to commercial air service under NEPA and CEQA are continuing and are expected to be complete in May. An environmental review of the runway resurfacing, which is an unrelated project is also proceeding.

Bids for updating the automated weather system and replacement beacons will be awarded soon, and bids to create a passenger terminal out of an existing maintenance building and to resurface the runway have been advertised. Discussion with Horizon Airlines about ground services are also said to be continuing. A TSA representative was scheduled to visit the airport this week to work out arrangements for passenger screening.  In addition, a loan agreement with MMSA is being finalized to cover start up costs, and the Airport Commission has begun ground transportation discussions. -TOML

Mammoth Times, March 13, 2008