AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated that the federal review of the planned facility included public engagement, but it did not. The process to approve the airport's master plan, however, did.
As the Austin airport continues to grow, it wants to provide information to neighbors about a planned fuel facility that has been met with some opposition.
Airport leaders told KVUE that the jet fuel facility, part of the airport’s master plan for growth approved by the Austin City Council in 2018, is needed to keep up with increasing airline and passenger demand.
The Federal Aviation Administration approved the project in 2020, finding “no significant impact” following a federal review under the National Environmental Policy Act. That process did not include public engagement, but the process to approve the airport's master plan did.
But neighbors who live near the proposed site aren’t convinced that the review was enough. Austin City Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes, who represents the area, told KVUE that there is more work to be done.
“Residents living near the airport were not aware of the proposed jet fuel site location, and so many of the concerns came about from not knowing what was going on, what that meant to have a jet fuel site located in the vicinity and [they] wanted to know about the environmental impacts,” Fuentes told KVUE in December.
Now residents will have the chance to ask questions and voice concerns. The airport will host an info meeting over Zoom on Jan. 29 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be an in-person meeting for people without internet access.
Residents can find the Zoom link on SpeakUpAustin.org or they can register for the in-person meeting by calling Austin 311 starting next week.
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