NEWS RELEASE 04-42 Southwest Florida International Airport's Mitigation Park Earns National Honor

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 30, 2004) – Airports Council International-North America has named the Southwest Florida International Airport Mitigation Park and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s runway construction winners of the 2004 ACI-NA Environmental Achievement Awards.

The 7,000-acre Mitigation Park, located four miles southeast of the airport, was established to compensate for the impact of long-term development of the airport. The lands are among the most pristine and environmentally sensitive in the region and include the Imperial Marsh, the largest freshwater marsh in Lee County. The site extends from the headwaters of the Imperial and Estero river watersheds through the Flint Pen Strand, ultimately connecting to the Everglades. Because of its location, the park forms the basis of a habitat and wildlife corridor that Port Authority officials hope will be expanded by other developers looking for mitigation acreage.

“The Mitigation Park was an innovative concept that not only allowed us to streamline the permitting for the Midfield Terminal Complex, but also let us restore many acres of land and preserve other areas of pristine habitat forever,” said Robert M. Ball, A.A.E., executive director of the Lee County Port Authority, which operates Southwest Florida International Airport. “The land for this project was acquired between 1994 and 1998 through the vision of the Lee County Board of Port Commissioners. It demonstrates their commitment to striking a balance between the need for airport expansion and environmental preservation.”

Phillips and Jordan Inc. of Zephyrhills, Fla., began work on the site in January 2003 under the supervision of DMJM Aviation Inc., the firm that is managing the design and construction of the Midfield Terminal Complex. Exotic vegetation, including melaleuca trees, Brazilian peppers and torpedo grass, has been wiped out; oak, cypress and pine trees, bulrush, pickerelweed, spike rush, saw grass and other native vegetation have been planted and are thriving; empty farmlands have been excavated to create four man-made marshes; and other land has been returned to its original, natural state. The project plan, designed by Johnson Engineering, has restored surface-water flow ways and created 550 acres of wetlands.

“The variety and volume of wading birds have been amazing,” said Lisa Miekley, the DMJM Aviation engineer and construction coordinator who has overseen the park’s development. “Flocks of white pelicans, ducks and herons are here every day, I regularly see eagles, deer and wild hogs and turkeys, and there is evidence of bobcat and panthers.”

The mitigation park, part of the airport’s 20-year master plan, contributed to the Finding of No Significant Impact, or FONSI, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration for airport expansion in March 1994. It marked the first time the FAA had issued a FONSI for an extensive, long-term airport expansion plan. Securing the FONSI eliminated two years of environmental studies and saved approximately $1 million.

Both the Midfield Terminal Complex, set to open in 2005, and the Mitigation Park are being funded with grants from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation; airline rents and fees; and other airport revenue, including bonds. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction.

The Fort Myers and Atlanta airports will be recognized at ACI-NA’s 13th Annual Conference & Exhibition in Houston in September. In addition, the winning airport authorities will make presentations during the Environmental Affairs Committee meeting at the conference.

Atlanta is being recognized for environmental stewardship and construction efficiency during the building of its new 9,000-foot-long runway. The City of Atlanta/Department of Atlanta Aviation used a state-of-the-art, overland belt-conveyor system to transport 93 percent of the 21.5 million cubic yards of fill for the runway’s construction. The innovative system eliminated an estimated 2.5 million dump-truck trips and nearly 2,600 tons of harmful air emissions, prevented an estimated 395 accidents by avoiding on-road truck traffic and compressed the construction schedule by 30 months.

Airports Council International-North America represents the commercial airports that carry 98 percent of passenger traffic throughout the United States and Canada. More than 380 aviation-related businesses are associate members. The association’s mission is to identify, develop and advance common policies and programs for the enhancement and promotion of airports and their managements that are effective, efficient and responsive to consumer and community needs. For more information, visit www.aci-na.org.

Southwest Florida International Airport opened in 1983 and was projected to reach its annual capacity of 3 million passengers by 1995. That milestone was passed in 1988, and the airport now serves more than 6 million passengers annually. The new 28-gate terminal, under construction south of the airport’s runway, will replace the existing 17-gate terminal next year and can be expanded to an eventual 65 gates to accommodate the continuing growth of the Southwest Florida region. The terminal will become truly “midfield” when a second runway, to be built south of the terminal, is added when traffic warrants it.

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LCPA/MTC/Mit Park Wins ACI