FAA grant to help build new airport in North Dakota

The Federal Aviation Administration will provide a $27 million grant to help the City of Williston, N.D., buy land for a new airport to replace Sloulin Field International Airport.    The Federal Aviation Administration will provide a $27 million Airport Improvement Program grant to the City of Williston, N.D., to help buy 1,540 acres of land to build a new airport and replace Sloulin Field International Airport.
   Oil drilling operations in North Dakota have significantly increased Williston’s population and passenger traffic, corporate aviation activity, and cargo operations at Sloulin Field, the FAA noted.
   The FAA has been working with the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission and the City of Williston to address the region’s aviation needs. The agency recently completed an assessment and identified no significant environment concerns with the airport project.
   The new airport will be called Williston Basin International, with XWA as the three-letter airport identifier. Construction will begin this fall and the airport is expected to open in 2018.
   The total project cost, including land and construction of the new airport, is estimated at $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.