Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he was
pleased to hear from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that it
has awarded a total of $2.2 million to American Samoa for improvement projects
at its three airports on Tutuila and Manu’a.
“These are entitlement funds approved by Congress and administered
by the FAA under the Airport Improvement Program for the purpose of making
each airport meet the minimum standards as established under Federal Aviation
Regulations,” Faleomavaega said.
The breakdown of the grants is as follows:
-
$1,000,000 to construct a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting building
to replace the existing ARFF building in Tafuna that was recently declared
unsafe by the Department of Public Works.
-
$600,000 to construct a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting building
at the Fitiuta airport.
-
$600,000 to construct an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting building at
the Ofu airport and to purchase an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicle.
“I am very pleased to know that these Federal funds will not
only help bring our airports in compliance with federal regulations but
more importantly they will help improve the safety of our traveling public,”
Faleomavaega said. “While the Fitiuta airport currently has an Aircraft
Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicle, it does not have a building to house
the vehicle or to protect it from the corrosive salt water elements,” Faleomavaega
continued. “On the other hand, the Ofu airport currently does not
have either, and these Federal funds will definitely change those conditions
and bring both airports to compliance.”
“The FAA has also informed me that these improvement steps taken
now are also in anticipation of the more stricter guidelines under the
revised Federal Aviation Regulations that will be released later this year,”
Faleomavaega said.
“All in all, this is great news for our traveling public, and especially
our people in Manu’a where there will be major improvements to the two
service airports there. I congratulate Acting Director Mr. Abe Malae
of the Port Administration and his staff as well as the FAA Regional staff
in Hawaii for the fine job they are doing in bringing our airports to meet
federal standards,” Faleomavaega concluded. |
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