County approves $3.31 million FAA grant for Jackson Hole Airport deicing pad and containment facility

Teton County commissioners voted June 17 to approve a resolution accepting an FAA airport improvement grant of $3,311,889 to construct a Phase 2 deicing pad and containment facility at Jackson Hole Airport.

Project and scope: Airport Director Jim Elwood told the board the grant will fund installation of utilities from the north edge of the commercial terminal through the helitack base to existing deicing pads, trenching for natural gas, sanitary, water and electricity, and the procurement of underground fuel/chemical storage and prefabricated control buildings. Elwood said the phase in front of the board focused on the east side and that construction hours are expected to be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the majority of the listed work likely completed about a month after the meeting; later phases will require additional FAA funding.

Community and environmental considerations: Commissioner Carlman who pulled the item for discussion highlighted the environmental intent — capturing deicing fluid to protect nearby drinking-water sources — but asked for an overview because construction could generate truck traffic and temporary impacts to neighbors. Director Elwood described mitigation steps the airport uses to reduce construction and operational impacts, including quieter puffer backup alarms on heavy equipment for night work.

Board action: The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution approving the FAA grant agreement and the county’s acceptance of the FAA obligation of $3,311,889.

Ending: Airport staff said they will share more detailed construction-phase information with the county and town and maintain progress updates on the airport website; later phases (including crushing rock) will proceed when subsequent FAA grants are secured.