Ryan Anderson, manager of community relations for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, told the AAALAC that the FAA and MAC have not yet reached agreement on pipeline‑incurrence terms tied to the airport’s runway extension environmental review, which has delayed the project.

"The delay is really the FAA and the MAC coming to agreement on the terms of the pipeline and incurrences," Ryan said, describing repeated back‑and‑forth communications and slower responses from the FAA, including impacts from a recent government shutdown.

Given the prolonged environmental review, MAC is considering interim airfield improvements that can be advanced through the MAC’s capital improvement program rather than waiting on the runway extension decision. Ryan said the MAC remains committed to the runway project but is constrained by federal regulatory steps.

Members pressed for more details. One participant said the project has felt stalled "for, I don't know, 5 or 7 years" and suggested bringing in a mediator; Ryan said he would relay that suggestion to the MAC.

Separately, Ryan reported progress on a roadway project tied to the airport: after clearing a major federal review hurdle that decoupled the road from federal review requirements, MAC will proceed with design and environmental review locally and intends to fully fund paving. "Our hope is that we'll get that done next year," Ryan told the commission, and he said more detailed timelines would be available by the March meeting.

Airport manager Sam Seefeldt added operational context in his update, noting staff will continue providing status reports to AAALAC and bringing interim airfield improvements through the MAC’s CIP while the environmental review continues.

What happens next: MAC will pursue interim airfield work where possible and move forward on the MAC‑funded roadway; staff will report back with an updated schedule at the commission’s March meeting.