Regional Affairs

Minnesota approves sweeping aviation protections

Airports in Minnesota could have greater protection, thanks to legislation passed in the closing days of the Minnesota legislature. Led by Sens. Ann Rest and Mike Jungbauer, and Rep. Mike Beard, lawmakers declared that the operation and maintenance of airports is an essential public service. The bill would withhold state airport funding from any municipality that adopts a comprehensive airport plan incompatible with the state aviation master plan. It also specifically adds provisions to better protect the reliever airports around Minneapolis-St. Paul that are operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

May 26, 2006