PRINTER'S NO. 1253
No. 143 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY MUSTO AND BAKER, JUNE 28, 2007
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 28, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study
2 the economic impact of the proposed Hazleton Cargo Airport on
3 the greater Hazleton area and the potential risks and rewards
4 to this Commonwealth of providing economic development funds
5 to support this project and to make a report.
6 WHEREAS, A major new cargo-only airport has been proposed in
7 the Hazleton area that has been projected to bring in 1.4
8 million tons of freight by 2012 with the potential to create
9 more than 4,500 jobs for airlines, cargo handlers, security
10 companies and warehouses; and
11 WHEREAS, The proposed cargo-only airport has been projected
12 to cost $1.6 billion funded through State, local and private
13 moneys; and
14 WHEREAS, The location of the proposed cargo-only airport lies
15 outside the corridor currently identified by the Federal
16 Aviation Administration to improve airspace in the northeastern
17 United States; and
18 WHEREAS, No firm commitments have yet been made by any major
19 air cargo transport companies to use the proposed cargo-only
1 airport; and
2 WHEREAS, The role of the project developer in the financing
3 and long-term operations of the proposed cargo-only airport is
4 unclear; and
5 WHEREAS, The proposed cargo-only airport would create the
6 need for a regional airport authority to incur debt for the
7 projects, and the appropriate governance structure of such an
8 authority has yet to be determined; and
9 WHEREAS, Numerous questions and concerns have been raised
10 regarding the impact of the proposed cargo-only airport on local
11 rail, road and water infrastructure and the impact of an influx
12 of new workers on local schools, health care and emergency
13 services; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
15 Finance Committee to study the economic impact of the proposed
16 Hazleton Cargo Airport on the greater Hazleton area and the
17 potential risks and rewards to this Commonwealth of providing
18 economic development funds to support this project; and be it
19 further
20 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
21 evaluate the likely investment return to the Commonwealth of
22 investing State funds into the proposed cargo-only airport; and
23 be it further
24 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
25 investigate the reasonableness of the assumptions used to
26 estimate the job creation and other economic impact figures
27 cited by project developers and determine the estimated cost to
28 taxpayers; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
30 consider the potential impact of a cargo-only airport on local
20070S0143R1253 - 2 -
1 roads and other infrastructure as well as the impact of new
2 workers on schools, health care and other social services in the
3 greater Hazleton area; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
5 examine the governance structure used by local governments
6 elsewhere in this Commonwealth and in other states to monitor
7 and manage large airport construction projects and their
8 subsequent operations; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
10 be authorized to seek a contractor or consultant to assist in
11 its study; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
13 report all findings and conclusions on this issue to the Senate
14 no later than June 30, 2008.
F26L82JAM/20070S0143R1253 - 3 -