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 -