Residents in the MethowValley are still waiting for a response from the federal government surrounding the battle over the newly installed beacon at the MethowValleyStateAirport.

 

Following more than 400 comments from citizens affected by the beacon, The Washington State Department of Transportation made a request to the Federal Aviation Administration to allow for a pilot activated beacon- which would entail a waiver of the federal requirements.

 

WSDOT Aviation Director, Tristan Atkins, tells us that it all began about three years ago, when the decades old beacon that was there, didn’t make it through a severe snow storm.

 

The Department of Transportation considered their options and completed a visual impact analysis to study the effects from the beacon and asked for feedback from area residents.

 

State officials anticipate a response from the FAA sometime this month, and if denied, are prepared to ask for an environmental review, funded by the FAA.

 

In the meantime- the beacon remains off.

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