Two new in-ground fuel tanks will be installed at the Mackinac County Airport this year, completing 20 years of infrastructure improvements at the facility. County commissioners approved financing a portion of the work a year ago, although a stall in funding at the state level delayed progress.

The federal government will pay for 95% of the approximate $350,000 project costs, said airport manager Paul Fullerton during the commission's Thursday, March 26 meeting. The Michigan Aeronautics Commission, which will split the remaining 5% with the county, approved funding in January. Each share is estimated at about $8,500.

Previous airport projects have included lights, runways, drainage, and property acquisitions.

"After this piece of the puzzle and in the years coming," said Mr. Fullerton, "we're going to be looking at rehabilitating what we have."

The scope of the work includes the addition of a jet fuel tank, which will add to the services provided by the airport, and the removal and relocation of a tank that is more than 20 years old. Tha tank, which contains 100-octane fuel, has no leaks, according to a survey by the Environmental Protection Agency. But the tank is obsolete, said Mr. Fullerton.

"Even though when we put that in the ground," he said, "we did run pipes straight up so there is no underground piping running around, it is still old technology."

The new tanks will include special spill protection useful when the fuel is transferred to the tanks from delivery trucks. The tanks will be made of fiberglass, double lined, and will be equipped with a leakage monitoring system.

One of the tanks will be used for jet fuel, which mostly will be used to service the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter stationed in Traverse City. The helicopter works in the Straits of Mackinac, assisting the St. Ignace Coast Guard station in aids to navigation, training, and rescue missions. To refuel, the helicopter must fly to the Pellston Airport.

In preparing for the future, said Mr. Fullerton, planning is underway to change the classification of the airport from a general utility airport to a primary airport.

"If we were a primary airport," said Mr. Fullerton, "we can qualify for $1 million a year in grants. We don't have to use it all, but we would qualify."

The potential grants could help pay for future runway improvements, he said.

Bidding for the tank project is planned for this month.