Facilities will receive between $1,000 and $3,000,000 for repairs, reconstruction

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced on Friday that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration will fund repairs at 12 additional airports damaged by hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne.  These airports will receive a portion of the remaining $4.5 million from emergency legislation that provided a total of $25 million to help pay for hurricane damage to airports.

"Our nation's airports are critical to our economy and our quality of life," said Secretary Mineta.  "These funds will help reduce the time it takes to bring these airports back to their normal operations."

The remaining $4.5 million will be distributed to airports in Alabama, Florida and Puerto Rico.  The funds will pay for projects such as repair or replacement of terminal buildings, hangars and security lighting.  In October, the FAA provided $20.5 million to 71 hurricane-damaged airports in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Puerto Rico.

"These funds will greatly reduce the impact of the storms to the traveling public and complete our commitment to help airports affected by the hurricanes," said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey.

FMI: www.dot.gov/affairs/dot20704.htm