FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2001

GOVERNOR RYAN DISCUSSES PEOTONE AIRPORT WITH
U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Governor George H. Ryan commended U.S.
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and the FAA for moving
ahead with the environmental review of the proposed airport in
Peotone, while at the same time urging the Secretary to restore the
airport project to a key planning list making the airport eligible for
federal funding.

Secretary Mineta and a representative of the FAA said the
environmental assessment will be complete by March, 2002.
However, they agreed to see if the process can be further expedited so
that it can be completed this year.

Secretary Mineta and Governor Ryan discussed the need to increase
aviation capacity in the Chicagoland region. Governor Ryan requested
that the Peotone project be restored to the National Plan for Integrated
Airport Systems, (NPIAS), which identifies the national system of
airports needed to meet present and future aviation needs. Inclusion
on the list is necessary in order for the project to eventually be eligible
for federal funding. In 1997, the FAA removed the Peotone airport
from the NPIAS. The Governor and the Secretary discussed the
problem of increased air travel delays experienced in Chicago and
across the country and the fact that delays are likely to be repeated
this summer.

"I want to thank Secretary Mineta for moving to expedite the
environmental review of the Peotone Airport proposal and I hope the
Transportation Department will put this project back on the planning
list," Governor Ryan said. "It is important we move forward with the
planning to add aviation capacity to the Chicagoland region in order
to preserve its historic role as a transportation center of the world."
Governor Ryan met with Secretary Mineta during his visit to
Washington, D.C. for the National Governor's Association
conference.

Last week, in his Budget Address to the Illinois General Assembly,
Governor Ryan directed the Illinois Department of Transportation to
begin purchasing land from interested sellers owning land in the
footprint of the proposed supplemental airport.

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