Larry Mullendore, director of The Eastern Iowa Airport, said the bill, H.R. 1000, does include language that would prohibit building a landfill within six miles of an airport. However, it is tied to a specific funding program that The Eastern Iowa Airport hasn't utilized in at least 10 years, Mullendore said. He added that there is no intention to use the funding program in the future. Legislators added the landfill language in the aviation bill for safety reasons.
Landfills attract birds.
Mullendore said the money the airport would receive for those projects is not part of the funding tied to those projects. Mike Berkshire, Bluestem spokesman, said there are still questions surrounding the legislation. Once it is completed we will give a full report to the board. Berkshire said Bluestem's legal counsel is looking into the legislation and the possible effect it could have on siting a landfill at the Hennessey property, a 425-acre site south of the Cedar River and north of Highway 30. Berkshire said Bluestem's understanding of the legislation is that the six miles would be from the end of the runway to the working face of the landfill.