Would-be airport fuel provider must follow through with its environmental study

Modesto Flight Center owner Richard Corbett didn't get what he wanted from the City Council tonight.

The council said he must go through with a preliminary environmental study to gauge the impacts of his proposal to start selling fuel at the Modesto Airport in competition with Sky Trek Aviation. Sky Trek has been the only fuel provider there for the past 18 years.

City officials said they received a letter from the Federal Aviation Administration this week saying the environmental review would be necessary. That made the gray area around Corbett's bid pretty much moot to council members.

Nonetheless, council members were upset that Corbett appeared to get a run-around in City Hall. His plans had sailed through two city commissions, and Modesto's Planning Division had indicated Corbett wouldn't have to go through with the costly environmental study.

That changed in July when City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood determined the project would need more scrutiny, at least because it would involve storing huge amounts of hazardous fuels at the airport.

Council members asked Wood and City Manager Greg Nyhoff to expedite the Modesto Flight Center request, but that's contingent on Corbett paying for the environmental study. A couple council members also want answers about how the miscommunication took place.

"I want to do a reverse investigation here," Councilman Will O'Bryant said. "I want to find out from all the people who sent us these letters about just what problems can come from having a second fuel facility at the airport. It just reeks of being stonewalled and I want to make sure the city's not doing it."

Charles Brunn, Corbett's attorney, put on a pretty good show while advocating for his client. He mocked the idea that a second fuel facility on an existing airport would have environmental impacts that aren't there now, such as harming fish, wildlife or plants.

"Fish? I haven't seen any fish swimming across the runway," he said. "Wildlife? I haven't seen any grizzly bears. Plants? It's a tarmac! It's been arounds as long as I can remember. If there are any plants, they get rid of them."

Brunn wanted the council to approve Corbett's lease on the condition that Corbett meet state and federal environmental standards. The council refused to part from Wood's recommendation that the environmental study must come first.

"Unfortunately, that's just the cost of doing business with government," Councilwoman Janice Keating said.

Brunn said time is money for his client. Corbett has been trying to get his plans through the council since December.

"It's a waiting game," Brunn said. "If you wait long enough, (Corbett will) run out of money and the monopoly will go on for another 20 years."

- AA