Washington, D.C. --The explanations made by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Park Service about why imperative safety changes at Jackson Hole Airport will suffer further delay are not good enough, according to U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, (R-Wyo.).

"What will it take for the red tape to end? The environmental assessment process has been going on since 1992 and the problem has been evident for at least 18 years," said Enzi. "We've got planes running off the end of the runway and someone could really get hurt. Delay by the parties involved is not worth the consequence of inaction."

In a Feb. 11 letter, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey responded to concerns Enzi, Senator Craig Thomas and Congresswoman Barbara Cubin related in a December delegation letter. Garvey said to expect further delays in the environmental assessment process which must be completed before runway safety measures can be taken. Garvey said the Jackson Hole Airport board proposed to translate the runway 568 feet to the north within the airport use agreement area. But, according to her letter, this plan has been met with opposition from the National Park Service because it would be an unnecessary impact on park resources. The FAA considered developing a safety area to the south, but that option is seen as unfavorable because of the impacts on residences to the south.

"I would like to know what these 'unnecessary impacts' on the park are, which the Park Service thinks outweigh the safety of airline passengers flying into Jackson," said Enzi.

Enzi said he plans to pursue the matter and advocated heightened involvement by Park Service officials at the national level.

"If we're going to put an end to this dangerous situation, we need those with the decision making authority to make those decisions quickly," Enzi said.