Serious discussions about moving the city's airport from its current location atop a mesa in downtown St. George began more than 13 years ago. Boosters pointed to the area's surge in population and a growing economic base, saying the new airport would attract even more vitality to the region by adding commercial jet aircraft seating up to 100 passengers.

Critics filed a lawsuit, arguing that increased air traffic from the new airport would harm the environment and natural peace and quiet over Zion National Park. Other nearby protected wilderness areas and landscapes would also suffer, according to the lawsuit filed by the Grand Canyon Trust.

The lawsuit forced the FAA to complete an environmental impact statement, which concluded there would be no significant noise impact from the new airport. The FAA's Final Record of Decision was favorable, which allowed St. George officials to quietly begin talking to landowners and start work on the airport's design.

About half of the 1,446 acres needed for the replacement airport have been purchased or are under negotiation, LaPier said.

"We've got four more (land sales) in the hopper and hope to have the majority of what's needed by the end of February," he added. "We're in the final stages of grading and drainage work and will be doing utility work to get water to the airport site. Actual construction out there could begin in early June."

An opening date for the St. George replacement airport is now tentatively scheduled for November 2011.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com