Unalaska, AK – A $2.6 million earmark in a transportation bill signed by President Bush last weekend puts Akutan within striking distance of its federal funding goals for construction of an airport for the island.

The money isn't a lump sum for the airport construction, but is rather an amount that the Department of Transportation agrees to spend on the project at a future date. Through the efforts of Alaska's congressional delegation, Congress has set aside close to $20 million so far for Akutan.

That's made the project a target for taxpayer advocates. They've variously charged that the earmarks are gratuitous handouts to a small village that doesn't really need an airport, or a political quid pro quo from Sen. Ted Stevens to campaign contributors who work for Trident Seafoods, which operates a large processing plant on Akutan.

Aleutians East Borough Administrator Robert Juettner said the amount of research and planning that has gone into the airport project to date speaks for itself.

"These are not closed door deals," he said. "Senator Stevens has been very good about investing his chits in Southwest Alaska because he understands the impact this region has, not just on the state, but on the nation as a whole."

Juettner said the project needs about another $3 million to get off the ground. Planners are expecting about $20 million from the state's airport improvement program. The Aleutians East Borough and Akutan are kicking in another $3 million and $1 million, respectively, and the project is receiving an undisclosed contribution from Trident.

The airport project passed another milestone earlier this month, when the Federal Aviation Administration completed its environmental assessment for the airport. Although projections are still very tentative, planners expect construction to begin in 2010 or 2011.