The Federal Aviation Administration awarded $28.6 million for two Alaska Native village airports even though the projects were low priority, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation said in a report last week.

With funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the FAA awarded $14.7 million for a replacement airport in the village of Ouzinkie, population 170. Another $13.9 million would be used for a replacement airport in the village of Akiachak, population 660.

The inspector general said both projects were funded even though didn't qualify under the stimulus. But the department said it was justified in awarding the money due to safety concerns in the remote villages.

In another project, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is using $21 million in federal funds to build an airport in a Native village with less than 50 people.

Get the Story:
Inspector General Questions Value of Some Airport Stimulus Projects (The New York Times 8/12)
Alaskans question cost of supporting rural outposts (The Los Angeles Times 8/10)

Inspector General Advisory:
Process for Awarding ARRA Airport Improvement Program Grants (August 6, 2009)

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:
H.R.1 | S.1

Related Stories:
Editorial: No logic in $21M airport for tiny village (6/29)
Alaska to spend $21M on airport for village (6/24)