St. Clair County leader asks lawmakers to extend NGA comment period

Mark Kern, St. Clair County Board chairman, on Tuesday asked Illiniois’ congressional delegation to request that the public comment period regarding the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s decision to build a $1.6 billion facility in North St. Louis be extended to 30 days from the current 15 days.

Terry Beach, the county economic development director, made the request in emails to the offices of U.S. senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and House members John Shimkus, R-Collinville; Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro; and Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville.

“On behalf of County Board Chairman Kern, and at his request, we are asking that you request from the NGA an extension of the current comment period,” Beach wrote to the lawmakers. “The current NGA West FEIS (final environmental impact statement) comment period is through April 16^th. We need a full 30 days (through the end of April) to adequately review the FEIS. Thanks.”

Kern’s request was prompted by a flood of comments from individuals and groups troubled by NGA Director Robert Cardillo’s decision, announced Thursday, to locate NGA’s $1.6 billion western campus — along with 3,100 jobs — on a 99-acre site in North St. Louis, as opposed to a 182-acre site on county land nextdoor to Scott Air Force Base, according to Beach.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, whose district includes Scott Air Force Base, issued a statement late Tuesday afternoon in support of Kern’s call for extending the comment period.

“Director Cardillo has promised us a fair and transparent site location process,” Bost wrote. “Therefore, I would expect that we will be granted a full 30-day public comment period to make our case for NGA. Based on the merits, there is no doubt in my mind that NGA belongs in St. Clair County; we need a full 30 days to make our closing argument.”

Cardillo’s decision last week was preliminary. His final decision, after reviewing comments and other input, is set to be announced by early June.

NGA is a spy agency that uses satellite imagery to make maps and other data tools for military and intelligence agencies, as well as civilian units of the federal government. The agency needs to move out of its facility near downtown St. Louis, on the grounds of the St. Louis Arsenal, because it needs more room and modern infrastructure.

The NGA western campus, to be called NGA West, is set to begin construction by mid-2017 and be completed four years later.

Those who wish to comment about the NGA siting decision can visit the NGA West site at http://nextngawest.com.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 12:21 PM with the headline "St. Clair County leader asks lawmakers to extend NGA comment period."