Macon County News reports that the Army Corps of Engineers wants more information from the Macon County Airport Authority — but only has until Feb. 12 to respond to the Corps’ letter of requests:

The Macon County Airport Authority submitted a permit application to the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers in October of last year, seeking authorization to impact 5.72 acres of wetlands and 809 linear feet of stream. The Authority is seeking impact authorization in order to extend the runway at the airport. ...

The Corps of Engineers received 37 comment letters and emails from area property owners and organizations, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Historic Preservation Office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. ...

Due to these circumstances [listed in the Corps of Engineers’ letter] ... the Airport Authority’s application is inadequate for evaluation, [according to Lori Beckwith, Regulatory Specialist with the Army Corps of Engineers Asheville Regulatory Field Office.] ...

The Corps of Engineers gave the Authority 30 days from receipt of Beckwith’s letter to submit the information. The letter was stamped as received by the Authority on Jan. 13, 2010.

“I will reopen the application once all information requested is submitted,” said Beckwith.