State proposes 50-year Deadhorse Airport lease for oilfield camp and shop

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities proposed Tuesday to lease nearly 11 acres at Deadhorse Airport to Delta Leasing LLC for 50 years.

Under the proposal, Delta Leasing would pay about $133,000 a year plus fees for roughly 467,350 square feet. The notice lists the uses as non-aeronautical: a gravel pad, camp modules housing only the company's employees and subtenants, a vehicle and equipment maintenance facility with support infrastructure, and space to lease, park, stage and maintain vehicles and other oilfield support equipment.

The state's Rural Airport Leasing Program guide says the department manages about 1,500 land use agreements at 235 rural airports. It says federal rules require lease revenue, including revenue from non-aviation uses, to be reinvested in airport projects and maintenance.

The department has proposed several Deadhorse Airport leases and extensions this year for oilfield-related uses, including drilling equipment storage, maintenance, logistics, communications and employee housing. In May, it proposed a 38-year lease of about 304,701 square feet to Deadhorse Aviation Center LLC for about $87,000 a year.

Some of this year's Deadhorse proposals were no-bid, including a five-year extension for the North Slope's phone co-op, Alaska News reported July 31. The Delta Leasing proposal is open to competing applications.

Competing applications or written comments are due by 4:30 pm Nov. 30. The department will then decide whether to sign the lease. It may reject any or all applications or comments. The decision will be sent only to people who submit a comment, objection or competing application by the deadline and include a return address. Information is available from the department's Aviation Leasing office in Fairbanks.