THURSDAY October 1, 2026|
Photo – Rawlins Flying Club hangar – Bigfoot99 file photo
County and Rawlins officials approved a pair of federal grants to construct an aviation fueling station at Harvey Field.
During the September 15th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Baggs, Deputy Attorney Ashely Davis presented two grants from the Federal Aviation Administration. Attorney Davis said the federal funding will be used to construct a fueling station at the Rawlins Municipal Airport, also called Harvey Field. Because the county is part of the joint powers board that oversees the airport, Davis said the Board of Commissioners must approve the grants.
The first FAA Airport Infrastructure Grant covers up to 80 percent, or a maximum of $359,741, of the cost to build a new aviation fueling system at the Rawlins Municipal Airport. The second grant would pay the remaining 20 percent, up to $89,468, of the project. Both grants require a five percent match, which will be paid by the Rawlins-Carbon County Airport Board.
A fuel farm at Harvey Field would allow the airport board to generate additional income that, according to the FAA, must be used for airport operations and maintenance over the 20‑year anticipated service life of the fueling system. The board must also meet 37 criteria to remain eligible for the federal funding, including maximizing U.S.-sourced materials used in construction, updating the Airport Layout Plan to reflect the new fuel station, and not lease the fuel farm to a third‑party. In addition, the work must be completed within four years.
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the two FAA grants.
The City of Rawlins is also represented on the Harvey Field joint powers board, meaning its governing body was likewise required to approve the FAA Airport Infrastructure Grants. During the September 15th Rawlins City Council meeting, Airport Board member J.R. Eggleston explained that intent of the project is to allow the airport to sell aviation fuel.
Eggleston added that H.F. Sinclair donated a surplus fuel tank to Harvey Field, reducing the total project cost by approximately $450,000.
Eggleston said the Rawlins-Carbon County Airport Board has already carried out the preliminary work on the fuel farm and will continue to administer the federal funding throughout the life of the project.
Eggleston said the Federal Aviation Administration has placed strict limits on how the funding can be used. He said all work must be cleared by the FAA and the Wyoming Department of Transportation before any payment can be issued.
Councilman Steve Sanger asked who will be responsible for obtaining approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, noting that the grant agreement doesn’t specify.
Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board Attorney Amy Bach replied that Ardurra Engineering, the firm overseeing the fuel station project, will prepare all documents for the FAA. Airport Board member J.R. Eggleston added that no city or county official has ever or will ever be required to engage in any federally funded airport projects.
Satisfied with Eggleston’s answer, the Rawlins City Council voted to approve both FAA grants for the Harvey Field Fuel Farm Project.
