GREENSBORO, NC (AP) The Army Corps of Engineers said it’s close to allowing the Piedmont Triad International Airport to build a FedEx Hub.

The corps said it will allow the airport to build the hub if it agrees to take steps to lessen the environmental damage it would cause. Opponents said they expected a federal water quality permit to be issued and say they will appeal it.

The corps sent paperwork to airport officials late last week for them to sign. Airport Executive Director Ted Johnson said airport officials began reviewing the document Dec. 1.

He said the conditions center on how the airport would offset the environmental damage caused by putting 1.2 million cu. yds. (917,470 cu m) of fill into 23 acres (9.3 ha) of wetlands and 14,937 linear ft. (4,552 linear m) of streams around Brush Creek, which flows into Greensboro’s drinking water supply.

Johnson said he doesn’t think the conditions will stop the hub from being built.

"We got it under review now by a number of engineers and attorneys," he said. "I hope we’re close to having an agreement."

The airport hopes to send the permit back to the corps next week, Johnson said.

If construction were to begin soon, opponents likely would ask a judge to stop the work until all their environmental appeals had been heard. Memphis-based FedEx wants to open a hub at the airport by 2009, eventually growing to a total of 126 takeoffs and landings on some nights.

Opponents say the overnight flights would disturb residents and that the hub would pollute the area.

"Our intention is to challenge it," said Mark Warren, executive director of the Alliance for Legal Action, a nonprofit organization formed to raise money for the court fight. "I think there are insurmountable obstacles that they have to overcome."

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