With regard to environmental effects and public safety, the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds and the Polska Zielona Sieć called for suspension of the plans to build the regional airport in Tykocin.
By the end of October, 2009, the public consultation that was required in the proceedings to issue a decision on environmental requirements for the airport in the Podlasie Voivodeship had been completed. Before the time had passed for the results of the consultation to be studied, the Voivodeship Marshal informed the public about the next steps of the authorities as regards the construction of an airport in Tykocin in the Narew Valley. The Marshal announced that he would commission a study of feasibility for the airport's location near Tykocin, not waiting for the decision on environmental requirements. By announcing a tender for the study of feasibility, the Marshal settled the airport's location before the documents on the matter could be studied by the Regional Director of Environmental Protection (RDOŚ) in Białystok. The Management Board of the Podlasie Voivodeship secured over 66 million euro towards the airport.
Despite comments and petitions submitted by OTOP, other NGOs and many inhabitants of Tykocin's surroundings, whose concern was raised during the public consultation, the RDOŚ in Białystok issued a decision on environmental requirements that allowed construction of an airport among the meanders of the Narew river. OTOP appealed from this decision to the General Directorate of Environmental Protection in Warsaw.
After several months of analysis and collection of additional expert opinions, in the beginning of January, 2011, GDOŚ overruled the whole of the dangerous environmental decision for the airport near Tykocin.