FARMINGTON – The Air National Guard has filed a notice of intent with the federal registry Wednesday, indicating that the public hearing on a draft version of an Environmental Impact Study will take place on August 13.
The hearing will be an opportunity for the ANG to take comments on the study, which is a more in-depth look at a proposed modification of the military operation areas Condor 1 and Condor 2, which consist of most of Franklin County’s airspace, in addition to parts of Piscataquis, Somerset and Oxford County as well as Coos County in New Hampshire.
Currently, pilots must stay 7,000 feet above the earth throughout much of Condor 1 and Condor 2. The exception to this rule is in the so-called “flight corridors,” which make up roughly 53 percent of the area. In these flight corridors, F-15 and F-16 jets are allowed to fly as low as 500 feet off the ground. These corridors are one-way only and pilots are not allowed to conduct interception-related maneuvers within those corridors.
The ANG is concerned about the lack of intercept training. Massachusetts Air National Guard Gen. L. Scott Rice told residents of Franklin County at the last public meeting on Dec. 2, 2008, in Farmington, “We have found out that [low-altitude interception training] has been a weakness of the U.S. military.”
He went on to say that much of the existing technology and training focuses on plane-to-plane combat and not engaging low flying targets such as small, civilian aircraft or cruise missiles.
The Air National Guard’s proposal, introduced in the Spring of 2007, is to do away with the one-way flight corridor system and lower the minimum altitude requirement to 500 feet throughout Maine’s military operations area so they can perform low-altitude interception training missions.
The guard says that its pilots will be in low-altitude flight for 10 minutes, time enough for a pilot to see the training mission’s airborne target, fly down to a minimum of 500 feet and simulate an engagement.
Many residents, however, have expressed concerns to the ANG through either 266 written comments or at the five informational meetings the guard hosted throughout Franklin County. Typically concerns include the effects of the jets’ sudden, loud sound bursts on the health of people and animals; the potential for mid-air collisions with recreational light aircraft; the possible fire hazard when flares or chaff are used in the training exercises; and many cite the economic impact on western Maine’s businesses that depend on quiet, peaceful settings.
The ANG has pointed out that the Condor 1 and Condor 2 MOA has been in operation for nearly 30 years, with more than half of the area currently open for low-altitude training.
Governor John Baldacci expressed his own concerns arguing, along with both local and state lawmakers, that the ANG should conduct an Environmental Impact Study. Specifically, the Governor’s Office asked that greater consideration be given to other MOA options, outside of Condor 1 and Condor 2. Baldacci noted that his administration had “serious concerns” with the plan, as did the Maine Department of Transportation.
“As Governor of the State affected by this proposal, I request that an Environmental Impact Statement be developed,” he wrote in July 2008, in a letter to the ANG. “I base my conclusion on the lack of adequate review of the alternatives and the significant public controversy that exists in Maine.”
The governor and MDOT’s biggest concern was that other alternatives to Condor 1 and 2 were not given a balanced review before being declared inferior. These included the Yankee MOA, which encompasses part of New Hampshire and a smaller slice of western Maine, and the MOA around Fort Drum, in upstate New York, which is already used for military training flights and includes a bombing range.
The ANG had already conducted an Environmental Assessment in 2007, and argued that should have been enough. The EIS is similar to the EA, but far more in-depth and inclusive. The Federal Aviation Administration, who has the ultimate authority over U.S. airspace, determined that an impact study should be conducted in January 2009.
“[The Air National Guard] asked us to reconsider our position, but we still felt we needed a higher level of public scrutiny than the less demanding environmental assessment,” said David Farmer, an aide to Gov. Baldacci, said on Jan. 7, 2009.
The ANG filed a notice of intent on June 16, indicating that a draft of the requested EIS will be available for public comment at a hearing on Aug. 13, from 6 to 10 p.m., in the Lincoln Auditorium at University of Maine at Farmington. The hearing is a required part of the EIS.
According to Maine Air National Guard Col. Donald McCormack, this meeting will not be like the informational ones held previously, but instead be a public hearing where comments will be recorded.
“It’s an official proceeding,” he said, “where names and comments will be recorded by a hearing judge.”
Written comments will also be accepted in the next few months, with the final EIS likely made available in October.
I would encourage everyone that cherishes the serenity of Maine’s great outdoors to mark their calendars for the meeting on August 13th, from 6 to 10 p.m., in the Lincoln Auditorium at University of Maine at Farmington.
While an F-16 strafing the ground for 10 minutes at 500 feet would undoubtedly startle many folks and animals, I’m sure that the proponents of this change would argue “we would get used to it.” That’s actually the biggest problem with the plan. One of our area’s greatest assets is the peace and quiet of our woods, mountains, rivers, and lakes. This change in flights to give the air guard a “sandbox” to play in, but it would really be a “Pandora’s box .” Not only would the Mass Air Guard avail themselves to this “no holds barred” training ground, but it would open up the area to become the de facto training area of choice for other military units.
The impact on our area will be enormous.
So much of our local economy depends upon tourism. Whether it’s that quiet day hike up Tumbledown, the serenity of the snow covered trees on Saddleback, or the peaceful fall colors of Western Maine’s forest, one thing is clear — it will be forever changed.
Has anyone reading this ever been to an area with a major flight presence for the military? As a child, I spent many summers visiting my older brother who lives near the Oceana Naval Air Station near Virginia Beach. The sound of fighter jets is background noise in that community. It also seemed like flight accidents (both large and small) were commonplace on the local news. Many of you may say we are nothing like the Norfolk area because we just don’t have the military presence. Indeed, the economy in that area is really quite beholden to military jobs, so most folks there tolerate the noise and danger. That is actually my point here. We will be the recipients of the noise and the danger along with the detrimental economic impact on tourism, but we will get nothing in return. Quite literally, this will be a taking of our natural resources without a single job created. (Indeed, it will make Nestle look like a hero for draining our aquifers for a few bottling jobs…but that’s another story!)
Take a look at what folks near Oceana have to deal with…
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/oceana.htm
The change to flight rules will take away our quiet skies. This is an immensely valuable resource that is quantified by the tourism dollars that flow into Maine every year. The negative impact is real.
I urge you to attend the meeting on August 13th, from 6 to 10 p.m., in the Lincoln Auditorium at University of Maine at Farmington and let your voice be heard before we realize it’s too late!
This would only hurt the communities of Western Maine. I live in the Sugarloaf region, and I have always known this place to be peaceful and quiet. It lets me relax, and I beleive that’s one of the reasons tourists, the backbone of our economy, come here as well. Wouldn’t it be horrible to be hiking through the forest, or camping on one of our lakes, and suddenly be startled by the roar of a fighter jet flying 500 feet above you?
This could potentially ruin our economy, especially if “other military units” see the opportunity to train here. We would lose our reputation for peace and quiet. The potential negative impacts on nature and wildlife are also significant. Attend the meeting! Tell them what you think!