Air Force issues draft report on training airspace over Wyoming, Montana, Dakotas
By CHET BROKAW - Associated Press writer trib.com | Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010 12:00 am | (2) Comments
PIERRE, S.D. -- The U.S. Air Force issued a draft environmental impact statement on its plans to quadruple the airspace in which it can conduct training exercises with its B-1 and B-52 bombers stationed in the Dakotas.
The 496-page document released Friday looks at several options and outlines potential impacts dealing with noise, air quality, the use of land and the effect on both ground and air safety.
Expanding the training range could affect some commercial and civilian flights, but is unlikely to cause significant problems in air quality or harm water or soil in the area, according to the draft report, which also acknowledges noise from low-flying bombers could startle and annoy people, livestock and wild animals.
The Powder River Training Complex is centered just northwest of where South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana meet. The Air Force wants to expand the training area for B1-B Lancers from South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base and B-52 Stratofortress bombers from North Dakota's Minot Air Force Base.
The expanded area would include a portion of southwestern North Dakota and additional areas of northwestern South Dakota and southeastern Montana.
The Air Force will hold 18 meetings to get public comment in South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. The public hearings begin in Rapid City, S.D., Sept. 14 and end in Billings, Mont., Oct. 28. Some civilian pilots are worried about additional air traffic, and some ranchers are worried low flyovers by the bombers will spook cattle and sheep.
No date has been announced for a final decision on the expansion.
Ellsworth Air Force Base will issue more information Monday on the draft environmental study, spokesman Maj. Matthew Reese said.
"We're looking at expanding the Powder River Training Area to about four times its current size, over primarily unpopulated areas," Reese said.
Because the current training space has limited capacity, the B-1 and B-52 bombers sometimes have to fly as far as Nevada for training exercises, Air Force officials have said. The expanded area would allow crews to operate closer to their bases as they practice bomb runs, defensive maneuvers and evasive actions that have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan, they have said.
The Air Force also could conduct large-scale training exercises in the airspace, but those would be limited to no more than one every three months.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said he is pleased the Air Force has issued a draft environmental assessment that takes note of earlier public comments. He said an expanded training space closer to Ellsworth Air Force Base would improve training and lower its cost.
"This training range plays an important role in keeping our military ready for combat, both in terms of ongoing operations in Afghanistan and preparing for future threats," Thune said in a written statement.
If you go
Here is a list of the Wyoming public meetings on the Air Force's proposal to expand its training exercises (times not available):
SUNDANCE
Thursday, Sept. 16
Sundance Secondary School
1016 E Cleveland
GILLETTE
Monday, Oct. 18
Allen Mickelson Fire Training Center
701 Larch
SHERIDAN
Tuesday, Oct. 19
Sheridan Senior Center North Entrance
211 Smith Street
