The U.S. Air Force is proposing up to 10,000 F-16 fighter jet “sorties” a year over America’s (and the world’s) first Wilderness—the Gila—and seven other Wildernesses in southern New Mexico—the Aldo Leopold, Apache Kid, Withington, Bosque del Apache, Sierra de las Uvas, Broad Canyon, and Robledo Wildernesses. The area’s wild character would no doubt be harmed by the invasion and noise of these countless military overflights, including those just 100 feet above the ground.
Although the Air Force acknowledges that its current airspace is adequate, Holloman Air Force Base wants to expand its F-16 pilot training airspace over these Wilderness areas. Specially, the Air Force proposes an annual additional 10,000 flights, plus discharge of 15,000 flares and 15,000 bundles of chaff.
Flares allegedly burn out far above ground level, but there are documented cases of them being mistakenly released at low altitudes, reaching the ground and igniting fires. Meanwhile, chaff bundles contain up to 5 million aluminum-coated glass fibers up to two inches long, designed to stay airborne as long as possible and settle to the earth after several hours. Military studies on the effects of chaff on wildlife, humans, and water quality leave many questions unanswered. For example, does inhaled or ingested chaff harm wildlife? When chaff lands in rivers and streams, does it affect aquatic life and water quality?
We shouldn’t sacrifice America’s National Wilderness Preservation System—including the Gila Wilderness, the world’s first Wilderness area—when there are better places for this military training. Please urge the Holloman Air Force Base to drop its proposal to expand military training over these Wildernesses. (Read the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).) Comments are due January 31, 2020 and must be submitted online: http://www.hollomanafbairspaceeis.com/Comments.aspx
(Please note: if clicking the comment page link on the line above brings up a "Link Mismatch Detected" note, please click either "Go to..." button. Both lead to the Air Force comment page.)
We encourage you to write in your own words, but please feel free to cut and paste from the sample comment letter below. | |
Dear Holloman Air Force Base:
Thank you for accepting my comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Holloman Air Force Base proposal to expand F-16 training airspace over southern New Mexico. I oppose Alternatives 2 and 3 given the potential for significant impacts to the Gila, Aldo Leopold, Apache Kid, Withington, Bosque del Apache, Sierra de las Uvas, Broad Canyon, and Robledo Wildernesses.
Low-level flights by supersonic fighter jets would shatter the area’s natural sounds, ruin the wilderness experience for visitors, and stress native wildlife. Dropping flares increases the chances of human-ignited fires. Chaff dropped from jets becomes trash and could harm wildlife. The future of Holloman Air Force Base is not at risk, since the current airspace is already adequate according to the DEIS. We as a nation should not sacrifice America’s National Wilderness Preservation System—including the Gila Wilderness, the world’s first Wilderness area—when there are better places for military training. The Air Force acknowledges that Alternative 1—expansion and reconfiguration of Talon MOA, east of Alamogordo—meets its training needs with the fewest risks and impacts. While I recognize the role of Holloman’s F-16 pilot training mission to national defense, Alternative 1 clearly best meets those needs. Thank you for consideration of my comments. | |
