[Editor's Note: This article begins the actual public hearing and is the second of a multi-part series of the meeting, due to its length This author had no access to the speaker list, so some names may be misspelled. Please email
By Mary Alice Murphy
Air Force Col. Joshua Rosen said his purpose at the U.S. Air Force airspace optimization hearing on Sept. 11, 2024 was to serve as the presiding hearing judge. He serves at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. His primary job is to do court papers and hearings, like this one, and he doesn't work with anyone on the team for this hearing. "I will facilitate the speakers. This hearing is held in accordance with the NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) and the NHPA (National Historic Preservation Act). The purpose of this hearing is to hear your comments on the proposals that were presented in the video, just completed. I welcome your passion on the issues. There are three things, this is not: 1) It is not a question and answer session. It's only for public comment; 2) There will be no responses tonight; 3) Nothing is up for a vote tonight."
Rosen continued by saying: "All comments will be included in the report and substantive comments will be in the the public record. After we complete all the hearings, we will recommend any needed changes to the proposals. The session will adjourn at 8 p.m. If you have additional comments, you may fill out the form on the website-https://www.arizonaregionalairspaceeis.com/overview-of-proposed-action/. Your name may be published in the final EIS (environmental impact statement). Other personal information may be included with your permission. Oct. 9, 2024 is the end of the receipt of comments. There are no page limits to how much you can comment. The Air Force gives equal weight to spoken and written comment."
He noted that a court reporter was on hand to record all spoken comments.
Rosen chose to pick three names at a time from the list of those who signed up to speak.
Grant County District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne spoke first, as Rosen gave priority to public officials.
Browne said it was quite discouraging to see the Air Force start to expand the airspace over the Gila Wilderness again "only five years after you decided not to do it for Holloman Air Force Base. Five years ago, our Grant County commissioners approved unanimously a resolution against airspace expansion in our area. We have a similar resolution on the agenda tomorrow."
He continued with his comments and complaints. They included the potential of wildfire from the dropping of flares, as well as the possibility of a plane crash. "Flares were proven to have caused a wildlife northwest of Cliff. Public safety is compromised. Archaeological history is threatened. And the flights have negative impact on wildlife." With the expiration of his allotted two minutes, he stepped away from the microphone.
The next speaker was Brett Myrick. "I thank all the military for their service, but I'm standing up for our wildlife. Holloman decided it was not good for our wilderness. If you talk to them, you can stop this right now. I understand military readiness. I was a Navy Seal Team 5. I've also been in a lot of slot canyons where a sonic boom should not happen. You shouldn't be dropping chaff and flares in our wilderness. Mayor Ken Ladner, a chemist, during the Holloman hearing, spoke to the chemicals that remain on the ground. Do not fly over our wilderness."
John ______ said he didn't believe the proposal was correct. He alleged it was flawed. "Why are others who represent our public lands, such as the Department of Interior and BLM (bureau of land management) not here at the table to protect our wilderness?" He said the beginning of the public scoping period two years ago was not advertised. "It's not up to 10,000 people who live here to make this decision."
Lynn Zotalis said: "From Cochise County to Hidalgo County to here you are not taking into consideration the endangered species and the small towns this proposal would impact. The document is 212 pages long to expand your flights over rural areas. You will double the low level flying and you will increase the hazardous materials you drop. I am part of the Peaceful Chiricahua Skies. The DEIS (draft environmental impact statement) does not mention flight safety, and studies show that the loud noises do impact reproductive processes."
Stanley King recounted the story of when he and others had just loaded pack horses "when an F-16 appeared over our heads near Whitewater Creek deep in the Gila Wilderness. It pulled back and stood vertical. The earthshaking noise and the heat put my companion and me on the ground, as well as knocking off the packs. The horses scattered. I remember it too clearly 30 years later. We are now faced with a replay of the Department of Defense proposal. In my experience, the pilots do not always follow the low level limits."
Jeff Boyd presented some statistics. He said the sound of an F-35 at 120 feet off the ground is 121 decibels. Lowering to 100 feet would bring the noise to 145 decibels. The noise is variable depending on the terrain, the weather and the altitude. He said a level of 85 decibels is damaging to hearing. "These low levels are likely to cause hearing damage. All the MOAs (multiple operations areas) have residents and wildlife. They are recreational areas and not empty like the Barry M. Goldwater Bombing Range."
Patrice Mutchnik of Heart of the Gila said she speaks for those who can't. Supersonic flights to a level of 500 feet over the Gila, Reserve, Glenwood, Gila Hot Springs are unacceptable. It will lower the value of farms and homes and harm the wildlife and livestock. "There is some indication that you can use the Goldwater Rage. We say no to trade offs."
Allyson Siwik of the Gila Resource Information Project said GRIP partners with the Peaceful Skies coalition. "We signed up more than 30 organizations. We recommend a robust study of noise and public health impacts. The DEIS does not talk about the impacts of noise on hypertension and strokes. Nighttime noise increases the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. It may trigger an immediate heart attack. The noise is a tremendous health risk. You can use the Goldwater Range and not expand over our homes."
Todd Schulke, representing the Center for Biological Diversity, said: "We've been around the block with this issue. We didn't want you flying over us before, and we don't believe what you say in the DEIS. We as the Center for Biological Diversity when we requested documents got blackballed unless we would pay $60,000. I have no confidence in the Air Force. You have misleading values. You have inflated the numbers in the thousands of Warthogs, which are going to be retired. We, as an organization, are dedicated to using lawsuits to protect the environment."
Win Cord said: "We are a notable community built by people and supported by people who love the Gila Wilderness. I will focus on how this expansion will impact humans. We want humans and animals to thrive here. We ask you to restrict your flights to the Goldwater Range."
Alice Jones said she is a 30-year resident who deeply loves "our planet, which is facing an existential crisis. We have to protect our wilderness because we are facing mass extinction. I oppose supersonic jets. We live here for the same reasons, to preserve the wilderness for our children and our children's children."
Starr Belsky said she understood the need for training, but "this wilderness needs to be respected. It's hard to do the research, but what I saw and the assertions made showed me that the no impact data is old and misleading. We need recent data. The center of the Tombstone sector is one of the most bio-diverse areas in the country. It's already under stress from loss of water. There's no weight shown to the history of the area, either."
Denise Jones said for years, it was just airline flights over the wilderness, which disrupted and caused reproductive impacts. "Training flights at low altitude will cause dizziness, headaches, and can affect a lot of people."
Mike Mudjo said he respected the sacrifices military personnel have to make, "but not the sacrifices you want us to make. The Gila National Forest belongs to everyone, and most of us are not in favor of dealing with low jets. I find peace and joy in the wilderness, and you are asking us to sacrifice those. I hope you will be on our side."
Michael Sherrod said: "Everyone here respects the Air Force and defense of our country. The wilderness is part of that nation. If you knew it, you wouldn't be doing what you propose, which would be sacrificing what you are supposed to protect."
David Hill told the story of last year's wildfire in Pinos Altos. "A helicopter that was fighting the fire came so low over our house that if it had gone down, it would have taken down our house. It did a good job on the fire and we were thankful for those red helicopters. We don't want the chaff coming down near our house, and if you won't take responsibility for any fires caused by the flares, I hope you have the red helicopters on speed dial."
He said he and his wife had lived in a MOA, and "we had them fly over when we were on the ski slope. They were doing high-level training for Afghanistan and one Black Hawk almost crashed into the parking lot. It would have been catastrophic."
Dana Yaeger said he moved to the area to get away from Tucson noise. "There should be time sharing with the Goldwater Range or maybe a treaty with Mexico for the training."
_____ Madden said a huge factor to move to the area was the Gila National Forest and Wilderness. "For our 19th anniversary, we went backpacking in the wilderness. We enjoyed the peaceful noise, including the warblers. But it was disrupted by flights overhead. More flights would destroy the peace of the forest and wilderness. Please use the Goldwater Range. Expanding to here would be a threat to quiet recreation."
Devin Scott, a student at Western New Mexico University, said the Gila Wilderness saved his life. He said he had an obsessive-compulsive disorder and the Gila Wilderness cured him. "Please consider other options."
Andy Payne asked: "What part of NO does the Air Force not understand? Hundreds of people commented on the proposed expansion of Holloman training airspace in 2019. Please read those comments and the decision. We still need to be protective of the wilderness, especially now because of climate change. We hike with our dog. When we lived in Alaska, our dogs, when flights went over, would become disoriented and wanted to hide from the sonic booms. They got to where thet expected them and were prepared to bolt. Please, I hope you protect us and our dogs."
Mike Sauber said he, too, had experienced being knocked to the ground by the low-flying jets. "I am an Air Force veteran, but I have helped found two environmental groups. Again, I ask: 'What part of No, do you not understand?' How about 'Hell No?'" He questioned the use of funding to pay Lockheed and other airplane manufacturers for their airplanes. "What could the cost of just one jet do for Grant County? We spend more on defense than a lot of other countries combined. Why not create Medicare to cover all, and take care of the veterans. Use the skyline of New York City. They could have used the help in 2001."
Carol Martin said the survey of 750,000 acres was done to create the Gila Wilderness. "We do not need jets flying over and destroying the solitude of wilderness or our forest. The map makes it look like the expansion is just a little bit into New Mexico, but it's more like 120 miles into New Mexico. Pilots don't 'color within the lines,' so it would be more. And as for hearing impacts, how do you test the hearing on an elk?"
Pamela Morgan said while she understands expanding the Morenci-Reserve and Tombstone areas, however, the "Wilderness Act of 1964 is meant to protect the wildness." She read from the act, including the benefits of an enduring wilderness and its primeval condition. "Increased littering of chaff and flares, as well as increased noise, is not compatible with this act. Noise could impact traditional sacred areas and the sacred experience in the wilderness. If you cannot protect wilderness, then we need to be protected from the Air Force."
Linda Bluestone said she moved to the region to get away from the noise from La Guardia Airport in New York City. "Two things I was looking for included not hearing planes and definitely we do not need sonic booms. This is the 100th anniversary of the Gila Wilderness and I do not think Geronimo would have appreciated sonic booms. I ask for no training over the wilderness." She also said she came to the area after visiting all over the world, because of the hiking and horseback reputation of the Gila.
Bonnie Vendic said when she saw the email about the proposed airspace expansion, "I burst into rage and tears. We're better than this. For those who don't live here, you can't even ride a bicycle in the wilderness because it's manmade, and you want to fly jets over it? I will add another proposal: Get the hell out of the Gila."
Art Ratcliffe said that in addition to the environmental damage from the noise, the flares contain Teflon, which is already found in local water, and they caused a large fire in the forest, which burned on protected areas, where fireworks are not allowed. "Why can't you just use simulators to train the pilots? It would save some money. To run an F-16 costs at least $2,000 an hour. My personal concerns include that I have tinnitus and PTSD caused by aircraft during my time in Vietnam. I moved here to get away from Tucson and its aircraft. This is the same proposal that we faced from Holloman, and we helped them find other options. We didn't want it then; we don't want it now."
Diane Barrett Werber said she moved here and bought the Lyon Lodge. She showed a photo of the Palisades. "Then we saw two jets go into the Palisades and then a Tomahawk. They frightened me and the livestock. What it did to the horses, it will do to all the wild animals, too."
Carol Ann Fugagli of the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance. "There are many shortcomings to this DEIS (draft environmental impact statement). It is inappropriate in this time of increasing drying of the climate, which increased 5 degrees in temperature and is still increasing. I would like to see compensation. Climate change is already fully proven. I ask that you take it into consideration."
Christina Hess said: "Once again you are expanding. How is it open to destroy this wilderness? There are PFAs (chemicals) in the chaff and the flares cause fires. How destructive they are. One of your planes swooped in front of me. Thankfully, I was hanging onto a tree. My partner has PTSD. We came here for peace. Soon we face new destruction. Please, no sonic booms. I say the U.S. need to begin to practice peace, not war."
Nessa Parker said they brought property within walking distance of the forest. "It's quiet. We see buzzards, coyotes and bobcats. Are you really going to ruin this. We didn't move here to hear planes."
Rosalie Sirgagli said she and her husband had run a real estate company. "Most people who move here come because they want to enjoy the peaceful skies, the quiet and the forest. Please check with Holloman and read their report. This is unacceptable. Supersonic jets do not belong over our forest."
Joe Hunter said he lives at the base of the Burros. He is retired law enforcement who served in the New Mexico Bootheel. "I support the expansion of the training over the forest. I spend time on horseback in the wilderness. I believe all these concerns are overblown. Good training is needed. It outweighs the perceived impacts. We need safe and effective training for our military."
The next article will continue the speakers' comments.
To view the first article, please visit https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/u-s-air-force-holds-airspace-optimization-hearing-091124-part-1
