Dear Administrator Huerta:
I am writing to emphasize the numerous strongly held concerns of many Montanans relating to the Air Force's proposed expansion of the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC). I will not support the expansion unless the Air Force, working with the FAA and Montana stakeholders, makes additional mitigations that satisfy these objections.
As the son of a Marine, I strongly believe the United States military must remain the most-capable, best-trained force in the world. Maintaining this unrivaled status undeniably requires the cooperation of communities across our country where military training occurs. The people of Montana enthusiastically support our men and women in uniform and have demonstrated such cooperation. We proudly are the home of more veterans per capita than nearly any other state, critical military assets including Malmstrom Air Force Base, and most of the current PRTC. Furthermore, I appreciate the Air Force's desire to save taxpayer dollars. I believe every component of the federal government must tighten its belt to effectively respond to our escalating debt crisis and leave our children and grandchildren with a more prosperous future.
A large number of Montanans, however, have expressed credible concerns regarding the proposed PRTC expansion. Many in the general aviation community are strongly troubled by the impacts of the expansion on pilot and public safety, the cost of flying, and local airports. They note that several places in the proposed PRTC lack the communication equipment necessary to meet safety standards. Stakeholders are also concerned that the expansion would deal a major blow to the surging local economy because numerous civilian business and training flights, particularly those operating under instrument flight rules (IFR), would become excessively restricted--at times prohibited altogether--and more expensive. In addition, some Montana ranchers are concerned that the Air Force training could have a detrimental impact on their operations.
The Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes, meanwhile, continue to seek different changes to the proposal to protect the interests of their nations. In this process, the FAA and the Air Force share an obligation to conduct themselves within the framework of a government-to-government relationship with these tribes. As President Clinton ordered twenty years ago, the agencies must "consult, to the greatest extent practicable and to the extent permitted by law, with tribal governments prior to taking actions that affect federally recognized tribal governments. All such consultations are to be open and candid so that all interested parties may evaluate for themselves the potential impact of relevant proposals." The FAA and Air Force should continue engaging the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes to address their concerns.
The Air Force, in consultation with the FAA, has committed to several mitigations to address some of the aforementioned objections, including installing enhanced communications systems, enlarging the avoidance areas surrounding public airports, and giving priority to IFR aircraft that are taking off or landing. I urge the FAA, however, to continue to demand concrete, workable solutions necessary to sufficiently address the civil aviation safety concerns and other aeronautical impacts that are brought forward. These mitigations should provide assurance that the PRTC expansion would not pose additional risks to civilian pilot safety, and they should provide certainty and clarity concerning the flight schedules in the potential new military operating areas to minimize to the fullest degree possible adverse impacts on general aviation and the economic interests in eastern Montana.
In addition, many Montanans have voiced frustration that FAA has not provided transparent public notification of the comment period for the proposal. They have also expressed opposition to FAA's refusal to accept comments electronically. I urge the FAA to take immediate steps to remedy these concerns and to extend the comment period beyond May 3, 2014, to ensure that all Montanans affected by the proposed PRTC expansion have sufficient opportunity to express their perspective to the FAA.
I sincerely appreciate the crucial role of the FAA in protecting the interests of civil aviation, and I thank you for considering my input as you complete your extensive analysis of the Air Force's proposed PRTC expansion and make final decisions relating to it.
Sincerely,
STEVE DAINES
Member of Congress (MT)