County expresses concerns over proposed military flight zone revisions

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Clinton County Planning Director Katie de Silva on Monday detailed a proposal from the Maryland Air National Guard to expand the provisions of military flight training over the county and the county commissioners voiced their concern about any such relaxed standards.

de Silva said currently the training flights must be at altitudes off 10,000 feet or higher but the proposal would drop that figure to as low as 100 feet above the ground; presently such low altitude training is only allowed over the ocean, she said. The training is conducted over parts of Clinton, Potter and Tioga County. As proposed, de Silva told the commissioners at their work session, the Maryland unit wants all aircraft grounded or re-routed over a larger, 6-county area while the training is conducted, which she said could occur up to 272 days a year for up to two hours a day.

The county planner said concerns have been expressed about the impact such training would have on tourism and hunting, noting the training is at high speed and “really loud.” The proposal is now in a comment period.

According to information at the commissioners’ session, those who developed the proposal said there would be no significant environmental impact but a full environmental impact study has been requested and will be held, including public meetings.

Commissioner Angela Harding said the military sponsors made no contact with local entities, including Piper Memorial Airport. She encouraged citizens to express their views “to protect our community.” Board chairman Miles Kessinger chided the agency which had done the initial environmental review, stating it was likely done “from a desk in Washington, DC…by throwing a dart at a map” with no concern for the affected areas. Kessinger said the proposal would greatly affect planes in and out of Piper Memorial Airport, in addition to hunting, fishing and tourism.