County commissioners call for comment extension, town hall meetings over proposed military flight zone revisions

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Clinton County Commissioners want the Federal Aviation Administration and the Maryland Air National Guard to set up town halls over the Guard’s proposal to expand the number of military training flights over north-central Pennsylvania.

Commissioner Jeff Snyder said at Monday’s work session the county has contacted 12th district Congressman Fred Keller whose district covers much of the impacted area. Snyder said Keller in turn has contacted 15th district Congressman G-T Thompson and 9th district Congressman Dan Meuser, all of whom have constituents in the training zone.
Snyder said the elected officials are asking the FAA and the Maryland National Guard to establish a town hall on the topic and also move back the deadline for public comment/inquiries, presently set for Dec. 15.
The commissioners had said earlier in November there are more questions than answers about the Guard proposal to increase the number of training flights and lower their altitude. They also requested a detailed environmental impact study as part of the process, expressing concerns about the increased flights’ effect on tourism in the north-central region
The commissioners said earlier that information received indicated the military flights could be held anywhere from 170 to 270 days a year and at altitudes as low as 100 feet. Presently any training exercises have to stay at 10,000 feet or above.