Letter to Harry M. Wyatt III, Lieutenant General, USAF, Director, Air National Guard

Letter

Governor Registers Opposition to Proposed Low-Level Military Flights Over Western Maine

Governor John E. Baldacci today registered his opposition to a proposal by the Air National Guard to allow low-level training flights over Western Maine.

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in Farmington in the Lincoln Auditorium on the campus of the University of Maine Farmington.

In the letter to the Director of the Air National Guard, Governor Baldacci cites the lack of responsiveness from the National Guard Bureau to questions raised about the proposal to allow the low-level flights.

"I wish to register my opposition to this proposal," Governor Baldacci wrote. "I do not believe that serious consideration has been given to the impacts on the people of Maine nor has the appropriate level of due diligence been conducted in this process and in the Draft (Environmental Impact Statement)."

After the public comment period, a Final Environmental Impact Statement will be completed by the Air National Guard and submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA will then determine if the ANG has done a complete evaluation and whether to accept the analysis of significant impacts and related mitigation plans.

The text of the letter follows:

Harry M. Wyatt III
Lieutenant General, USAF
Director, Air National Guard
National Guard Bureau
1411 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington Virginia, 22202-3231

Dear Gen. Wyatt:

The Condor MOA hearing on the Draft EIS (DEIS) is scheduled for this Saturday, November 14, in Farmington, Maine. As you know, I requested a postponement of the hearing for six to nine months in my letter dated August 28, 2009 (attached). In that letter, I also raised a series of questions regarding the safety, noise and environmental impacts of the proposed Condor MOA. These questions were developed jointly by Legislators and citizens of the western mountains, staff at MaineDOT, the Quality of Place Council and the Office of the Attorney General.

In response, I received correspondence from you dated September 1, 2009, in which rationale is given for doing no further analysis regarding questions of noise, safety and environmental impact. In addition, there is an NGB staff summary sheet that recognizes the Fermata Report and the Brookings Report but suggests that any pertinent findings from those reports will only be included in the Final EIS.

While I am grateful that the Air National Guard postponed the hearing for approximately 60 days, I am deeply disappointed that no further consideration was given to the questions outlined in my letter. I am also disappointed that the findings from the Fermata Study and the Brookings Report were not included in the Draft EIS. Due to the absence of such information, the State is unable to adequately respond to the DRAFT EIS as presented.

I continue to assert that the questions raised in my prior correspondence strongly suggest that more work needs to be done to assure me and the people of Western Maine that no significant impacts will result from the proposed changes to the Condor MOA. As such, I wish to register my opposition to this proposal. I do not believe that serious consideration has been given to the impacts on the people of Maine nor has the appropriate level of due diligence been conducted in this process and in the Draft EIS.

Sincerely,

John E. Baldacci

Governor

cc: Attorney General Janet Mills
David A. Cole, MaineDOT Commissioner
General John Libby, DVEM Commissioner

Encl.

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