Air Force plans Powder River Expansion

[Prairyearth]

Defenders,

This area the Air Force is talking about in the following is still 1868 Treaty Territory. Please comment so they know we haven't forgotten, that they uphold the US Constitution to whom they have given an oath, and to speak on behalf of all the environment that will be affected by their plans.

Please spread the word either by sending this on, and-or printing this and handing it out.

Thank you.

Charmaine White Face, Coordinator
Defenders of the Black Hills

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Subject: Media Release: Air Force Welcomes Public Input


For questions about Ellsworth B-1 flying operations, contact the 28th
Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office at 605-385-5056. For questions about
Minot B-52 flying operations, contact the 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Office at 701.723.6397. Other questions may be directed to Air Combat
Command (ACC) Public Affairs at (757) 764-5007.

Very Respectfully,

// SIGNED //

28th Bomb Wing, Public Affairs
Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706
(605) 385-5056 / FAX (605) 385-4668
DSN (312) 675-5056 / FAX (312) 675-4668

AIR FORCE WELCOMES PUBLIC INPUT ON PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION LANGLEY
AIR FORCE BASE Va. (ACCNS) -- Air Combat Command is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the potential environmental
consequences of a proposed expansion and enhancement of the Air Force's
existing Powder River Complex. The proposed plan to restructure and
reconfigure the existing PRC Military Operations Area will provide a
versatile, scalable complex with more realistic, effective, and
efficient air combat training needed by B-1 and B-52 aircrews flying
from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and Minot AFB N.D., respectively.

Proposed changes include creating new airspace with a floor of 500 feet
above ground level (AGL), eliminating some existing airspace,
authorizing use of training chaff and flares, and permitting supersonic
flight above 10,000 feet AGL throughout the special use airspace.

The following locations have the potential of being affected by the
proposal's overhead training airspace: Montana--Crow and Northern
Cheyenne Reservations and the counties of Big Horn, Carter, Custer,
Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud, Treasure, and Yellowstone; North
Dakota--Standing Rock Reservation and Adams, Billings, Bowman, Golden
Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Morton, Sious, Slope and Start counties; South
Dakota--Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Reservations, and Butte,
Corson, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins, and Ziebeck counties; and
Wyoming--Campbell, Crook, Sheridan, and Weston counties.

Open communication is a critical element of the EIS process, and the Air
Force will host a series of public scoping meetings to receive public
input on the proposal and alternatives, as well as to gain a better
understanding of the potential issues and concerns related to this
proposal. During the meetings, Air Force representatives will describe
the proposed action and alternatives, explain the National Environmental
Policy Act, and, to the extent possible, answer questions about the
proposal.

The schedule and locations of the open house scoping meetings are
provided below. All meetings will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. The
public is invited to attend anytime within these hours. Dedicated
meetings for members of Native American tribes who have the potential of
being affected by the proposed training airspace are being planned.
Comments will be accepted throughout the environmental analysis process
and will be used to help shape and refine the proposal and assist the
Air Force in making informed decisions.

All public input should be received by Aug. 4 to ensure inclusion in the
Draft EIS. People wishing to mail comments or provide further input
should send them to: Ms. Linda DeVine, HQ ACC/A7PP, 129 Andrews St, Room
317, Langley AFB, VA 23665-2769
- June 16: Rapid City, S.D., Rapid City Public Library at 610 Quincy
Street
- June 17: Belle Fourche, S.D., Community Center at 1111 National Street
- June 18: Sundance, Wyo., Crook County Public Library at 414 E. Main
Street
- June 19: Gillette, Wyo., Campbell County Fire Dept at 106 Rohn Ave.
- June 20: Sheridan, Wyo., Sheridan Senior Center, North Entrance at 211
Smith St.
- June 23: Harding, Wyo., Chamber of Commerce at 10 E. Railroad St.
- June 24: Colstrip, Mont., Isabel Bills Community Learning Center at
520 Poplar Dr.
- June 25: Miles City, Mont., Miles Community College at 2715 Dickinson
- June 26: Ekalaka, Mont., St. Joan of Arc Parish Hall at Church Street
- June 27: Broadus, Mont., Powder River County District High School at
500 North Trautman
- July 8: Baker, Mont., Baker High School at 1015 S. Third Street, West
- July 9: Bowman, N.D. City Hall Meeting Room at 101 First St., SW -
July 10: Elgin, N.D. Elgin Community Center at 305 N. Main St
- July 14: Buffalo, S.D., Harding County Memorial Recreation Center, at
West Allison Street
- July 15: Bison, S.D., Bison School Cafeteria at 200 E. Carr St.

Media Notes: Interview opportunities with Air Force subject matter
experts will be available to media 45-minutes prior to each scoping
meeting. Interested media should bring valid photo identification and
credentials. Air Force officials will be unable to provide interviews to
media who do not arrive for the designated interview period or do not
bring credentials. As this process continues, additional media releases
may be distributed and information may be posted at www.accplanning.org
or at www.ellsworth.af.mil. For questions about Ellsworth B-1 flying
operations, contact the 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office at
605-385-5056. For questions about Minot B-52 flying operations, contact
the 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office at 701.723.6397. Other questions
may be directed to Air Combat Command (ACC) Public Affairs at (757)
764-5007.

[Prairyearth]

We need an update on this proposal, anyone have any new news? I've not heard the outcome. I do know they are going to start flying UAV's (unmanned aerial vehicles) over the prairies. Hope they aren't packing payloads...oh well, gotta wait and see. Prairy