Keep the San Louis Valley Peaceful

The Air Force is proposing to use the mountains of Crestone, Colorado and 34 other counties in Colorado and New Mexico as practice grounds for the war in Afghanistan in a program called LATN (Low Altitude Technical Navigation).  We are requesting each of you to send an email to the Air Force strongly urging them to not allow the LATN program to be allowed to fly in the San Luis Valley, home to our retreat center, Samten Ling.  If allowed to proceed, they would fly low altitude (200 ft.) "sorties" (groups of big, loud military planes) per night, 5 hours in duration each, half of that at low altitude.

One of the 2 planes proposed, the C-120, is essentially a re-fueling plane.  The other, the CV-22 Osprey, is an Air Force remake of a Marine Corps plane which has a significant crash record.  The specifics of decibel levels are not currently available, but we know that the myriad aircrafts demonstrate negative impacts on wildlife.   The first CV-22 deployed in Afghanistan crashed last April, killing 4 and injuring many more.  "Extreme climate and rugged terrain" were cited as "presenting special challenges" for this plane, which is exactly the environment of Crestone.  The Air Force spokesperson at the scoping meeting held in Alamosa on Oct 19th, Colonel Kirk Smith, acknowledged that the Air Force did not have the capacity to assist containing a fire that would result in the event of a crash.  If the Air Force is successful in acquiring this 94,000 square miles of airspace (the entire San Luis Valley as well as NW New Mexico) as a military operations area (MOA), it will be in perpetuity (i.e. for as long as they want it).  The Air Force has begun the process of environmental assessment (EA) and FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact).  Here is a link to a website that details the LATN program in relation to the San Luis Valley.

The emails need to include what would be the significant impacts that would occur if this program is allowed to be implemented in Crestone.  These can include spiritual practice, wilderness, quietude, enjoyment of the night sky, air quality, peace of mind, heart and body, health,  economy, wildlife, agriculture, recreation.  Here are some ideas for the main points, but the letters need to be individually composed:

1. Ask for an Environmental Impact Statement or EIS to be performed. This should be done rather than an EA (Environmental Assessment), which has much lower parameters.
2. Ask for an extended comments period, because many people who would be affected have not yet heard about it.
3. The level of noise could have extremely negative impacts on the economy here, which is based on spiritual retreats, [tourism, etc.]
4. We certainly want our pilots well-trained, but the bulk of this can be done by simulations.
5. In the not-so-unlikely event of a plane crash, the Air Force has stated that they would not be able to help fight any possible fires that couldresult.
6. Air pollution can come from many of the activities that they are planning-- not just the act of their flying over the valley but also the pilots practicing mid-air fueling.
7. Wildlife would be negatively affected by the noise and the pollution. We have some unique ecosystems here that would be vulnerable. The Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR part 27.34 Aircraft) prohibits unauthorized operation of aircraft at altitudes resulting in harassment of wildlife, and the LATN proposal falls within these prohibited altitude levels.

Please address these emails to 27SOWpublicaffairs@cannon.af.mil.  They need to hear from as many of us as possible, and we need to highlight for them as many issues as possible, because what we express has to be recorded, acknowledged and addressed in the EIS or EA.  The deadline for comments is November 15th.   The preferred method of communication would be email; however, communications can be made by phone (575-784-4131), fax (575-784-7412), or mail (Cannon AFB Public Affairs, 110 E Sextant, Suite 1150, Cannon AFB, NM  88103).  We urge you to take the time to write in the next few days in order to protect our sacred land as well as those of other spiritual communities.

I am writing to express my concern upon hearing the news that the U.S. Air Force wants to begin flying Low Altitude Technical Navigation (LATN) operations in 94,000 square miles of airspace in Southern Colorado and Northwest New Mexico. First I ask you to extend the deadline for Public Comments until early 2011 to give all parties an opportunity to fully study the proposal and to file the appropriate comments.



It is particularly disturbing that the Air Force would consider flying such missions within the San Louis Valley, Colorado. This majestic valley is home to myriad religious facilities that cultivate solitude and serenity. Since the vast majority of the economy in the San Louis Valley is based on quietude %u2013 the Great Sand Dunes National Park, spiritual centers/retreats, recreation, healing centers, unique wildlife (e.g. the bat caves at Valley View) and the rest on agriculture, the already challenged economic area would be severely impacted by the negative effects associated with these types of training flights..



Airspace is a finite resource. The military already owns at least half of it, and this represents a huge 94,000 square mile grab. This proposal will affect 35 Colorado counties and 17 New Mexico counties, and every private, commercial and medical aircraft currently using the sky over these areas. As part of their simulated warfare, these flights will disperse chaff from the aircraft to practice dealing with various combat-type RADAR conditions. That chaff, along with the aircraft contrail particulates (fumes from their engines), perchlorate, and other pollutants will descend to the ground potentially contaminating the water and soil resources in the area.



The flights will also disturb livestock, pets, the elderly, children, anyone who is sleeping, people suffering from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) - especially our veterans and others who have experienced war zones (e.g., international students), tourists, hikers, campers, spiritual retreatants, people who moved here for the peace and quiet, the people who have lived here forever where the noise alone would negatively affect their traditional, cultural and spiritual way of life, etc. People who have already experienced some of these practice flights over Mora County and San Miguel County in NM have reported the following: chest pains, PTSD symptoms, anxiety attacks, thought a plane was crashing, hid under a table, extreme fear, children waking up crying, windows rattling, not being able to hear a phone conversation due to the noise, and much more. The Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR part 27.34 Aircraft) prohibits unauthorized operation of aircraft at altitudes resulting in harassment of wildlife, and the LATN proposal falls within these prohibited altitude levels. In addition, The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a designated as a Class 1 Airshed, which means that no degradation of air quality is allowed to occur.



In conclusion, I ask that an Environmental Impact Statement be conducted to fully study the effects this proposed training by The U.S. Air Force will have. Furthermore, I ask that the Public Comment Period be extended until 2011 to allow for all concerned parties to voice their opinions.




Sincerely,

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