Last August, The Era reported on how the Maryland Air National Guard was planning on training pilots in low-altitude flights over the Pennsylvania Wilds. Concerns have been brought up on just how these training flights will impact wildlife and tourism.
While Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn acknowledged the need for such training, she noted that the flights, proposed to occur for 170 days out of the year for four hours a day, could cause disruption to the tourism industry, as well as negatively impact wildlife, particularly migratory birds and elk.
Recently, Steve Green, president and CEO of Southwoods Farm Nature Preserve in Coudersport, wrote a letter to President Joe Biden expressing concern over the flights and the impact they may have on the area.
“The Guard reported that they have undertaken the federally mandated environmental assessment to identify and advise as to the potential negative consequences to human health and the environment in this proposed flyover region should the plan and flyover training be implemented as proposed,” said Green in the letter.
“However, in reviewing this summary of their proposed plan, it doesn’t require a sophisticated environmental assessment to get a good sense and measure of how devastating the human health, environmental and wildlife impacts would be. I have worked in the field of environmental management my entire career.”
Green uged Biden to put himself in the shoes of local residents and imagine what it would be like if the executed plan involved the flyover region being Washington, DC. He continued the letter by asking if a member of Biden’s staff could intervene by looking into the matter.
“Seeking a plan that satisfies the Guard’s understandably essential A-10 Warthog training needs, but with significantly less impact to, and more consideration of our citizens, environment and wildlife,” Green said in conclusion.
The Era reached out to the Maryland Air National Guard for an update on where they are with the plan, but had not heard back by press time Sunday evening.
