August 1, 2008 Phone: 406-672-8969; e-mail:
[email protected]
CEO Attends Meeting on U.S. Air Force Plans to Expand Powder River Training Complex;
Petition Says Action Would Constitute a Taking of Private Property
Billings, Mont. – Well over 100 cattle producers and concerned citizens attended a meeting this week in Miles City, Mont., to learn about the U.S. Air Force's (USAF's) plan to triple the size of the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC). R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard participated in the meeting and encouraged producers to exercise their right to influence the USAF's plans. R-CALF USA Member Pat Goggins, who owns several large ranches in the PRTC area, as well as the Public Auction Yards in Billings and Billings Livestock Commission, organized the meeting. Maj. Doug Bodine, a USAF pilot stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base presented plans for the PRTC expansion and answered questions from the audience. The proposed expansion affects certain areas of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
John Goggins, general manager of Western Livestock Reporter, distributed a petition against the plan that was signed by many in attendance. The petition asserts that the PRTC expansion plan would constitute a taking of private property and should not be pursued.
"After hearing from producers about their concerns on how this expansion would affect their cattle operations, R-CALF believes the U.S. Air Force should more thoroughly explore other available training options, rather than focus on an area that supports such a large proportion of full-time cattle operations," Bullard said. "R-CALF does understand the importance of maintaining a strong and well-trained military, but there are other available options with which to achieve that goal without adversely affecting the prime grazing lands in this region. These options include greater use of existing training sites in Idaho and Utah."
Bodine explained that the USAF preferred to expand the PRTC rather than to continue using training areas in Idaho and Utah because of its closer proximity to Ellsworth Air Force Base and because Ellsworth aircraft are accorded a lower priority in those regions than are aircraft from other USAF bases. He also said the existing PRTC does not allow aircraft to deploy chaff or flares and that high-speed flight capability is limited. According to Bodine, the USAF would use the expanded training area Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to midnight.
Concerns raised at the meeting included the impact of sonic booms on livestock production, greater potential for fires caused by the deployment of flares, potential devaluation of property values and the potential disruption of emergency air ambulances and fire-fighting aircraft.
According to a May 29, 2008, notice published in the Federal Register by the Department of the Air Force, concerned citizens may send written comments about this proposed action – postmarked no later than Aug. 4 – to:
Ms. Linda DeVine
HQ ACC/A7PP
129 Andrews St., Room 317
Langley AFB, VA 23665-2769
The USAF has held 'scoping' meetings across Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, and in approximately 10 months, will release a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the public. At that time, concerned citizens will have 60 days to furnish additional comments before the final EIS draft is written.
DeVine said persons who were unable to attend Monday night's meeting can access information about the proposed PRTC expansion at: http://www.ellsworth.af.mil. The link to the PRTC information is on the right hand side of the page and will be updated as additional materials are produced, she said.
Bullard encouraged every resident to exercise their right to influence the USAF's decision in this matter by submitting a written letter postmarked on or before Aug. 4 that expresses their comments or concerns about this proposed expansion.
Montana counties included in the proposed PRTC expansion plan are: Big Horn, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud, Treasure and Yellowstone, along with the Crow Reservation and the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
North Dakota counties included in the proposed PRTC expansion plan are: Adams, Billings, Bowman, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Morton, Sioux, Slope and Stark, along with the Standing Rock Reservation.
South Dakota counties included in the proposed PRTC expansion plan are: Butte, Corson, Hardin, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins and Ziebach, along with the Standing Rock Reservation and the Cheyenne River Reservation.
Wyoming counties included in the proposed PRTC expansion plan are: Campbell, Crook, Sheridan and Weston.
Note: To view the May 29, 2008, Federal Register notice, visit the "Property Rights" link at www.r-calfusa.com.
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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.
