NM County Opposes Flyover Plan Official Criticizes 'NIMBY' Attitude

The Santa Fe County Commission on Tuesday approved a resolution opposing a plan to make northern New Mexico part of a new training area for low-flying military aircraft. The resolution, co-sponsored by commissioners Harry Montoya and Liz Stefanics, passed by a 3-1 vote. Commissioner Mike Anaya provided the dissenting vote. "It's hard for me to oppose the United States Air Force low-altitude navigation training when we depend on them to protect our country. We're saying, 'Yeah, we need you to protect our country, but not in my backyard,'" Anaya said. The Las Vegas City Council and Taos County Commission have passed similar resolutions since the Air Force announced its proposal to establish a "low altitude tactical navigation" training area in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. The plan calls for approximately 700 flights per year — or roughly three per day — originating from Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis. Some would go as low as 200 feet above the ground. The flights "would avoid airfields, towns, noise sensitive areas and wilderness areas by prescribed vertical and/or horizontal distances," according to information provided on the Cannon AFB website. Santa Fe County's resolution cites concerns about the flights' impact on public safety, noise levels, air quality, physical and biological sciences, and cultural and historic resources...more