Rep. Peterson backs resolution asking Congress to oppose low-level flights in western Maine

AUGUSTA – Rep. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, backed a resolution passed on Feb. 11 by the Maine State Legislature, calling on Maine’s Congressional delegation to ask the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to delay any action relating to proposed changes in low-level training flights in western Maine.

Peterson represents the area that is in the heart of the section of Maine that will be most severely impacted by the changes proposed by the Massachusetts Air National Guard. He spoke at a hearing about this issue last fall at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“The need to provide adequate training for military pilots must be balanced with the rights of citizens and businesses in western Maine to enjoy the quality of life they expect without the disruption, intrusion, noise and other potential impacts of these low-level, high-speed flights,” said Peterson. “I hope that these two interests will be thoroughly analyzed and that all of the facts will be gathered as a part of a publicly accessible process to weigh the proposed benefits against the costs.”

The Massachusetts Air National Guard has proposed lowering its training altitude from 7,000 to 500 feet in the Condor Military Operations Area in western Maine and a small area in northern New Hampshire.

The proposal has met with opposition not only by the residents near the flight path, but by concerned citizens throughout Maine, due to the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s incomplete draft environmental impact statement and unresponsiveness in communicating with Maine residents throughout the notification and hearing process for low-level flights.

The environmental study has failed to meet minimum standards for adequate research, due to a lack of noise data for F-18, F-22 and F-35 aircraft, and information about environmental damage and the impact on wildlife, agriculture, and quality of life. This study is required by the FAA before they issue their final ruling.

The resolution passed the House and the Senate and will now be sent to Maine’s Congressional delegation.