Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
3/27/2015
Montana Sens. Steve Daines (R) and Jon Tester (D) expressed disappointment this week about the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) decision to approve the Air Force’s proposed expansion of the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC). B-1s housed at Ellsworth AFB and B-52s housed at Minot AFB currently use the area, which spans approximately 9,600 horizontal square miles. The designated airspace will become effective on Sept. 17, after which it will be spread across 34,000 square miles.
Montana lawmakers expressed opposition to the expansion because of concerns that it could interfere with commercial air traffic and because the greater space will overlie part of the Keystone XL pipeline and the oil onramp in Baker, Mont. “It’s disappointing that the FAA has approved this expansion without addressing Montanans numerous concerns about the proposal’s impact on safety, emergency services and economic activity,” Daines said in a March 24 statement. ”I will continue working to secure the radar capabilities needed to protect aviation safety in southeastern Montana and will diligently monitor implementation of the expansion to ensure it does not have adverse effects on Montanans’ safety and the region’s economy.”
Tester spoke yesterday with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to share his concerns about the decision and asked him to prioritize safety as the FAA develops a timeline for expansion. “I’m extremely disappointed the FAA is greenlighting this expansion in the face of real concerns and opposition on the ground,” Tester said in a statement. “I will hold the Air Force and the FAA accountable as this expansion moves forward to ensure the training complex doesn’t negatively impact general aviation, agriculture production or energy development.”
