Military helicopters - Liberty Bell Roadless Area

NOTE! - The Scoping Comment Period has been EXTENDED to Sept 4th...there is still time to share your input!

JBLM Proposal Info Page

Busy down there...

... now they want to test rockets at the artillery range south of the base...

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/army-t...s-can-train-at-jblm/

NOTE! - The Scoping Comment Period has been EXTENDED to Sept 4th...there is still time to share your input!

JBLM Proposal Info Page

Thanks for keeping up on this. I just sent an email to JBLM after seeing that the comment period was extended.

Our local military's plans are drawing national attention:
www.hcn.org/articles/military-seeks-heli...ngtons-methow-valley

Sept 4 is approaching. Here is a comment submitted by a friend.


It concerns me that I couldn't find any explicit mention of public safety as an issue in the scoping document issues. On several occasions I have had to dodge rock and ice fall caused by military overflights while hiking and climbing in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Noise is more than just an aesthetic issue. That is one reason MTA 1-6 and the area adjacent to it are unsuitable. The North Cascades Highway has been designated as a Scenic Area by the Washington State legislature and USDA Forest Service. It is easily accessible for recreation and has very heavy use for climbing from east of Washington Pass to Ross Lake. There has been a lot of support for getting that area designated as wilderness but the Forest Service has opposed designation because there is use of helicopters for winter recreation in the eastern portion of that area. Either way, the “arm” of the MTA along the North Cascades Highway is unsuitable for both aesthetic and public safety reasons.
I have spent time in the rest of the MTA and the HTAs and don't know of any serious problems which would make them unsuitable.  The Marines have a truly "high elevation" area well situated in the Sierras at Pickel Meadows that should be used for the advanced part of your training.

COMMENT NOW on Army Helicopter Training in Wilderness and near Pacific Crest Trail

The Army’s comment period on landing combat helicopters in pristine wilderness beloved by many has been extended to November 3, 2015. If you haven’t written them a letter, feel free to borrow language from these talking points:

www.wawild.org/get-involved/take-action/...-pacific-crest-trail