Rep. Grijalva Raises Concerns Over Increased Air Force Flights, Lack of Transparency and Community Consultation

TUCSON - Today, Representative Raúl M. Grijalva sent a letter to U.S. Air Force (USAF) Secretary Frank Kendall III raising ongoing concerns with the Regional Special Use Airspace Optimization To Support Air Force Missions in Arizona and its recently released Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and requesting an extension of the public comment period.

"I am concerned about the lack of transparency regarding ongoing DAF activities in the MOAs and inadequate community consultation for the DEIS. Constituents across southern Arizona and New Mexico have reported hundreds of nuisance flight incidents in violation of Federal Aviation Administration regulations underneath and near the MOAs, causing significant disturbances and a variety of health and wellness impacts," wrote Rep. Grijalva.

Rep. Grijalva noted the lack of public hearings in Cochise County and on tribal lands, despite anticipated impacts to both communities.

"The lowering of flight floors across Tombstone, Outlaw, Jackal, Gladden and Bagdad MOAs presents significant quality of life issues for constituents already dealing with noise disturbance in their daily lives. Supersonic operations at lower altitudes exacerbate this, with added concerns for wildlife impacts, structural and property damage, and impacts on local tourism in natural areas."

In 2022, Rep. Grijalva sent a letter during the project scoping period expressing similar concerns for negative impacts on local communities and public lands, which received no response from the USAF.

The full letter can be found here.

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