OverFlights of Philmont
Olan Watkins (OlanWatkins@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Sun, 26 Jul 1998 13:52:06 -0400
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24-Jul-98 21:59:14
Sb: OverFlights of Philmont
Fm: "Philmont List" > INTERNET:Philmont@dynapolis.com
The following article appeared in the Philmont Staff Association =
"High Country" in May 1998:
Philmont Flyover Plan Generating Controversy
ANGEL FIRE-A controversial plan to conduct low-level bomber training =
missions over a large part of northern New Mexico-including directly =
over Philmont-is generating a huge controversy in the state.
Public meetings in Cimarron, Angel Fire, and Taos have attracted =
hundreds of people who have protested the "Realistic Bomber Training =
Initiative" (RBTI), which is a plan to fly B-52 bombers as low as 300 =
feet above the ground over Philmont to simulate a low-level bombing =
run.
Bill Spice, general manager of Philmont, has been a regular speaker =
at these public meetings. Spice told a recent gathering in Angel Fire =
that "We have 200 young people on horseback on any given day." =
Although he described Philmont's horses and pack animals as docile, =
Spice expressed concern that overflying bombers would scare them and =
could lead to serious injuries, or possible fatalities. "I shudder to =
think," Spice said.
Les Davis, president of CS Cattle Company, was concerned about the =
effect the flights could have on the otherwise stable Eagle Nest Dam. =
"I saw the route map. Eagle Nest Lake was right in the route. That's =
too close," Davis said. Knowledgeable sources say that regular =
low-level overflights of B-52s can indeed cause structural damage to =
buildings and other structures.
Spice briefed Philmont's Ranch Committee meeting held in mid-April. =
He added that it was important that elected officials, especially =
members of the U.S. Congress in Washington, understood how solid the =
citizens of northern New Mexico were in their opposition, and how =
dangerous the situation could be to the thousands of young people who =
use Philmont every year. New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici has so far =
not taken a stand on the issue saying that he was "extending a =
courtesy to the Air Force to give me its side of the story."
A final decision on the matter will not be made until November =
1999.-WS
YiS
--
Warren Williams <ww@netdoor.com>
http://www2.netdoor.com/~ww/
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