In southern Colorado’s isolated Wet Mountain Valley,
a former county commissioner is hoping nearly eight years of effort
will keep the area free from more low-flying military
planes.
“If we’re concerned about our peace and
quiet, our lifestyle, our agricultural community and our wildlife,
then we’d better stand up and let the military know,” says Bob
Senderhauf, a former Custer County commissioner who heads a
citizens’ group opposing the expansion of military
overflights.
Although the Colorado Air National
Guard has flown practice routes in the Wet Mountain Valley for
about 20 years, it says more are needed to meet its training
standards. The proposed Colorado Airspace Initiative (HCN, 4/13/98)
would allow more frequent overflights, some as low as 300
feet.
To Senderhauf, that means “We’d be in a
mock war zone.”
Senderhauf has been supported in
his efforts by a coalition of local citizens’ groups, four local
county commissions and the Colorado State Legislature, which passed
a resolution in April supporting relocation of the training routes.
Senderhauf’s group has also had the backing of Aussie-brand shampoo
founder Tom Redmond, who owns a ranch in the valley and says he has
spent over $1 million fighting the
initiative.
Redmond’s lobbyist, former Colorado
congressman Ray Kogovsek, says Redmond will challenge the
initiative in court if it is approved, citing safety concerns and
noise pollution. “We find it a little preposterous,” he says. “For
them to be flying over the quietest parts of Colorado just doesn’t
make sense.”
The FAA, which has the final say in
the approval process, held public hearings on the issue in Colorado
in late May. Its decision is expected by the end of
1998.
* Michelle
Nijhuis
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Locals battle military planes.
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