Guest Editorial: Aerial Gunnery Training
Author: Michael Korn
Guest Editorial: Aerial Gunnery Training Michael Korn Potential expansion of activities at the Limestone Hills Gunnery Range has recently come to light and with it, issues regarding the steps taken towards its implementation. Among others, the concerns of pilots, such as myself, have been raised with the proposal’s shortcomings and how it could negatively affect the large civil aviation communities in Helena, Bozeman and surrounding communities.
Another critical issue at play is that the range is immediately adjacent to, and includes important habitats for wildlife in the Elkhorn Wildlife Management Unit (EWMU). The EWMU, established almost 40 years ago, was the result of a major and often hard fought-compromise reached between the conservation community, the Forest Service, Congress and numerous others. It continues to this day, to be the only such designated entity in the entire National Forest System, its success having suggested possible use on other forests. Yet nowhere in the Environmental Assessment (EA) crafted as part of the process for this proposal is this discussed.
The Limestone Hills is the major winter range for mule deer in the Elkhorns, utilized as well at times by elk, big horn sheep and other wildlife. In years past, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists working with the National Guard have been able to find reasonable accommodation for this important habitat. However, there is only cursory discussion in the EA of other periods when these new activities could impact wildlife or other uses. A broader concern is that there is no mention in the EA of possible formal monitoring by the military of the effects of increased range activity and the subsequent traffic to and from the site- both aerial and ground-based- might have on wildlife utilization and distribution throughout the entire northeastern portion of the Elkhorns.
In all, the EA reflects numerous deficiencies in the collection and analysis of important, accurate and current information regarding a wide range of issues. Furthermore, the document was done without contacting the numerous local groups, individuals and other obvious stakeholders to solicit critical information- Standard Operating Procedure in the preparation of an EA. As such, it fails to meet one of the fundamental purposes of an Environmental Assessment which is to arm the folks in the Air Force with the necessary- and legally mandated- tools to make an informed decision.
The Montana Guard has always been a good neighbor, particularly when it comes to issues of public projects and conservation. I believe there are ways by which the Air Force can achieve the expansion of the Limestone Hills range to serve their needs while still maintaining the integrity of the EWMU and meeting the needs of the various stakeholders and the public at large. But without a sound and accurate basis for making that decision, coupled with robust public participation, this EA, and thus the process to get there, is flawed.
Michael Korn served with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for almost 30 years, during which time he ran the Block Management Program, was Helena Area Coordinator and Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement. He is a pilot and since the 1980’s has been involved with issues surrounding the Elkhorns.
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