00                      SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6                                                                     
01 Urging the United States Army and United States Air Force to extend the public                                          
02 comment period for the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex Modernization and                                             
03 Enhancement Environmental Impact Statement that ends February 18, 2011, for a                                           
04 minimum of 90 days to allow for effective communication and full state and user                                         
05 involvement during the comment period.                                                                                  
06 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
07       WHEREAS Alaska's Military Operations Areas, including in the air and on the land                                
08 and sea, are necessary to replicate realistic conditions for training and testing of combat                             
09 systems; and                                                                                                            
10       WHEREAS expanded weapons and sensor capabilities, extended mobility, and                                        
11 improved communications have driven the need for larger training areas; and                                             
12       WHEREAS the federal Environmental Impact Statement for the actions and projects                                 
13 identified by the United States Army and the United States Air Force in a proposal known as                             
14 Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex Modernization and Enhancement was released for public                                
15 comment on December 10, 2010, preceding the holiday season; and                                                         

01       WHEREAS the proposals involve expanding and establishing new Military                                           
02 Operations Areas, restricted airspace, and airspace corridors, expanding access to training                             
03 areas, and developing new ranges and facilities to provide adequate resources to conduct                                
04 training and testing under realistic and varied conditions; and                                                         
05       WHEREAS the proposed significant expansion of those Military Operations Areas                                   
06 will have far-reaching effects across multiple segments of the state's communities, industries,                         
07 and activities, including hunting, tourism, commerce, and aviation; and                                                 
08       WHEREAS aviation represents approximately $3,500,000,000 in economic activity                                   
09 in the state and supports an estimated 47,000 jobs, constituting a significant component of the                         
10 state's economy; and                                                                                                    
11       WHEREAS proposals for Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex modernization and                                      
12 expansion may greatly affect aviation in the state; and                                                                 
13       WHEREAS the aerospace needs of the civil aviation community have evolved                                        
14 significantly since the last major expansion of Military Operations Areas in the mid-1990s,                             
15 and the emergence of new technologies has changed how aviation uses airspace; and                                       
16       WHEREAS a complete review of existing and proposed airspace uses is needed to                                   
17 consider which alternatives may best suit the overall aviation needs of all users now and in the                        
18 future; and                                                                                                             
19       WHEREAS it is vital to ensure that citizens are allowed access to their villages at all                         
20 times and for all reasons; and                                                                                          
21       WHEREAS four villages in the state currently cannot be accessed by air during                                   
22 military operations; and                                                                                                
23       WHEREAS proposed military expansion into air corridors will significantly interfere                             
24 with air traffic into and out of Fairbanks and will affect training operations conducted in the                         
25 area by general aviation and commercial operators; and                                                                  
26       WHEREAS all divisions and departments of state government must be given                                         
27 adequate time to evaluate thoroughly the effects from the proposed changes in military air                              
28 space; and                                                                                                              
29       WHEREAS it is paramount that, for all potential contact between civilian and                                    
30 military operations involving both United States and foreign military aircraft, safety prevails;                        
31       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States Army                                   

01 and United States Air Force to extend the public comment period for the Joint Pacific Alaska                            
02 Range Complex Modernization and Enhancement Environmental Impact Statement, which is                                    
03 currently scheduled to close on February 18, 2011, for a minimum of 90 days past that date to                           
04 allow for effective communication and full state and user involvement during the comment                                
05 period.                                                                                                                 
06       COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Robert M. Gates, United                                
07 States Secretary of Defense; the Honorable John M. McHugh, United States Secretary of the                               
08 Army; the Honorable Michael B. Donley, United States Secretary of the Air Force; and the                                
09 Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Mark Begich, U.S. Senators, and the                                          
10 Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.