The U.S. Air Force has released a final environmental document that drops its earlier proposal to open the skies over the Gila Wilderness as well as airspace over millions more acres of southwestern New Mexico to jet fighter training flights.
In a final environmental impact statement released this month, the Air Force calls for expanding its training area for F-16 fighters flying out of Holloman Air Force Base into areas generally south and east of Carlsbad, extending north to Artesia and east from there.
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation had joined with the Gila Conservation Coalition and other groups in submitting comments opposing an alternative that considered staging thousands of flights over the Gila Wilderness, as well as the Aldo Leopold, Apache Kid and Withington wilderness areas.
“This is good news and the New Mexico Wildlife Federation thanks the Air Force for being responsive to citizen concerns,” said Jesse Deubel, federation executive director. “The Gila is the nation’s first wilderness area and it’s critical that we preserve it as a place where people can seek peace and solitude, and where wildlife can live without disturbance.”
Aldo Leopold, who founded the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, pushed for creation of the Gila Wilderness and Congress ultimately designated it in 1924.
To review the final Environmental Impact Statement, click HERE