Conference moira::naturism

This is the letter we have written to Major Collins.  We almost invited him
to join us for a weekend.  I wonder if he would go?  :-)

Judy


							December 12, 1991



	Major Bruce Collins
	140th TFW / Public Affairs  Stop 24
	Buckley ANG Base
	Aurora, CO  80011-9599



	Dear Major Collins,

		I learned today of a proposal under consideration involving
	a new Military Operations Area for the 140th Tactical Fighter Wing 
	of the Colorado Air National Guard.  It is my understanding this 
	proposal involves increased use of the San Luis Valley for low 
	altitude training and could include simulated air to air combat 
	exercises.

		For years, my wife and I have occasionally camped near 
	Villa Grove on the western edge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
	We value the quiet solitude there.  A bonus is Valley View Hot
	Springs, of which I am a member.  Another bonus is the wildlife
	which finds their own peacefulness where private land borders
	very rugged National Forest.  Thus the wildlife feels very little
	pressure from aggressive human activity of any sort.

		I realize it is important that our pilots train somewhere.
	And wherever they train, someone is likely to be inconvenienced
	and upset.  First impression of the San Luis Valley is desolate
	expanse of farm land and inaccessible National Forest.  Based on
	my personal experience, I know that a closer look shows an area
	important to a large number of people and an even larger number 
	of antelope, elk, deer, coyote, hawks and eagles.  The Orient Mine
	is home for a large number of swallows and bats.  I fear all these
	animals would be adversely affected by the sudden noise of fast,
	low flying jets.  And I enjoy watching jets almost as much as
	wildlife!

		I ask you to please encourage a careful evaluation of this
	proposal.  I would urge the decision makers towards abandonment of 
	this plan.  Thank you for your time and consideration.


					Sincerely,




					Robert Kilgore

Unfortunately,
     Major Collins is a Public Affairs Officer and will be as helpful as 
yelling at a brickwall.  You should also write your congressman, two 
Senators, Governor and State Representatives(this was an Air National Guard 
Unit), and have everyone else do the same thing.  You should also contact
the Sierra Club and find out if they have undertaken an investigation into 
this proposal, if there are any endangered species in the area, etc.

     Your letter was good.  When you write the Public Affairs Office, you 
should always ask for information.  In this case, there should be an Army 
Corp of Engineers project assigned to do the evaluation.  By law they are 
required to give you information on how to contact the project office for 
legitmate comments and when the project is open for public comment, BUT ONLY 
IF YOU ASK.  

Brian

I'm posting this reply for a reader who requested to remain anonymous.

	-Neil Faiman, NATURISM moderator

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This is part of the ZUNI MOA which has just been proposed and it adjoins the 
Colorado Springs ARSA (Airport Radar Service Area).

I've been in contact with AOPA (The Airline Pilots and Operators Association) 
and they are using their regional representative to coordinate the general 
aviation opposition to this MOA.  Rest assured, this MOA is being fought all the 
way to the Pentagon.  With bases closing all over the country, there is *less* 
of a need for MOAs that before, and even exisiting ones are underused.  There is 
no precedent for any new MOAs today, and the liklihood of there being this one 
is low - provided we consistently oppose this military encraochment on our 
freedoms.

Letters of support to AOPA, even from non-members, would be welcomed.  Their 
address is:
		AOPA
		421 Aviation Way
		Frederick
		MD 21701-4798

You can also call them on 1-800-USA-AOPA to register your opposition to this 
MOA.

A meeting on the proposed expansion of the Red Eye Complex will be held at
7 pm today in the Gates Palmer Room, 2 floor of Palmer Hall, at Colorado 
College.  We aren't familiar enough with CC to know where the Palmer Hall
is so Bob is calling to find out.  I'll let you know later.

There is quite an article in the Gazette Telegraph, dated today about how
the Air National Guard was caught off guard with all the opposition to the
proposal.  :-)  And they say we all have it wrong.  Right.....

Well, Bob never called me back with directions to the Palmer Hall at CC.  He
did attend the meeting and had to leave before the meeting was over.  He
attended for close to 3 hours and he said it looked like it would go on for 
a few more hours.

There were several hundred people in attendance.  Mostly opposition.  One
thing that was mentioned that the ANG did not deny was there is a bill 
working its way thru Congress that will severely limit airspace use for
training maneuvers in the future.  So the ANG is trying to get this MOA
approved prior to this bill passing.  Germany has banned low flight patterns
due to complaints and damage so for the military to practice they need to 
do it elsewhere.  If its good for Germany, its good for the ol' USA in my
book.