Concern over Air National Guard plan

A handful of Thumb residents have expressed their thoughts and concerns on the Michigan Air National Guard looking to increase and expand airspace for additional flight training.

The National Guard is proposing an increase to airspace available for flight training in Northern Michigan and the Thumb, which would allow military aircraft to fly further, more frequently, and lower overhead. Under the proposed changes to the training airspace, areas including Harbor Beach, Case-ville, Port Austin, and Sebewaing could see military planes flying as low as 500 feet. Before, planes were restricted to 6,000 feet at the lowest and could fly just below 18,000 feet.

Residents of the Thumb community have expressed their thoughts on the proposal and everything that will come with it. Many have cited noise, health, and safety of the environment and quality of life as big factors that will greatly impact Huron County.

Steve Penn, resident of Port Austin, wrote a letter to the National Guard Bureau and Michigan Air National Guard stating how the proposed minimum flight reduction is a threat to Huron County.

“The proposed drastic reduction in minimum flight elevation to as low as 500 feet threatens our health, our safety, and the very rights that we property owners and taxpayers have relied on and reasonably anticipated to enjoy for as long as we live,” Penn writes. “The proposal to expose my family and fellow citizens in the Steelhead Low North MOA to regular low-altitude sorties by military jet aircraft in unreasonable and will jeopardize the safety, health, and wellbeing of the residents.”

With the proposal, the National Guard Bureau is looking to lower flights’ ceiling for training to 5,999 feet. The present Steelhead Military Operations Area over Huron County and much of the Thumb area, will be affected and divided into sections. The Steelhead North area, covering the majority of the eastern Thumb and most of the Thumb’s coastline, would allow flight testing and training from 500 to 5,999 feet off the ground. The Steelhead South, which covers southwest portions of the Thumb, would remain the same, with flights between 4,000 and 5,999 feet of the ground.

Terry Ross, a resident of Port Austin, has also expressed his feelings toward the proposal, stating that he is vehemently against it because of the noise levels and environment.

“The noise will be a problem for anyone that enjoys a peaceful environment, people that are unaccustomed to sudden onsets of searing and thunderous noises that may initiate startle reflexes, people that are in the midst of important communications that may range from teachable moments of the young to safety-related commands or warnings on a job site and people with PTSD and related issues.”

Ross also stated how it will affect the environment overall here in Huron County.

“Aside from the impact noise of the environment, there is the problem of particulates from the low altitude combustion of jet fuel,” Ross said. “These particulates are considered to be nonthreatening above the mixing level of 3,000 feet, but below 3,000 feet these particles will settle on our farms, crops, homes, lawns, streets, waterways and into the deepest part of our lungs.”

Clifford Stuehmer, a Port Hope resident, said the proposal would be a problem for the community.

“This will be a problem for the community, especially after this ‘permanent’ change is implemented and the overflights start,” he said. “By then it will be too late.”

“The Enviromental Assessment conveniently does not address single event noise levels of up to 115 dBA over populated ares,” Stuehmer said. “This proposal lowers the three Steelhead Low MOAs ceilings to 5,999 feet. As a result, every F-16 flight over Huron County will violate typical noise ordinance limits to 85 dBA by a factor of two at 5,999 feet and up to a factor of eight at 500 feet. At four flights per day in each MOA, thousands of Huron County residents will experience this life disruption/ordinance violation daily.”

Within this proposal, there is a public comment period, which was extended until Jan. 14, 2023. Written comments must be postmarked or submitted online by 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 14, 2023 to be considered and addressed in the final EA. More information regarding the proposal and plans can be found online.