The public comment period for the Michigan Air National Guard’s proposal to change airspace regulations in northern Michigan has been extended.
The deadline to submit comments was supposed to end this week—but in a written statement, Brigadier General Bryan Teff said the 30-day extension will allow more time for listening to community groups.
The plan would reconfigure how high planes can fly within the Alpena Special Use Airspace, which extends as far north as Rogers City and as far south as the Thumb.
Captain Andrew Layton is a public affairs officer for the Michigan Air National Guard
"And what this proposal would do is actually make a majority of the aspects of that airspace permanently charted with the Federal Aviation Administration," said Layton.
In its current form, the plan would allow some military training flights to fly as low as 300 to 500 feet in altitude. Layton told WCMU the proposed plan has been conducted in lock step with the National Environment Protection Act.
Several residents in Grayling are voicing concerns about the plan because they're dealing with a separate plan to double the size of Camp Grayling.
The deadline to submit a comment is January 14th.
To offer public comment, please contact: National Guard Bureau; Attn: Ms. Kristi Kucharek; 3501 Fetchet Ave, Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762-5157, or email NGB.A4.A4A.NEPA.COMMENTS.Org@us.af.mil with subject ATTN: ALPENA SUA EA.
For more information or questions, please contact the Michigan National Guard public affairs office: ng.mi.miarng.list.pao@mail.mil.
