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Boise residents sue the Air Force over proposed training above Idaho cities
[KTBV] The U.S. Air Force is facing a lawsuit that seeks to halt proposed training exercises over nine cities in southern Idaho, according to court documents.

Those cities include Boise, Mountain Home, Burley, Twin Falls, Grand View, Bruneau, Glenns Ferry, Hammett, and the Mountain Home Air Force Base.

The complaint was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court of Idaho by seven Boise residents and an environmental organization called Great Old Broads for Wilderness, which is a non-profit group that works to preserve public lands.

The lawsuit lists potential hazards the program could cause and says the Air Force did not do enough to inform the public or municipalities about its plans.

According to the complaint filed in court, the training "endangers the health, safety, and quality of life of Idahoans, as well as birds and wildlife."

"We're also challenging a lack of environmental review," Sarah Stellberg, an attorney with Advocates for the West, who filed the lawsuit, said.

According to the environmental assessment done by the Air Force in November, "no significant impact" was found on noise, air quality, airspace management, land use, health or safety.

The report stated that "all activities were found to comply with the criteria or standards of environmental quality and were coordinated with the appropriate federal, state and local agencies."

The proposed training could include up to 160 training events per year.

Stellberg said the lawsuit is asking the court to halt the training and not allow it to continue unless the Air Force can provide more public involvement and awareness, as well as a proper impact study, as required by law.
Posted by: 746 2019-04-10
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=538410