PHOTO PROVIDED A map of the east coast showcases the various existing MOA’s in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The existing Duke MOA is in the top left corner, and includes the Pennsylvania Wilds.

LOCK HAVEN — During its town hall webinar, the Clinton County Commissioners offered the public the opportunity to ask questions regarding the proposed Duke Military Operations Airspace change that could effect North Western Clinton County and a large portion of the PA Wilds.

The proposal came from the Maryland Air National Guard, which currently conducts training drills in the area at 8,000 to 17,000 feet above sea level. The Guard is looking to conduct low-altitude drills in the area. According to the proposal, this would mean planes flying as low as 1,000 feet above ground level at a minimum of 170 days out of the year.

Commissioner Jeff Snyder directed the meeting, which included Chair Miles Kessinger, Commissioner Angela Harding and Planner/Engineer Steve Gibson.

Snyder said the commissioners asked the Maryland Air National Guard for three things:

— To hold Town Hall meetings to answer questions from residents about these training exercises that could take place four hours a day, 170 days a year, at ground levels close to 100 feet.

— To fly the jets in the areas that have been designated at these 100 feet levels, to give the public a chance to experience what could “become an almost daily event.”

— To have a third party conduct a more detailed environmental impact statement “that will allow the government agencies making these decisions to make the best decision for the interest of those people that live in these areas.”

“So far, all of these requests have fallen on deaf areas,” Snyder said.

The webinar served as the board’s last chance to encourage public comment, for or against the MOA, prior to its May 17 deadline.

Gibson spent the bulk of the hour-long meeting giving a rundown of the MOA. At its conclusion, he directed the roughly two dozen community members in attendance to the county’s website, www.clintoncountypa.gov, to view the Maryland Air National Guard’s proposal and other informational presentations.

After Gibson’s presentation, the board of commissioners — Snyder, Chair Miles Kessinger and Commissioner Angela Harding — opened the floor to questions and comments.

Questions were sent through a chat system and read allowed by Harding. They included:

Q: Was this MOA attempted in Maryland. If yes, was it granted? If no, do we know why?

A: “It was turned down in Maryland and West Virginia but I do not know why,” Snyder said.

Gibson said the guard briefly touched on it in the Environmental Assessment. “I’m talking about briefly. There’s language like ‘we looked at this other MOA and it’s not feasible’ things like that. It wasn’t overly convincing,” he said.

Q: What is the seasonal population in Clinton County? Is it declining, steady or increasing?

A: Kessinger said he couldn’t provide a number, but noted population isn’t exactly declining in Western Clinton County. “I can’t give a number on that but I’ve seen in north western Clinton County we have picked up population,” he said. “Because some people are retiring to that area simply for what we have. It’s not necessarily a seasonal increase there. It’s people are actually buying property, they’ve had camps there for years. They’re not moving and using that as their primary residence.”

Kessinger said the listed population decline in the EA is “not correct, there are people moving into that area simply because they enjoy the outdoors, the way of life up there. That’s what I believe and I’ve talked to people completely out of our area, who get out of the rat race of the big city and move to north western Clinton County… simply for the peace and quiet.”

Harding added that comments were received in the past from retired military veterans who suffer PTSD. “There was some concern from them about the possiblity of the low flying Duke MOA. I think we also have veterans in the area that were trying to escape loud noises and those types of things,” she said.

Q: Where does the PA National Guard train?

A: Snyder said, through his research, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard trains in Fort Indian Town Gap.

Q: What are the other effected counties saying?

A: Harding said the board participated in a Pennsylvania Wilds webinar held about a week ago. “There were a lot of people with experience and information with knowledge on that webinar, which is where Steve got a lot of his information. But I think all of the counties that I’m familiar with… feel the same way that we do,” Harding said. “We don’t want to come across as anti-military, but we really want to make sure that we preserve the natural resources and the things that we have to our advantage to bring people into our community and not jeapordize those things.”

Snyder said the county hasn’t had a lot of contact with other county governments about the issue. However, officials did reach out to other government entities to take part in the webinar Monday night.

“We’re certainly looking to cooperate with and looking for involvement in our sister counties,” Snyder said.

Q: The gas pipelines also have another above ground infrastructure like manual shut off valves and pipes. Has anyone assessed how big or catastrophic a fire or explosion would be if they were accidentally hit? As I believe they were not designed with this fly-over situation in mind.

A: Gibson said it would be tough to speculate how the low-fly MOA could effect these areas. “But there is a massive amount of BTUs passing through Leidy at any given day, at any given time,” he said. “The pipe would be shut down after it caught on fire, but yea it could be a pretty big explosion and possibly put power plants out of service for awhile.”

Q: While we hope it never occurs, a flight accident is not beyond reason, do they provide training to first responders in case of an accident?

A: Harding said this was a question the county asked repeatedly on all fronts. “Because we are already desperately needing first responders and so if there was a situation, how are we as a county supposed to respond to that,” she said.

Gibson said the Environmental Assessment doesn’t address local interaction. “Whether it’s coming to meetings, explaining how the MOA works or providing any type of training for first responders if there was a minor or major aircraft mishap,” he said. “We feel that’s something they need to address.”

Q: What is the position of the PA state senators (and) representatives?

A: Snyder said the county has received a number of letters of support from representatives, congressman and senators regarding the issue. Specifically, Snyder said the representatives showed support in having the three requests made by the county that have gone unanswered.

Q: Will the flights interfere with the microwave system used to monitor the pipeline system?

A: Kessinger said the county does not have an answer to this question, as officials aren’t sure how the system itself operates.

Q: Who in PA is supporting this use of the PA Wilds?

A: Harding said there are people with these counties that are supporting the MOA. “There are a lot of people… that do not mind and have been very vocal about how they want the international guard to do whatever they need to do to be able to defend our country,” she said. “At the same time, we just would like a little bit more work done before that.”

Q: Who currently is coming down the west branch Susquehanna River and what MOA covers that?

A: Kessinger said there is no MOA down the west branch. “These are just random flights that are coming in and out of the area that are affecting those particular areas,” he said.

Q: Does the county receive any monetary fee for the use?

A: Harding said she asked this question during the PA Wilds webinar. “I was told that should there be a catastrophic event, the county may be reimbursed for the costs of whatever it required to mediate that event. But there is no financial gain from the county. There is no renting of the air space and once the Maryland Air National Guard starts the air space belongs to them,” she said.