A proposal to have military aircraft fly low over the Pennsylvania Wilds has been canceled after significant pushback from residents and environmentalists.
The proposed Duke Low Military Operations Area would have been in the vicinity of 10 state parks and 395,647 acres of state forests in Cameron, Clinton, McKean, Potter, and Tioga counties, including the dark sky preserve of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) said that the proposed area would be home to dozens of state parks, game lands, forests, and wildlife. The agency also raised concerns about the impact that the flights would have on the region’s tourism industry, which is worth more than $1.7 billion to the state.
“The Pennsylvania Wilds is nearly as large as Yellowstone National Park, is home to dozens of state parks, game lands, forests, and an impressive array of wildlife,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “These remarkable natural landmarks help sustain a $1.7 billion outdoor recreation and tourism industry that is vital to Pennsylvania’s economy.”
The U.S. Air Force and National Guard Bureau announced the decommissioning of the A-10 Warthog in 2022, which made the airspace no longer necessary. The military had been considering the expansion of the low-flying area for several years, but the DCNR and other stakeholders had been outspoken in their opposition to the plan.
“The Pennsylvania Wilds is a destination with a thriving outdoor recreation economy, which is why we are so pleased to see this plan rescinded,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The coalition of partners understood that the plan to fly planes at low altitudes over the Pennsylvania Wilds would drastically alter the character of the region, adversely impacting residents, visitors, and the businesses that rely on the natural aesthetics for their livelihoods.”