Tag: FHL

Military Training over Big Sur

Kathleen:

In your Blog, I would like it if you could announce the formation of a Public Interest Political Effort to prevent the Strike Fighter basing from using the Big Sur MOA without many more restrictions and mitigation measures included in the EIS, including allowing blocks of days and times, say Friday noon to Monday noon to allow the unfettered use of the Coast as a recreational and wilderness experience which would be a “non-military” civilian use period exclusively. We also want to see the low flight corridor reoriented so it is primarily on the Base, not in the Ventana Wilderness. There are many other questions as well. The Strike Fighter is of undemonstrated reliability as I am sure you are aware from recent groundings and publicity. It also flys at speeds that will make 150 Decibel noise over Big Sur routine, on the order of 15 sorties, up to three planes per sortied, for over 250 days a year, at a minimum. You may, for the time being, use my email address as the contact point, until a website can be developed. For ease of my internal work load, please use the following reference email: stevecraig@wildblue.net. There is a certain irony there as well.

We will also be seeking more information about the testing and use of drones over the Wilderness and Monterey District, and private lands adjacent.

We are also seeking the formation documents for this Big Sur (Hunter Liggett) MOA, which appear to be tied to the Cambodian Secret Bombing by Nixon according to work done some years ago now by the UCLA Environmental Law program. Lemoore Naval Air Station, which manages the allocation of uses in this MOA, claims not to have the formation documents (if they even exist) or any other analysiis. I am beginning the process of contacting the NAA which has a role in the managing the MOA, albeit a limited one.

Legal assistance, and a meeting with Sam Farr and several members of the County Board of Supervisors, are going to be among the first steps to take. We will be approaching public interest groups with legal expertise at UC Berkeley and several other institutions.

Our request to discuss the MOA formation and use, and its land use incompatibilities, effects on the Marine Reserver, etc., went unanswered in the EIS, Thus far, and this is a first, the present Strike Fighter Commander has indicated an unwillingness to have an open, wide ranging discussion of how to reconcile public use and the military hardware issues, both for testing and training. We will be continuing to try to arrange such a meeting, but have had no success over the past six months.

A record of decision has been filed or is immediately pending for Strike Fighter training over the Big Sur MOA at a low elevation of 200 feet above the ground, up to 15 sorties a day, from dawn to 10:30 PM at night,

Also, the agreements between the Secretary of the Navy and Sam Farr regarding live ordinance bombing in Stoney Valley have been disrespected and ignored, the flight levels of military aircraft are not aligned to minimize Wilderness Impacts, and the 250,000 acre base is often not respected relative to NAA restrictions, particularly for special forces training and helicopter activity. The recent fire you made reference to was started by a live ammunition exercise according to information gathered from the Base Fire Department, and resulted from the firing of a hellfire missile in extreme drought conditions into Stony Valley, a place with many remarkable rock formations and Salinan archaeological and sacred sites.

I have found it near impossible to set a meeting date with the present squad commander. Prior commanders have always made time to meet with citizens, who are the funding entity and tax base that develops these extremely loud, disruptive military systems, such as the Strike Fighter.

The Lemoore Base staff has no information, or claims not to, about the formation of this MOA [Military Operations Agreement] over Big Sur, or any information about the NEPA review it may or may not have entailed. The MOA is routinely used and abused, as it was over the past three weeks of helicopter fighter aircraft flights.

When researched by the UCLA Environmental Law program several years ago, the principal findings were that this MOA was formed secretly during the Nixon bombing of Cambodia, deemed an illegal action by the US Supreme Court.

The use of live ammunition from aircraft was specifically prohibited in an arrangement managed into existence by Sam Farr when the Dont’ Bomb Big Sur campaign was underway some several years ago now. The recent five day fire in the region was caused precisely by such live use of Hellfire Missiles, shot from low flying attack helicopters. What has happened to the agreement made by Sam Farr and the Secretary of the Navy? One gets the impression the military does whatever it may want to do, including flying these attack helicopters down our valley at eye level with our houses, well below the scheduled NAA flight levels, at less than 100 feet from the ground surface. We experienced these flights for three full weeks.

I have requests out to numerous parties to see what if ANY documentation of the formation of the Big Sur even MOA exists.

Thus far, of course as expected, the military, particularly the Lemoore NAS Base which schedules the use of the MOA, has been of no assistance at all.

They have referred me to the Pentagon for information about the formation of the MOA. Not exactly a transparent source of information.

The present lowest flight zone passes right over Rancho Salsipuedes and into the Ventana wilderness. Given the availability of over 250,000 acres of Base land for this type of exercise, why public and private lands are used for this purpose is simply, well, mysterious. We intend to find out why the low fly corridors cannot be revised under an NAA program to alter the present flight corridor to make more concessions to the multi-use nature of Big Sur. And certainly, military uses are, among most of the public who visit this area for recreation and refreshment, of lowest priority for this exceptional and lovely wilderness and landscape.

Steve Craig
Citizen Planning Alliance,
South Monterey County

I have a tracking file on all mis-use of the Military Operations Area (MOA) so please send me your name and address and email so I can enter the time and date into my data base.

Steve Craig (stevecraig@wildblue.net)

Stoney Fire Update

Noon – Last anticipated update – they are calling this puppy contained. I got the following email from a source with FHL at 11:15 this am:

“Hey Kate…..the stoney fire got into the back drop off of redman an has burned over pizza hill…..they’ve got 4 dozers working it….from the burn side on nac-ferg an are opening old breaks from the kirk fire over to del venture….sounds like maybe gonna burn off from the break once they punch it in…..they said nac-ferg is still open [ed. note – The “official” word is that it is still closed, probably due to possible burn-out operation]….they also have engs from Monterey cnty helping out too…..SLO county hasn’t sent anything yet…also paso air attack has a 4 eng. job there now with 74 an 75….looked like a DC-6….probably forest service.

9:00 – Stoney Fire is reported at 5,000 acres according to WildCAD. Cal Fire reports the acreage at 4,800 with 50% containment.

8:00 – I am postponing Foto Friday until 5:00 pm, so that I can bring myself and my readers up-to-date on the fire at FHL. I had to will myself to sleep with the smell of smoke clogging my nostrils. It is amazing the memories triggered by smell – my mother’s perfume, a baby’s powder … The smell of smoke.

 

Fire at FHL

Word from several people of a large fire, 2500 acres, in Stoney Valley with no containment as of 10:30 pm. I can smell it from here.

There have been war games going on for the past two days, and one source said there have been a number of small fires, but that the FHL FD has been able to contain them rapidly. Not so this one.

One local was stopped at the gate in Jolon, while trying to get home at 9:30 pm, and not allowed to pass through, as the fire is interfering with Nasty-Fergy Rd.

I am having intermittent internet and email, but my phone seems to be working fine, just can’t hear it ring unless I am sitting on top of it.

Re: CA-FHL-Stonylink to satellite image
Showing up on the infrared satellite: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/wfo/hnx/ir2f.jpg

The smell of smoke up here is quite strong. It is now midnight, and I will be getting some sleep while I can. I will update in the am, internet and other communications allowing. If I can’t, I’ll see if Mike can cover for me.

Highway One conditions for the next week or so …

First, I apologize for the lateness of this, but yesterday nothing worked.

Best Buddies is tomorrow, Sat. Sept 7.

10th ANNUAL BEST BUDDIES CHALLENGE BICYCLE RIDE COMES TO THE CENTRAL COAST THIS SATURDAY

CENTRAL COAST –The 10th Annual Best Buddies Challenge bicycle ride will use portions of Highway 1 beginning in Carmel in Monterey County and ending in San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County this Saturday, September 7.

Traffic control set-up begins at 6 am and consists of rolling closures by the California Highway Patrol. In addition, Changeable Message Signs will be posted alerting motorists to ‘Share the Road’ with cyclists. Up to 15 minute delays can be anticipated.

The bike ride will begin at 7 am at Carmel Valley Road in Carmel. All riders will be off the road and event will conclude by 4 pm at Hearst Castle on San Simeon Road in San Simeon.
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And on FHL:
Construction to slow traffic on Mission Road

Beginning Monday, Sept. 9, construction work will close one lane of Mission Road at times between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The project, between the Checkpoint Charlie curve, where the 40-mph zone begins, and the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road turnoff, will last several weeks. The contractor will be repairing the roadway and shoulder, repaving and widening the lanes.

Mission Road connects U.S. 101 via Jolon Road to both Nacimiento-Fergusson, the only paved road across the Santa Lucia Mountains from US 101 to Big Sur between Cambria and Carmel, and Del Venturi Road, which leads to several U.S. Forest Service campgrounds and recreation areas.
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HIGHWAY 1 ONE-DAY PAVEMENT REPAIR AT TWO LOCATIONS NEXT WEEK NEAR CARMEL AND CARMEL HIGHLANDS

MONTEREY COUNTY – Two one-day pavement repairs on Highway 1 will take place next Tuesday, September 10 and Wednesday, September 11 at the following locations:

· Tuesday, Sept. 10: On southbound Hwy. 1 at Ribera Road near Carmel;
· Wednesday, Sept. 11: On southbound Hwy. 1 between Yankee Point Drive and
Mal Paso Road near Carmel Highlands

Roadwork hours are from 9 am to 2 pm each day. Work consists of one-way reversing traffic control with flagging. Up to 10-minute delays can be anticipated.
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HIGHWAY 1/ROCKY CREEK VIADUCT PROJECT CONTINUES WITH DAYTIME ROADWORK AND INTERMITTENT OVERNIGHT CLOSURES

Daytime roadwork on Highway 1 at Rocky Creek continues next week from 7 am to 5 pm Monday, Sept. 9 through Friday, Sept. 13, with 10-minute delays as needed.

NOTE: There will be NO OVERNIGHT CLOSURES OR NIGHT ROADWORK next week (Sunday, Sept. 8 through Thursday, Sept. 12).

ADVANCED TENTATIVE NOTIFICATION: THERE WILL BE TWO OVERNIGHT FULL CLOSURES: Monday, Sept. 16 and Tuesday, Sept. 17—from 9 pm to 7 am to pour the east side of the viaduct deck. Tuesday night’s full closure may not be necessary. Caltrans will send an update as soon as confirmation is received either way.

Work being performed next week consists of delivering materials and doing false work and bridge deck set-up.

And that is what we have in store for the motoring public.

Mission Fire – FHL

1:22 pm – “@CalFireNews: #MissionFire made many rapid runs in north on east facing aspect with multiple spotting. Threat to private residences #CaFire”

12:45 – Monterey County Type 3 Strike Team en route to Mission Fire.

11:45 – just checked WildCAD, LPF, and they are reporting 4500 acres.

11:00 am – It is quite smoky over here. In fact, i can barely see Cone Peak. I have been trying to get updates on this fire, but having trouble. FHL doesn’t report publicly, like other agencies, so it is difficult. Do have a call out I’m waiting on, and will update when I hear.

Wildfire on FHL

From South Ops and New and Notes this evening:
2,500 acres, 25% contained.
Fire is spreading and continues to shift with weather patterns.
Fire made many rapid runs in north at an east facing aspect with multiple spotting.
Threat to private residence north at Pulman Canyon approx. 1 mile away on Avala Rd.
Evacuated radar site and military training areas off of Del Venturi Rd.

Update from a ff: “UPDATE as of 4:30 p.m.: the burned area has grown to 2,500 acres with no containment. About 200 firefighters are on the scene, from CalFire, the U.S. Forest Service, and others from across the region. No roads are closed or threatened at this time. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to Highway 1 and the coast is open and should be clear of smoke as it is upwind.”

smoke drifting to north, visible in Chachagua. Beginning to see smoke from here, but I have a friend spotting for me from east of the fire, and he will notify me if the wind changes direction.

4 pm update – It is up to 1100 acres. SLO cty sending strike team 9341G that has B 3414, engs. 3461, 3472, 3465, 3466, an 3480 to the Ligg

Don’t have too many details. Fire on FHL in the Milpitas Shower Point area, and/or Mission CreekArea. It was reported to me about 11:45 am. Around 2:30, a LPF unit was dispatched to the Mission Fire on Mission Creek Rd. these two areas are very close together, so chances are they are the same incident. I’ll keep eye and ear out over this one, as FHL, as well as many other stations have engines up on the Rim fire near Yosemite, which grew 37k+ acres overnight last night. It is a nightmare.

BTW, can’t see any smoke from here, so can’t be too big.

This is what WildCAD says:

08/22/2013 11:24 FHL-2679
PFHW41 (1502) MISSION Wildfire Milpiltas Rd. and Mission Creek Rd. . BC11LPF CRW7LPF E15LPF 4X4 E16LPF 4X4 E18LPF E2565AZ E37AZ E43LPF E563AZ . . 100 acres.

Wild land Fire Training at Ft Hunter Liggett

From the Salinas Californian:

Monterey County firefighters will participate June 17, 19 and 21 at Fort Hunter Liggett to learn how to fight wildland fires – and at the same time help the Fort Hunter Liggett Fire Department with control burns.

The Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association, in conjunction with the Fort Hunter Liggett Fire Department, will host this year’s wildland firefighting training exercises for local fire agencies.

The training exercises are expected to draw more than 100 firefighters from several fire agencies in Monterey County.

The Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association offers the training exercises at no cost to local fire agencies.

FIRE on Fort Hunter Liggett NOT a controlled burn

Update 5/31 – fire was contained late last night at 2200 acres. Started by a training exercise with live ammunition.

Update- ” A wild land fire that began around 4 p.m. is burning in Fort Hunter Liggett training areas south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and west of Jolon Road. More than 30 firefighters and a dozen vehicles from our fire department, CalFire and the U.S. Forest Service have the 2,500 acre fire about 15-20 percent contained. Nacimiento-Fergusson is open as of 6:30 p.m. but be prepared for possible delays. Updates as information changes.”

Fire is clearly showing up on the 11-3.9 micron satellite with a strong heat signal as of 10:10 pm scan. Nothing on Modis yet.
Here is link to FHL RAWS: http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/rom…FHLC1&time=GMT

According to my source, the fire at FHL is NOT a controlled burn. It was started by some troops out on Haycamp Rd. And it headed up to the San Miguelito Loop. An unnamed Capt. There at FHL Fire said “They are taking out the loop.” My source interpreted this to mean that they would probably do a backfire to cut off the main fire. Will be interesting to see where we are on this in the am.

Smoke, FHL

9:00 update- from my wonderful retired Fire Capt. source “hey Kate ….just got off the horn with the station….GI’s started a fire on Haycamp rd and it is now up to the san miguelito loop an the capt. talked too, he got called in on OT…. said they are takng the loop out so that’s probably where all the smokes coming from Kate…they’re probably doing a backfire to cut the main fire off I bet……”

There is a lot of smoke over FHL coming this way. It could be part of the controlled burn I warned about. Unless I hear differently, or see flames after dark, I am going with control burn. Otherwise,I’ll let you know.

Controlled Burn at FHL no longer controlled?

Sat. Update – no plumes, and no wind to speak of. That is a good thing.

For DAYS we have had lots of smoke, due to a controlled burn in Stoney Valley. Finally, it is being reported as a wildfire. WildCAD-LPNF reported a dispatch of BC 12 and Engines 15 and 16 at 1747 hours. It is in the Hay Camp area. I will be following this, of course. The good news is there is no column I can see.