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House Bill 430 amended to require FAA notice, blocks permits that threaten military operations near Fort Indiantown Gap; passes committee
Summary
Chairman Gillan’s amendment requiring turbine owners to notify the Federal Aviation Administration and preventing permits that pose risks to military operations was adopted into House Bill 430. Committee members emphasized aviation-safety concerns near Fort Indiantown Gap and reported the amended bill unanimously to the floor.
Chairman Gillan offered an amendment to House Bill 430 that requires proposed wind-turbine owners to notify the Federal Aviation Administration and bars issuance of a local permit if the turbine would impact military operations or national security. The amendment was adopted and the committee unanimously reported the bill to the House floor.
"I'm merely working to strengthen a high quality piece of legislation so that the FAA gets involved in this process," Chairman Gillan said, arguing that no permit should be issued if there is a risk to military operations. Gillan referenced recent news coverage about busy airspace and said it was "unacceptable to have a risk to national security regardless of what it is that's being developed on the periphery of a base." He also referenced Fort Indiantown Gap as a busy aviation site in the state.
Representative Mako, sponsor of House Bill 430, thanked the chairman for the amendment and said recent aviation accidents underscored the need to mitigate hazards. Representative Williams, who described prior familiarization flights over Fort Indiantown Gap, told the committee that tall structures such as wind turbines, water towers or fire towers can become hazardous checkpoints for aviators. Williams described routine chart updates and notices to airmen (NOTAMs) used to warn pilots about vertical obstructions.
Representative Kerwin, who also has flown in the Fort Indiantown Gap airspace, said the bill will help protect training and combat readiness for aviators.
Chairman Gillan's amendment (A000038) requires FAA notification by turbine owners and prevents permit issuance when a turbine would affect military operations; the committee voted to adopt the amendment and then voted to report the amended House Bill 430 to the floor. The transcript records no roll-call vote by name; the chair announced that the bill "moves to the floor for consideration."
