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Released: Apr. 2, 2003

Court rules in favor of Air Force on training initiative

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- The Northern District Court of Texas published opinions in favor of the Air Force on the related cases of Davis Mountains Trans-Pecos Heritage Association and Buster Welch March 24.

The central issue in the litigation was whether the Air Force sufficiently examined environmental consequences of the actions associated with the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative as required by the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Realistic Bomber Training Initiative improves training by using more realistic terrain with threat emitter sites in closer proximity to bomber bases. Although aircrews were permitted to begin initial training, plaintiffs in this case sued to permanently curtail the training.

The NEPA process and litigation have lasted more than four years.

The judgments provide the Air Force the opportunity to engage in essential bomber training throughout west Texas and New Mexico while minimizing transit times to training grounds.