Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Clinton to limit Grand canyon flights

In an effort to muffle noise pollution in the Grand Canyon, President Clinton has ordered federal officials to further restrict scenic flights over the park.

But Las Vegas tour operators complain that they already are confined to 14 percent of the canyon -- areas they say are not suffering from noise or air problems.

"The air tour people have compromised enough," said Willard Mizell, station manager at Kethican Airlines, which has six planes that make a total of 18 Grand Canyon tours a day.

"I just can't see that we are making that much more noise. If they (federal government) want to restore the natural quiet, they will have to address bus tours and everything else."

Clinton this week directed Transportation Secretary Frederico Pena and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to develop mass transportation -- buses or trains powered by electricity or natural gas -- at the Grand Canyon, California's Yosemite and Utah's Zion national parks.

The president ordered Pena "at a minimum" to follow the findings of a 1994 report by the National Park Service. It called for more flight-free zones over the canyon, creation of no-fly times and phased-in use of technology that makes aircraft more quiet.

The Park Service report says the goal of natural quiet has not been achieved and that aircraft noise is getting worse.

Maureen Oltrogge, a Park Service spokesman at Grand Canyon National Park, said Clinton's directive fit in with actions already under way.

"The president sent a clear message to the two agencies to get together for the common cause of protecting park resources," Oltrogge said.

Oltrogge said the Grand Canyon has solicited 17 proposals from the private sector to develop a transportation system that would limit private vehicle traffic in the park.

On the aircraft issue, Pena has 90 days to submit a noise limitation proposal.

An FAA spokesman said new regulations are expected to be made public within a month. Hearings have been under way on them for some time.

Kent Hemsley, chairman of the Grand Canyon Air Tour Association, said air-tour companies already have moved to use quieter aircraft and propellers, to reduce air speeds to cut down noise and to add radar equipment to make flying safer.

Hemsley said expanding flight-free areas would pose a safety risk by forcing planes to travel in a smaller area over the park.

"If they change some of the stuff they're talking about, we'll have to reduce the number of aircraft or risk a midair collision," he said.

Steve Zorbas, a pilot for Lake Mead Air, who has been doing canyon flights for the last six years, said he flies over areas "rarely visited" by even the most ardent of hikers because there are no roads and no people in the region.

"People enjoy these flights because in one hour they can see what it would take seven hours to see just half of by land," he said.

Dan Anderson, president of the U.S. Air Tour Association, said, "The radical element of the environment community would purposely deceive the public into believing that there is a problem when there isn't.

"Nearly 5 million people visited the Grand Canyon last year, and there were fewer than 50 complaints about aircraft noise. The problem has been solved."

Clinton announced his orders Monday during a speech at Great Falls National Park in Maryland, where he had to halt at times because of aircraft noise.

"Parks are not too full of people, but the roads and parking areas often are jammed," Clinton said. "With modern technology and alternative transportation systems, the parks can continue to be accessible to all, and can be more enjoyable places to experience and learn about nature and history."

Clinton didn't ignore the other 95 parks and national monuments where Interior has identified potential overflight problems. He directed Pena to develop proposed regulations setting up the framework for managing aircraft for them as well.

In another directive, Clinton ordered Babbitt to give him a proposal within 30 days for how the National Park Foundation can foster public-private partnerships on behalf of parks.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., proposed a bill Tuesday under which private fund-raising groups would control a $300 million refurbishment of Grand Canyon National Park and proceeds from an entrance fee increase. His plan also would provide money through bonds for other parks in need of major renovation.

SUN REPORTER Ed Koch contributed to this report.

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