For Immediate Release

Contact: Kerry Lynch (509) 990-7513 klynchapi@comcast.net

Statement from Spokane Tribe on Spokane Co. Commission letter

April 10, 2014 Supporters of the Spokane Tribe Economic Project (STEP) today released a statement from Spokane Tribal Council Chairman Rudy Peone on the Spokane County Commissioners recent request for the BIA to re-open the environmental review process based on new information about operations at Fairchild Air Force Base. We expect the BIA to give due consideration to the County Commissioners latest round of comments. However, what the County Commissioners characterize as new information actually consists of matters either already in the official record and therefore already assessed by the BIA or well-known Air Force guidance documents that have been in existence for several years. At the end of the day, the County Commissioners claim the BIA should listen to them when it comes to STEPs compatibility with Fairchild Air Force Base, but the law says the BIA must instead listen to the Air Force. The U.S. Air Force exhaustively reviewed STEPs compatibility with Fairchild, including in a recently released environmental analysis of the KC46A: The project has been coordinated with the USAF. The Spokane Tribe of Indians has enacted the West Plains Development Code to implement recommendation of a JLUS to avoid incompatible development in the vicinity of Fairchild AFB. This code included restrictions and requirements for building heights, density, sound attenuation, wildlife attractants, light and glare. At a time of continuing community needs in Spokane County, it is unfortunate that the Commissioners hired the largest corporate law firm in Seattle along with a Washington D.C. lobbyist to argue against the Air Forces own conclusions regarding STEPs compatibility with FAFB operations.

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