Contact: Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
PENNSYLVANIA -- Today, Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman jointly announced that the US Air Force and National Guard Bureau canceled their plans to create the Duke Low Military Operations Area (MOA), where pilots were expected to train with fighter jets as low as 100 feet above the ground, up to two hours daily, for as many as 170 days per year, including nights and weekends. The Duke MOA was slated to take place over a large portion of the Pennsylvania Wilds, well known for areas such as the Cherry Springs State Park, an internationally recognized Dark Sky Park, and the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The Wilds are widely used by residents from across the region for hiking and recreation and are home to the largest elk herd in the northeast United States.
Sierra Club Pennsylvania has opposed the Duke MOA since it was first proposed in 2021 and has submitted numerous public comments opposing the project on behalf of our 25,000 members and supporters across the state.
In response, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter Deputy Director Sarah Corcoran released the following statement:
“The Sierra Club thanks Senators Casey and Fetterman for their championship of Pennsylvania’s public lands and for opposing the Duke Low Military Operations Area, which would have undeniably and continually disrupted the peaceful Pennsylvania Wilds. Countless Pennsylvanians and residents from across the northeast visit the Wilds each year to enjoy our quiet and beautiful public lands, and with this project cancellation, they will be able to continue to enjoy the tranquility of the Pennsylvania Wilds for generations to come.”
About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.