Federal Aviation Act
The Federal Aviation Act was passed in 1958 to provide methods for overseeing and
regulating civilian and military use of airspace. The Act requires the Secretary of
Transportation to make long‐range plans that formulate policy for the orderly
development and use of navigable air space. The intent is to serve the needs of both
civilian aeronautics and national defense. Military planning strives to work alongside
local, state, and federal aviation regulations and policies, but sometimes must supersede
these due to national security interests. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was
created as a result of the Act and serves a variety of purposes, including the management
of airspace over the US. The prime objectives of the FAA are to promote air safety and
the efficient use of the navigable airspace.
Another important outcome of the Act is Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 77,
commonly referenced as simply Part 77, which provides the basis for evaluating if a
proposed structure or object will result in a vertical obstruction or flight hazard to
navigable airspace. Using a distance formula from this regulation, local jurisdictions can
assess the height restrictions near airfields. Additional information on Part 77 can be
found on the FAA website at http://www.faa.gov/. The FAA uses its Obstruction
Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis tool to generate Determinations of Hazards/
No Hazards for proposed structures or objects.
When FAA identifies concerns, it may require avoidance or minimization, lighting, or
other measures to ensure airspace safety for military and civilian purposes. If potential
impacts to military operations are identified, the project must also undergo either formal
or informal review by the US Department of Defense Siting Clearinghouse to ensure the
proposed project is compatible with military missions. The Part 77 review process by law
requires that military interests be addressed if a proposed project may impact them.
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) established the authority for the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to manage its lands and plan according to national
and local interests. The law mandates that BLM lands identified for development shall
uphold and protect the scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, and other
values unique to specific geographies. This law provides the impetus for the various
resource management plans developed and prepared for the BLM.
Sustainable Range Program
Encroachment on Army training and firing ranges has become a major concern in recent
years. Pressure from urbanization, environmental protection efforts, competition for
airspace and electromagnetic frequencies, and public perception of reduced national
security needs have limited mission capabilities and operations at multiple installations
Pinal County Joint Land Use Study
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