Daines Seeks Changes to Bomber Training Area

A Montana congressman is asking for changes to a U.S. Air Force proposal that would expand a bomber training site over parts of four states.

Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Daines wants the Air Force to remove from its plans a vast swath of airspace above southeast Montana, northwest South Dakota and southwest North Dakota.

Daines' office said Monday that the proposed training site threatens to disrupt medical flights and monitoring flights by the oil and gas industry. He requested the changes in a letter to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.

A final environmental study on the proposal is pending.

Montana U.S. Senators John Walsh and Jon Tester oppose the expansion and have criticized federal officials for not providing enough opportunities for public comment on the matter.