It seems STEP is not so detrimental to FAFB

Sometimes, headlines say a lot more than expected. Take this one from the June 1 issue of the Cheney Free Press: “Second STEP opponent files.”

The story is about the Spokane County Board of Commissioners’ decision to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Indian Affairs over the approval of the Spokane Tribe of Indians economic development project (STEP) near Fairchild Air Force Base. In explaining their unanimous May 30 decision, county spokeswoman Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter, said the lawsuit is to appeal Interior’s June 2015 determination that stated STEP “would not be detrimental to the community.”

In their resolution, commissioners site proximity of the development to flight patterns for the base, endangering the ongoing viability of Fairchild as the “region’s economic engine,” didn’t accurately reflect county land use regulations recently enacted dealing with encroachment around the base and that “STEP has overwhelming opposition.”

Now take this headline from the June 8 issue of the Free Press: “Fairchild adds 12 more KC-135s.” Or this one from the March 30 edition: “’Squarepatchers’ join Fairchild Air Force Base.”

Together, those stories report the addition of 21 more KC-135s to the base, making it the largest tanker fleet installation in the Air Force. Indeed, in announcing the latest addition, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said Fairchild was the “best choice for additional Air Force tankers,” citing its ability to support global missions due to its location.

The latest addition of 12 tankers is predicted to bring in $19.5 million in economic activity to Spokane County annually because of the increase in personnel, along with millions more in infrastructure improvements. If this is an example of Fairchild’s economic viability being damaged by STEP, perhaps we need the Spokane Tribe to build another one.

We’re mystified as to why the commissioners are spending our money — both on local attorneys and federal attorneys — in suing Interior. Economically, Fairchild is in good shape, case in point the new tankers and personnel.

The Spokanes and base officials have said in the past that they have good lines of communication going with regards to impacts to flight patterns from development, mainly the proposed casino and resort. The commissioners’ statement this creates a “potential for a catastrophic event” is a valid concern, but it’s not uncommon to be at Sunset Elementary School about a mile or two east of the base and watch a KC-135 fly low overhead on its approach.

Nor is it unusual to be in Spokane and watch a similar occurrence take place with some of the 59 daily flights landing at Spokane International Airport. Where is the “catastrophic event” outcry about either of these?

County and Airway Heights officials have done yeoman’s work in removing development encroaching on Fairchild that’s causing health and safety risks to the community. But these efforts have focused largely on accident potential zones (APZ) located east of the base and south of U.S. Highway 2. STEP is north and east of the base across U.S. 2.

Finally, overwhelming opposition? Maybe in certain circles and among those predisposed to being more vocal, but we’d bet there are also many individuals out there looking forward to the thousands of jobs STEP will provide.

The Spokane County Commissioners have long been opponents to this project, as have the Spokanes gaming competitors, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and their nearby Northern Quest Resort and Casino. Indeed, the Kalispel’s sued Interior first, focusing also on off-reservation gaming.

That should prove interesting to hear, given that while the Spokane’s reservation is west along the Columbia River, the Kalispels’ is closer to Canada than to Airway Heights.

That is another story, but in the case of Spokane County’s suit, we need to let it go when it comes to STEP. Recent events have shot the economic viability argument down, and it’s time to repair relationships, rather than build larger rifts.

That’s what the next headline should say.