The 2015 Updated Pinal County Comprehensive Plan identifies an objective to “Identify
and protect potential sites and corridors for new energy generation and transmission
facilities.” Three supporting policies in the plan are:
Work with energy providers through the specific area planning process to
identify appropriate locations and buffering of future projects.
Work with energy providers to co‐locate where possible facilities such as
transmission lines, pipelines, substations, and terminals.
Encourage the adoption of designated generation and transmission and facility
sites and corridors in future updates to County and municipal planning
documents to protect against incompatible development and to maximize
increased capacity.
These policies may help ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness in locating utility
corridors for the benefit of service providers and end users. However, there are no
policies or guidance in the plan to ensure high voltage transmission line corridors are
coordinated with the AZARNG.
The AZARNG operates helicopters throughout the JLUS Project Area, operating at and
near Silverbell Army Heliport, Rittenhouse Training Site, Picacho Peak Stagefield, and
FMR, and traveling between the various sites. In addition, the AZARNG conducts
helicopter training across the 3,600 square mile Tactical Flight Training Area (TFTA)
located in southern Pinal County and northern Pima County that includes day and night
helicopter training routes. Low level helicopter operations are routine in the TFTA. Low
level flying in helicopters can be hazardous under the best conditions and construction of
new structures in and around the training area / routes that pilots have not previously
mapped out can pose safety concerns for pilot and aircraft safety.
The FAA prepares information as part of its Daily Digital Obstacle File that describes all
known man‐made objects generate obstacles of interest to aviation users nationwide.
Figure 5‐21 identifies all of these man‐made objects that are taller than 200 feet above
ground level (AGL) and within the JLUS Project Area, as of September 2019.
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Compatibility Assessment