The Johnson Valley community has been holding its breath these past months as the U.S. Marine Corps’ Special Use Airspace proposal, R2509, moves through the public process. After an intense wave of local comments and outreach, momentum slowed during the government shutdown — but the Marines have since released public fact sheets about the proposal. That put new material in front of the public, and it’s precisely the sort of moment when clear information matters most.
The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) has studied the Marine Corps’ fact sheet alongside the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and reached a simple conclusion: some of the public messaging in the fact sheet doesn’t align with what the EA actually describes. BRC isn’t looking to pick a fight — their stated goal is clarity. They’ve prepared a point-by-point comparison so riders, event organizers, local businesses, and other stakeholders can see where the EA and the fact sheet agree, where they differ, and where open questions remain. In short: this is a public process, and respectful disagreement and scrutiny are part of how this gets done right.
What you can do now: read the breakdown, make your own notes, and stay engaged. With federal offices open again, BRC is asking that every stakeholder — including the Marines — have accurate information on the table so long-term decisions protect public access and the shared-use principles Congress intended. If Johnson Valley matters to you, follow BRC’s analysis, sign up for their updates, and consider contacting your representatives with reasoned, evidence-based comments. Events, local economies, and long-standing shared-use arrangements deserve careful consideration before anything becomes permanent.
This is still a developing story. Please visit the BRC’s update page to view the point-by-point breakdown HERE.
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