The FAA can grant no-fly zones to ensure safety for clean up efforts after environmental disasters occur, such as oil and other hazardous material spills. Granting control to private companies, or individuals employed/contracted by private companies:
- Creates an unchecked information funnel that potentially puts local residents at risk;
- Restricts access to important early disaster impact data; and
- Allows the right to free and independent press to be regulated by a democratically unaccountable entity.
According to Federal Aviation Regulations members of accredited news organizations are allowed access to these sites within certain guidelines. When a company causes a disaster they should not be able to control our right to information. Support loosening current restrictions to media and end transferring control of no-fly zones to private entities.
Here is some background on the Mayflower, AR no-fly zone at the time of the incident:
http://j.mp/Z19fS6 (Copy and paste link into your browser if needed).
