[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2803-2804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1533]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Enhanced Training In Idaho Mountain Home AFB, ID
The United States Air Force intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the proposed action regarding the
establishment of a tactical training range in Owyhee County, Idaho
supporting enhanced training for Mountain Home AFB and the Idaho Air
National Guard. In conjunction with the range, modification of airspace
would occur in the state of Idaho and Nevada. This proposal will be
known as Enhanced Training in Idaho (ETI).
The Air Force proposes to establish the ETI in the eastern half of
Owyhee County, Idaho, near Clover Butte. This proposal would establish
a series of target areas including one tactical range, five simulated
bombing target areas and a series of 30 emitter sites to compliment
existing assets and allow various training opportunities.
The ETI would consist of a 12,000-acre tactical range designed to
provide aircrews with a realistic target array that allows simultaneous
attacks from any axis. Only small training munitions would be expended
on the tactical range. In addition, the Air Force would establish five
simulated bombing sites on which no ordnance would be expended. The
simulated bombing target areas would consist of two industrial
complexes with a railyard, two Surface-to-Air Missile sites, and a
Forward Edge of Battle Area array. Four of the simulated bombing areas
would each cover 5-acres and the remaining area would cover 1-square
mile.
In addition to the target areas, the Air Force would establish ten
1-acre emitter sites and twenty 0.25-acre emitter sites. These emitter
sites would allow the placement of simulated enemy threat radars to
provide aircrews with a diverse target/threat array. In total, the
proposed ETI would supplement the existing range facilities, and allow
various target numbers and locations to provide realism and simulate
anticipated combat conditions.
Airspace actions associated with the ETI would permit more
efficient utilization of the airspace and range assets. The proposal
includes expansion of the Owyhee Military Operations Area (MOA) to the
north and expansion of the Paradise East MOA to the southeast to join
the Owyhee MOA. Restricted airspace would be restructured within
[[Page 2804]]
the ETI area by eliminating R-3202B and R-3202C, elevating the ceiling
of R-3202A to 29,000 MSL and establishing new restricted airspace
around the 12,000-acre tactical range.
In addition to the proposed action, two alternatives will be
considered: the no action alternative, and a 12,000-acre tactical range
similar to the proposed range, but located further west, near Grasmere.
The Air Force will conduct public scoping meetings to assist it in
determining the issues and concerns that should be addressed in the
EIS. Notice of time and place of the scoping meetings will be made to
public officials and announced in the news media in areas where the
scoping meetings will be held.
To assure there will be sufficient time to consider public inputs
on issues to be included in developing the EIS when attendance at the
scoping meetings is not possible, comments should be forwarded to the
addressee below by April 1, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lt Col R. Oholendt, Air Combat Command
Airspace and Range Management Division, HQ ACC/DOR, Langley Air Force
Base, Virginia 23665; Telephone (804) 764-6026.
Patsy J. Conner,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-1533 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3910-01-P
