96-30089. Preparation of the Theater Missile Defense Extended Test Range Supplemental Environmental Impact StatementEglin Gulf Test Range  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 60094-60095]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-30089]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
    
    Preparation of the Theater Missile Defense Extended Test Range 
    Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement--Eglin Gulf Test Range
    
    AGENCY: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).
    
    ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).
    
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    SUMMARY: This notifies the public that BMDO intends to prepare a 
    Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Eglin Gulf 
    Test Range (EGTR). It will support BMDO developmental and operational 
    flight testing of Theater Missile Defense (TMD) systems. The proposed 
    action would allow for the development and testing of TMD systems to 
    protect U.S. forces, friends, and allies around the world from attacks 
    by ballistic missiles. The Departments of the Air Force, Army, and 
    Navy, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of 
    Interior, and U.S. Coast Guard will be Cooperating Agencies in this 
    effort. As the Executing Agent, the Air Force Development Test Center 
    (AFDTC), Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, will manage the SEIS for 
    BMDO. The U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command (USASSDC), 
    Huntsville, Alabama, will prepare the SEIS documentation for the AFDTC. 
    The SEIS would analyze additional missile launch and support locations, 
    facility construction, launch preparation activities, missile flight 
    tests, radar and optical tracking operations, and intercept tests not 
    analyzed in the TMD Extended Test Range Final Environmental Impact 
    Statement, November 1994.
        The Record of Decision on the TMD Extended Test Range Final 
    Environmental Impact Statement, March 21, 1995, documented only the 
    selection of U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall 
    Islands, and the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, for TMD tests. 
    However, additional interceptor and target missile launch options have 
    been identified for the EGTR alternative which are within treaty and 
    technology limitations. The EGTR options would provide greater 
    flexibility in test scenarios than is possible using other ranges, and 
    permits more realistic testing of TMD interceptor systems. Copies of 
    the TMD Extended Test Range Final Environmental Impact Statement should 
    be available at various locations within the affected communities. The 
    exact locations will be available by the beginning of public scoping 
    meetings and by contacting the point of contact listed below.
        The purpose of expanding the EGTR's missile defense testing 
    capability is to realistically test TMD systems to validate their 
    capability to intercept enemy missiles with the capability of ranges up 
    to 1,200-kilometers (746 miles). Testing with both target and 
    interceptor launch facilities within the continental United States and 
    its adjacent waters would provide a cost-effective, flexible, long-term 
    means of meeting current and future TMD requirements.
        Environmental issues to be analyzed in the TMD Extended Test Range 
    SEIS for the EGTR include: Air quality; airspace control; biological 
    resources (such as threatened or endangered species and wetlands); 
    cultural resources; geology and soils; hazardous materials and waste; 
    health and safety; land use; noise; socio-economic; transportation; 
    utilities; visual and aesthetics; water resources; and other 
    environmental issues identified during the scoping process.
    
    PROPOSED ACTION: The BMDO proposes to establish the capability to 
    conduct missile defense testing against targets
    
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    simulating threat systems having the capability of ranges up to 1,200-
    kilometers (746 miles) with defensive missile intercepts over the Gulf 
    of Mexico. The three main types of TMD activities that will be 
    evaluated in the SEIS are: (1) Target launches from land at Eglin AFB 
    or in the Florida Keys and/or from aircraft from the Gulf of Mexico; 
    (2) interceptor (defensive missile) launches from Eglin AFB and/or 
    ships; and (3) intercept of the target missile by the interceptor over 
    the Gulf of Mexico.
        The ground-launch locations to be evaluated at Eglin AFB are the 
    Santa Rosa Island and Cape San Blas properties, and in the Florida 
    Keys, Department of Defense controlled areas at Saddlebunch and Cudjoe 
    Keys. These locations, along with Boca Chica, Dredger, Sugarloaf, and 
    Fleming Keys, will also be evaluated to support missile tracking and 
    sensor activities. The air launched locations to be evaluated include 
    the airspace within the EGTR and other locations in the Gulf of Mexico 
    within U.S. controlled airspace. In addition to the No Action 
    Alternative, other alternatives brought forth by the public would be 
    considered for evaluation in the SEIS.
    
    SCOPING PROCESS: Comments received during the scoping process will be 
    used to assist the BMDO in identifying potential impacts to the 
    environment. Individuals or organizations may participate in the 
    scoping process by: calling toll free 1-800-931-5566 (for information 
    only); using E-Mail to submit questions and concerns, tmd__egtr@ro.com; 
    or sending written questions and comments to Ms. Linda Ninh, U.S. Army 
    Space and Strategic Defense Command, ATTN: CSSD-EN-V, Post Office Box 
    1500, Huntsville, Alabama 35807-3801. In addition, individuals or 
    organizations may offer verbal or written comments at scoping meetings 
    to be held between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the following Florida 
    locations:
    
    Fort Walton Beach, Holiday Inn, 1110 Santa Rosa Boulevard--21 Jan. 97
    Key West, Holiday Inn, 3841 N. Roosevelt Boulevard--27 Jan. 97
    Tampa Bay, Holiday Inn--State Fair, 2708 North 50th Street--3 Feb. 97
    
    and between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the following locations:
    
    Port St. Joe, Port St. Joe High School, 100 Sharp Drive--23 Jan. 97
    Marathon, Marathon High School, 350 Sombrero Beach Road--28 Jan. 97
     Tavernier, Coral Shores High School, 89901 Old Highway--30 Jan. 97
    
        Interested citizens and public officials will be able to receive 
    pertinent information regarding the development of the Draft SEIS at 
    these meetings. The AFDTC is also required to hold future public 
    meetings after the Draft SEIS is prepared. The locations and dates of 
    these meetings will also be published in a Federal Register notice 
    announcing the availability of the Draft SEIS. The AFDTC intends to 
    issue the Draft SEIS in autumn 1997 for public comment and to issue the 
    Final SEIS in spring 1998.
    Lester L. Lyles,
    Lieutenant General, USAF, Director.
    
        Dated: November 20, 1996.
    L.M. Bynum,
    Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
    [FR Doc. 96-30089 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 5000-04-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
11/26/1996
Department:
Defense Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of Intent (NOI).
Document Number:
96-30089
Pages:
60094-60095 (2 pages)
PDF File:
96-30089.pdf