[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 66605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33209]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for
the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative in Texas and New Mexico
The United States Air Force (USAF) is issuing this notice to advise
the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts of a proposal to
implement the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (RBTI). This
proposal is intended to provide efficient, integrated training
opportunities for aircrews flying B-1B aircraft from Dyess Air Force
Base (AFB), Texas, and B-52H aircraft from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
The proposed action for RBTI would involve several interrelated
elements:
1. Modifications and additions to existing military training route
(MTR) airspace used generally for low-altitude training activities;
2. Modifications and additions to existing military operations area
(MOA) airspace used for medium to high altitude training and
maneuvering;
3. Increased flights by B-1B and B-52H aircraft in the MTR and MOA
airspace;
4. Acquisition of a total of 12, 15-acre parcels under the MTR and
MOA airspace for construction and operation of an Electronic Scoring
Site system consisting of electronic emitters and associated
facilities; and
5. Closure of existing Electronic Scoring Site systems at Harrison,
Arkansas and La Junta, Colorado, and transfer of equipment to the
proposed Electronic Scoring Site system developed for RBTI.
The Air Force has developed three alternatives, each of which
fulfills the requirements of the proposed action. Two of these
alternatives use airspace over lands located in west Texas; the third
uses airspace in northeastern New Mexico. All three of these
alternatives, and the No-Action alternative will be evaluated in the
EIS. If feasible alternatives are developed as part of the scoping
process, they will be included in the EIS.
Implementation of any of the three alternatives fulfilling the
proposed action would require the Federal Aviation Administration to
modify existing special use airspace and to chart new airspace.
Similarly, the Air Force would undertake real estate actions to acquire
access to the 12, 15-acre sites for the electronic scoring system.
The information in this EIS will be considered in making the
decision whether to implement RBTI, and if so, to select an alternative
for implementation. A separate EIS is currently being conducted by the
Air Force to address use of existing military airspace over west Texas
and northeastern New Mexico by units stationed at Holloman AFB, New
Mexico. This proposal, as well as other actions, will be assessed for
potential cumulative impacts in the RBTI EIS.
The Air Force intends to hold several public scoping meetings in
the potentially affected areas of Texas and New Mexico. Dates, times,
and locations for these meetings will be announced through press
releases, newspapers and other media sources accessible to the public
and agencies. These meetings are the first step in asking for public
and government agency comments on the RBTI proposal. Comments provided
at these meetings and throughout the scoping process should focus on
the merits of the proposal, alternatives, and the nature and scope of
environmental issues and other concerns that need to be addressed in
the EIS. During the meetings, the Air Force will describe the proposed
action and all alternatives, the National Environmental Policy Act
process, and outline the opportunities for public involvement in the
process.
Comments will be accepted throughout the analysis process, however,
to ensure the Air Force has sufficient time to consider public input in
the preparation of the Draft EIS, comments should be submitted to the
address below by February 17, 1998.
RBTI EIS, c/o 7 CES/CEV, 710 3rd Street, Dyess AFB, TX
79607.
Barbara A. Carmichael
Alternate Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-33209 Filed 12-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3910-01-P
