[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 48714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24376]
[[Page 48714]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Ballistic Missile Defense Organization; Preparation of a Theater
Missile Defense Extended Test Range Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement--Eglin Gulf Test Range
AGENCY: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).
ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).
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SUMMARY: This notifies the public that BMDO is issuing a Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the Eglin Gulf
Test Range (EGTR). The FSEIS assesses the potential impacts associated
with 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. No
decision has been made concerning the EGTR proposal and cannot be made
until at least 30 days after the NOA is published in the Federal
Register. As the Executing Agent for the SEIS, the Air Force
Development Test Center (AFDTC), Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), FL,
managed the FSEIS for BMDO. The FSEIS analyzed additional missile
launch and support locations, facility construction, launch preparation
activities, missile flight tests, radar and optical tracking
operations, and intercept tests in the EGTR portion of the Gulf of
Mexico 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, NM, for TMD tests. However,
additional interceptor and target missile launch options have been
identified for the EGTR. These additional alternatives are within
treaty and technology limitations. The EGTR alternatives would provide
a more complete set of test scenarios than is possible at existing
ranges, and would permit realistic threat ranges for testing of TMD
interceptor systems. Copies of the TMD Extended Test Range Final
Environmental Impact Statement are available at various locations
within the interested communities. The exact locations can be provided
by contacting the point of contact listed below.
The purpose of expanding the EGTR's missile defense testing
capability is to test TMD systems to validate their capability to
intercept enemy missiles with the capability of ranges up to 1,100-
kilometers (684 miles). Testing with both target and interceptor launch
facilities located within the continental United States and its
adjacent waters would provide a cost-effective, flexible, long-term
means of meeting TMD test requirements.
Environmental issues analyzed in the FSEIS 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; safety and health; land use;
noise; socio-economic; transportation; utilities; visual and
aesthetics; and water resources.
Lead Agency: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.
Cooperating Agencies:
Department of the the Air Force
Department of the Army
Department of the Navy
Federal Aviation Administration
Department of Interior
U.S. Coast Guard
Proposed Action
The BMDO proposes to enhance the capability to conduct missile
defense testing and training at the EGTR against targets simulating
threat systems having the capability of ranges up to 1,100-kilometers
(684 miles). Defensive missile intercepts would occur over the Gulf of
Mexico within the EGTR.
Preferred Alternative
The preferred alternative includes three types of TMD activities:
(a) Target launches from land at Eglin AFB and/or from aircraft
above the Gulf of Mexico;
(b) Interceptor (defensive missile) launches from Eglin AFB and/or
ships; and
(c) Intercept of the target missile by the interceptor over the
Gulf of Mexico and within the EGTR.
The ground-launch locations evaluated at Eglin AFB are the Santa
Rosa Island and Cape San Blas test locations. The air-launched
locations evaluated include the airspace within the EGTR and other
locations in the Gulf of Mexico within U.S. controlled airspace.
Other Alternatives
1. Florida Keys Target Launches: As an alternative to the air
launch the Eglin AFB target launch sites, and ground-launch locations
evaluated in the Florida Keys are Department of Defense controlled
areas at Saddlebunch and Cudjoe Keys. These locations, along with Boca
Chica, Dredger, Sugarloaf, and Fleming Keys, are also evaluated to
support missile tracking and sensor activities.
2. Ship-based Target Launches: In addition to the air launch and
Eglin AFB target launch sites, targets launched from ships located
within the EGTR and other locations in the Gulf of Mexico are evaluated
in the FSEIS.
3. Platform-based Interceptor Launches: In addition to the Eglin
AFB interceptor launch sites, interceptors launched from platforms
located offshore from the Santa Rosa Island and Cape San Blas test
locations and evaluated in the FSEIS.
4. No Action: In addition to the above alternatives, the No Action
Alternative is considered for evaluation in the FSEIS.
Information/Comments
Information on the proposed action is available at the following
internet address; http://tw1.eglin.af.mil/46mtd/tmd.htm. The point of
contact for the FSEIS is: Ms. Linda Busch, 46 OG/OGM-TMD, 205 West D
Ave., Suite 241, Eglin AFB, FL, 32542-6866. A Record of Decision on the
EGTR SEIS alternatives could be made available no earlier than [30 days
of publication].
Dated: September 4, 1998.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-24376 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M
