Notice of Adoption of the U.S. Air Force Final Environmental Impact Statement and Approval of the Federal Aviation Administration Record of Decision for the New Mexico Training Range Initiative (NMTRI), 27622 [07-2393]

Download as PDF 27622 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 94 / Wednesday, May 16, 2007 / Notices other relief as the Department may deem necessary or appropriate. Issued in Washington, DC, or May 7, 2007. Edith V. Parish, Acting Manager, Environmental Programs Group, System Operations Airspace & Aeronautical Information Management, Air Traffic Organization. [FR Doc. 07–2393 Filed 5–15–07; 8:45 am] Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, Federal Register Liaison. [FR Doc. E7–9408 Filed 5–15–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Adoption of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Approval of the FAA Record of Decision (ROD). cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing its Adoption of the United States Air Force (USAF) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the New Mexico Training Range Initiative and approval of the FAA Record of Decision (ROD). The New Mexico Training Range Initiative (NMTRI) is the USAF initiative to create airspace that allows mainly F–16 and aircrews to receive much needed realistic combat training while maximizing their training time. NMTRI includes the Pecos MOA complex. DATES: Effective Date: May 7, 2007. ADDRESSES: Federal Aviation Administration, Central Services Area, System Support Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nan Terry, Federal Aviation Administration, Central Services Area, System Support Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, (817) 222–5594. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USAF, lead agency for NMTRI, published availability of the Final EIS on October 20, 2006 in the Federal Register (Volume 71, Number 203, Pages 61967–61968), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as amended. The determinations on the project are outlined in the FAA’s ROD, which was approved on May 4, 2007. For copies of the USAF Final Environmental Impact Statement, contact: Ms. Sheryl Parker at (757) 764– 9334. A copy of the FAA Adoption and Record of Decision can be obtained by 15:27 May 15, 2007 Jkt 211001 BILLING CODE 4910–13–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Notice of Adoption of the U.S. Air Force Final Environmental Impact Statement and Approval of the Federal Aviation Administration Record of Decision for the New Mexico Training Range Initiative (NMTRI) VerDate Aug<31>2005 contacting Ms. Nan Terry in the FOR section above. FURTHER INFORMATION Federal Aviation Administration Notice of the U.S. Air Force Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement and FAA Approval of the Record of Decision for the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (RBTI) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Adoption of the USAF Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement and Issuance of the FAA Record of Decision (ROD). AGENCY: The FAA is announcing— adoption of the United States Air Force (USAF) Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (RBTI), and approval of the FAA Record of Decision (ROD). The USAF proposal was to create airspace that allows B–52 and B–1 aircrews to receive much needed realistic combat training while maximizing their training time. RBTI includes the Lancer Military Operating Area (MOA) and the Instrument Military Training Route 178 (IR–178). EFFECTIVE DATES: April 11, 2007. ADDRESSES: Federal Aviation Administration, Central Services Area, System Support Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76137. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nan Terry, Federal Aviation Administration, Central Services Area, System Support Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd, Fort Worth, Texas, 76137, (817) 222–5594. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background On December 19, 1997, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for RBTI began with publication of the Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published in March 1999 (Volume 64, Number 53). Fifteen public hearings were held in 11 communities. The Final EIS, published and made available to the public in January 2000, identified PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the USAF preferred alternative as Alternative B. In March 2000, the USAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations issued its initial Record of Decision (ROD) ((Air Force 2000b)), choosing Alternative B for implementation. They then submitted the formal airspace proposal to establish the Lancher Military Operating Area (MOA) to the FAA in April 2000. After conducting its own independent evaluation of the environmental documentation and completing the aeronautical circularization process, the FAA adopted the Final EIS and gave final approval for the RBTI airspace on December 11, 2001, with an effective date of February 21, 2002. The USAF and FAA were sued by parties alleging, among other things that there was a failure to comply with NEPA. In March 2003, the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division, granted summary judgment in favor of the United States. The plaintiffs appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. One of the plaintiffs also filed a separate petition in the Fifth Circuit alleging that the FAA had failed to comply with NEPA in approving the RBTI airspace. In a single opinion covering both the USAF and FAA cases, the Court of Appeals (October 2004) upheld the adequacy of the Final EIS in most respects, but remanded the action to the USAF and FAA to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) addressing the impact of wake vortices on ground structures, and to the USAF for compliance with the Council on Environmental Quality and USAF internal requirements for addressing FAA comments. Public Involvement Pertaining to the SEIS The Air Force, in cooperation with the FAA, published a Notice of Availability for the Draft Supplemental EIS in the Federal Register on November 18, 2005 marking the beginning of the official comment period. Between December 5, 2005 and January 28, 2006, the Air Force and FAA conducted a total of five public hearings at locations in the proximity of the proposed action and alternatives. Lubbock, Texas was added as the fifth public hearing location based on requests from interested citizens. Notice of Availability of the Final SEIS appeared in the Federal Register on August 11, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 155) with a comment period of thirty-one (31) days. Additional information regarding the public E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM 16MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 27622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2393]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Adoption of the U.S. Air Force Final Environmental 
Impact Statement and Approval of the Federal Aviation Administration 
Record of Decision for the New Mexico Training Range Initiative (NMTRI)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Adoption of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Approval of the FAA Record of 
Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing its Adoption of the United States Air 
Force (USAF) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the New 
Mexico Training Range Initiative and approval of the FAA Record of 
Decision (ROD). The New Mexico Training Range Initiative (NMTRI) is the 
USAF initiative to create airspace that allows mainly F-16 and aircrews 
to receive much needed realistic combat training while maximizing their 
training time. NMTRI includes the Pecos MOA complex.

DATES: Effective Date: May 7, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Federal Aviation Administration, Central Services Area, 
System Support Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nan Terry, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Central Services Area, System Support Group, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, (817) 222-5594.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USAF, lead agency for NMTRI, published 
availability of the Final EIS on October 20, 2006 in the Federal 
Register (Volume 71, Number 203, Pages 61967-61968), in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as amended. The 
determinations on the project are outlined in the FAA's ROD, which was 
approved on May 4, 2007.
    For copies of the USAF Final Environmental Impact Statement, 
contact: Ms. Sheryl Parker at (757) 764-9334. A copy of the FAA 
Adoption and Record of Decision can be obtained by contacting Ms. Nan 
Terry in the For Further Information section above.

    Issued in Washington, DC, or May 7, 2007.
Edith V. Parish,
Acting Manager, Environmental Programs Group, System Operations 
Airspace & Aeronautical Information Management, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 07-2393 Filed 5-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
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