Department of the Air Force and U.S. Army; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Modernization and Enhancement of Ranges, Airspace, and Training Areas in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Alaska, 76444-76446 [2010-30759]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
[FR Doc. 2010–30732 Filed 12–7–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–C
Department of the Air Force
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for Construction and Operation of a
Panoramic Survey Telescope and
Rapid Response System (PanSTARRS) at the Summit of Mauna Kea,
HI
ACTION:
Cancellation of Pan-STARRS
EIS.
Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended (42 United States
Code 4321, et seq.), the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for
implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulation
(CFR) Parts 1500–1508), and U.S. Air
Force (USAF) policy and procedures (32
CFR part 989), the USAF issued a notice
on 10 Jan 07 advising the public of its
intent to prepare an EIS evaluating
potential environmental impacts
associated with construction and
operation of the proposed Panoramic
Survey Telescope and Rapid Response
System (Pan-STARRS) by the University
of Hawaii (UH) Institute for Astronomy
(IfA). Pan-STARRS was to be a USAFfunded, UH IfA research program to
discover, characterize and track NearEarth Objects (NEOs), primarily
asteroids and comets, whose trajectories
pass close enough to Earth that they
may pose a danger of collision.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please direct any written comments or
requests for information to Ms. Connie
Rankin, Office of Public Affairs, 377
ABW/PA, 3550 Aberdeen Ave., SE.,
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117–5776 (Phone:
505–846–4321; e-mail
Connie.Rankin@kirtland.af.mil).
Bao-Anh Trinh,
GS–14, DAF, Air Force Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010–30760 Filed 12–7–10; 8:45 am]
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Department of the Air Force and U.S.
Army; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Modernization and Enhancement of
Ranges, Airspace, and Training Areas
in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range
Complex in Alaska
ACTION:
Notice of Intent.
The U.S. Air Force and U.S.
Army, on behalf of Alaskan Command
(ALCOM), are issuing this notice to
advise the public of their intent to
prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) evaluating potential
environmental impacts associated with
modernizing and enhancing current
military ground and air training assets
in Alaska.
This notice is published pursuant to
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 United
States Code [U.S.C] 4321, et seq.); the
Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for Implementing the
Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1500–
1508); Executive Orders 11514 and
11991; the Environmental Quality
Improvement Act of 1970, as amended
(42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.); the Air Force
Environmental Impact Analysis Process
(32 CFR 989); and the ‘‘Environmental
Analysis of Army Actions’’ (32 CFR
651). This Notice of Intent describes the
Air Force’s and Army’s scoping process
and identifies ALCOM’s point of
contact.
In accordance with the U.S.
Department of Defense (DoD) Directive
1322.18, Military Training, and
Commander U.S. Pacific Command
(PACOM), Joint Training Program of
Excellence, ALCOM as DoD’s regional
joint headquarters in Alaska, has
coordinated with the Services to
develop a joint strategy to identify joint
training opportunities in Alaska,
maximize the utilization of training
resources, and improve joint training.
The JPARC Modernization and
Enhancement EIS will evaluate the
elements of this strategy which are
reasonably foreseeable.
At present, the Joint Pacific Alaska
Range Complex (JPARC) consists of all
land, air, and sea training areas used by
the Army, Navy, and Air Force in
Alaska. The military uses the JPARC to
conduct testing, unit-level training, and
to support various joint exercises and
mission rehearsals. The JPARC was
originally developed to support cold
war weapons, tactics, and techniques.
SUMMARY:
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Its current configuration cannot fully
meet the training requirement for forces
and exercises located in Alaska. The
proposed JPARC enhancements would
enable realistic, joint training and
testing to support emerging
technologies, respond to recent
battlefield experiences, and train with
tactics and new weapons systems to
meet combat and national security
needs. JPARC enhancements would
enable the Services to train realistically
and jointly so military personnel could
succeed in their mutually supportive
combat roles when exposed to situations
faced in actual combat.
The proposal would modernize
existing military training and testing
capabilities located in the interior of
Alaska through expanding and/or
establishing new Military Operations
Areas, restricted airspace, airspace
corridors, ground maneuver training
areas, and training complexes to provide
adequate airspace and controlled-access
land to test and train under realistic and
varied conditions. The EIS will analyze
the environmental effects of the
proposed changes and their alternatives.
All of the actions proposed in this EIS
are independent of each other and have
stand-alone value for improving training
operations. While full implementation
of all the proposed actions is desired
and would result in the greatest training
benefit for aircrew and ground troop
training, each of the proposals, if
implemented alone, would have a
positive effect on the use and/or
management of JPARC. Depending on
decisions made and the availability of
funding, it is possible that some of the
actions being proposed could be
implemented soon after a Record of
Decision (ROD) is issued, some actions
could be implemented quite some time
after the ROD is issued, some actions
may be deferred until such time as they
are ripe for decision, and some
proposed actions may not be
implemented. The following projects are
those currently proposed to be
addressed in the JPARC Modernization
and Enhancement EIS.
Fox 3 Military Operations Area (MOA)
Expansion and New Paxon MOA: The
Air Force and Army propose to expand
the Fox 3 MOA and establish a new,
adjacent Paxon MOA to provide the
vertical and horizontal airspace
structure needed to better accommodate
low-altitude threat and multiple-axis
mission activities during JPARC training
exercises. The Air Force and Army
intend to consider the following
alternatives, as well as a No Action
Alternative: Alternative A includes the
proposed expanded Fox 3 MOA and the
proposed new Paxon MOA with both
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the high- and low-altitude MOAs;
Alternative B includes only the Fox 3
MOA expansion (as in Alternative A)
without the new Paxon MOA;
Alternative C includes the Fox 3 MOA
expansion without the low-altitude
MOA; Alternative D proposes keeping
the Fox 3 MOA boundaries the same as
they currently exist, but separating the
MOA into four subdivided sectors, as
well as high- and low-altitude MOAs.
The low-altitude MOA would extend
from 500 feet above ground level (AGL)
up to, but not including, 5,000 feet AGL.
The high-altitude MOA elevation
Realistic Live Ordnance Delivery: As
the range and lethality of modern
weapons increase, so do the amounts of
training area and airspace required to
safely and effectively train with these
weapons. The current ranges and
restricted airspace of the JPARC are not
capable of supporting realistic training
with modern and emerging weapons.
The Army and Air Force propose to
establish a realistic air and ground
training environment that would
accommodate live ordnance delivery of
modern and emerging weapons by
considering the following alternatives,
as well as a No Action Alternative:
Alternative A proposes the use of
existing targets in the Oklahoma Impact
Area within Restricted Area 2202 (R–
2202) with the expansion of this
restricted airspace to the west to
encompass the airspace and underlying
lands; Alternative B proposes that live
ordnance delivery make use of existing
targets at the Oklahoma and Blair Lakes
Impact Areas with new restricted
airspace established that links R–2211
and R–2202. Based on the ceiling
altitude of R–2211 as flight level (FL)
310 and the upper altitude of R–2202
being FL310, the proposed altitude for
the restricted airspace linking these two
restricted areas would also be FL310.
Higher altitudes may be required for
some live-fire ordnance profiles;
Alternative C proposes weapons
corridors through the Eielson Military
Operations Area and overlying air traffic
control assigned airspace that would
provide two protective pathways for live
ordnance use within the Oklahoma
Impact Area. These corridors would be
approximately 10 miles in width and
extend from FL200 to FL310, as needed,
to accommodate the delivery altitudes
of the ordnance types being delivered.
Joint Combined Arms Live Fire
(JCALF): Current tactics and techniques
established in the Iraq and Afghanistan
theaters of operation require the Army
to regularly integrate attack aviation into
collective and unit-level training. There
are currently no facilities available in
the JPARC which are capable of
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supporting this type of training. The
Army proposes to establish restricted
airspace to support JCALF training over
the Battle Area Complex (BAX) located
in the Donnelly Training Area (DTA),
near Delta Junction, and the Digital
Multipurpose Training Range located in
the Yukon Training Area (YTA). The
Army and Air Force intend to consider
the following alternative, as well as a No
Action Alternative, or other reasonable
alternative developed during scoping:
Alternative A proposes to establish new
restricted airspace over the BAX in the
DTA to support controlled firing areas
and new restricted airspace located
within YTA. This restricted airspace
would provide protective areas for the
hazardous activities and weapons
surface danger zones of sufficient size
for the types of ordnance used.
Night Joint Training: Combat
situations during the hours of limited
visibility require using advanced night
vision technology. Training with this
equipment can only be conducted at
night. The Army and Air Force intend
to consider the following alternatives, as
well as a No Action Alternative:
Alternative A proposes to extend the
special use airspace hours to
accommodate night training for major
flying exercises (MFE) during March
and October. The hours are currently set
to cease training activities by 10 p.m.,
with landing by 11 p.m., local time;
Alternative B proposes to extend the
JPARC operating hours to allow tactical
flight operations until midnight and
landing by 1 a.m., local time, during
March and October. This would allow
night training during these months from
a minimum of 1.5 hours to a maximum
of 2.5 hours for each exercise;
Alternative C proposes to extend the
JPARC operating hours to allow tactical
flight operations until midnight and
landing by 1 a.m., local time, during all
months of the year and for all training
purposes, not just for MFEs, as is the
current situation.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)/
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Access: RPA/UAVs conduct
reconnaissance and surveillance
activities; RPA/UAV access throughout
the JPARC ranges and airspace is critical
to enhance JPARC training and
exercises. The following RPA/UAV
corridors have been developed as
individual, standalone proposed actions
and alternatives: Eielson Air Force Base
(AFB) to Restricted Area 2211 (R–2211);
Eielson AFB Class D airspace to R–2205;
Allen Field to R–2202; R–2202 to R–
2211; R–2205 to R–2202; Fort
Wainwright to R–2211; and Fort
Wainwright to R–2205. The Air Force
and Army intend to consider the
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76445
following alternatives, as well as a No
Action Alternative: Alternative A would
establish new restricted airspace for
each RPA/UAV corridor identified
above; Alternative B would establish
restricted airspace via a Certificate of
Authorization, or other suitable airspace
designated by the Federal Aviation
Administration for each RPA/UAV
corridor identified above.
Enhanced Access to Existing
Maneuver Space: Services currently lack
year-round accessibility in the Tanana
Flats, Donnelly, and Yukon Training
Areas. The Army and Air Force intend
to consider the following alternatives, as
well as a No Action Alternative:
Alternative A follows the proposed
railroad alignment 11 miles and crosses
the Tanana Flats along an existing
winter-access trail to higher ground
around Blair Lakes; Alternative B
follows the proposed railroad alignment
8 miles before crossing the Tanana Flats
toward Hill 1406. The route traverses
the eastern slopes of Hill 1406, then a
broad terrace southeast toward Blair
Lakes, crossing Dry Creek near Blair
Lakes; Alternative C follows existing
trail systems southwest across the
Tanana Flats toward Hill 1406, avoiding
open areas as much as possible. From
Hill 1406, two possible routes to Blair
Lakes are being considered: The first
traverses the eastern slopes of Hill 1406
and then a broad terrace southeast
toward Blair Lakes, crossing Dry Creek
near Blair Lakes; the second route
remains on the flats north of Hill 1406,
crossing Dry Creek where the creek
enters the flats, then running up the Dry
Creek Valley to the higher ground
around Blair Lakes; Alternative D is
similar to Alternative C, except it takes
a more direct route from the Tanana
River toward Hill 1406. From Hill 1406,
two routes to Blair Lakes are being
considered: The first traverses the
eastern slopes of Hill 1406, then a broad
terrace southeast toward Blair Lakes,
crossing Dry Creek near Blair Lakes; the
second route remains on the flats north
of Hill 1406, crossing Dry Creek, and
then running up the Dry Creek Valley to
higher ground around Blair Lakes.
Joint Air-Ground Integration Complex
(JAGIC): The Army requires a facility to
train and test air and ground combat
units on skills necessary to detect,
identify, and effectively engage targets
while directing Attack Aviation as in
actual combat. A modern facility
designed to support this type of training
does not exist in the JPARC. The Army
proposes to develop the JAGIC to
provide this capability. The Army and
Air Force intend to consider the
following alternatives, as well as a No
Action Alternative: Alternative A
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proposes to locate the JAGIC in the
central area of Donnelly Training AreaWest, proximate to the western
boundary of the Oklahoma Impact Area;
Alternative B proposes to locate the
JAGIC in the Stuart Creek Impact Area
within the Yukon Training Area;
Alternative C proposes to locate the
JAGIC in the Blair Lakes Impact Area
near the southern boundary of the
Tanana Flats Training Area under the
existing Restricted Area 2211 (R–2211).
Intermediate Staging Bases (ISBs):
Currently, Soldiers and airmen spend
up to 6 hours traveling to and from
training sites within the JPARC. This
travel reduces available training time
and increases risks of traffic accidents.
The Army proposes to locate and
construct a 1,000- Soldier ISB near the
existing Battle Area Complex (BAX),
along with three 200- to 500-Soldier
ISBs at Yukon Training Area (YTA),
Donnelly Training Area-West (DTAWest), and Salcha to reduce travel time,
increase safety, and increase available
training time. The Army and Air Force
intend to consider the following
alternatives, as well as a No Action
Alternative: Alternative A proposes to
provide a permanent 1,000-Soldier ISB
near existing BAX, along with three
permanent 200- to 500-Soldier ISBs at
YTA, DTA-West, and Salcha. The
facility is intended for joint use. ISBs
are proposed at key points along the
planned rail corridor close to the
planned bridge crossings; Alternative B
proposes to use existing temporary
‘‘relocatable’’ ISB facilities over the next
7 years, and then replace them with
permanent facilities.
Missile Live Fire for AIM–9X and
AIM–120: The AIM–9X and AIM–120
missile systems are the main air-to-air
armaments for the F–22 Raptor and F–
15 Eagle. For effective training to be
conducted with these systems, live
training shots need to be executed as
part of both individual pilot training
and joint training exercises with other
air and ground units. The Air Force and
Army intend to consider the following
alternative, as well as a No Action
Alternative, or other reasonable
alternative developed during scoping:
Alternative A proposes to consider the
existing Temporary Maritime Activities
Area (300 nautical miles [NM] long by
150 NM wide; 0 feet above ground level
[AGL]—flight level (FL) 600; includes
subsurface operating areas), and
Warning Area 612 (WA–612) (0 feet
AGL–FL290) in the Gulf of Alaska for
the missile live fire delivery of the AIM–
9X and AIM–120 missiles by Air Force
F–22 fighter aircraft.
Joint Precision Airdrop System
(JPADS) Drop Zones: JPADS is a GPS
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[global positioning system]-guided
precision airdrop system designed to
deliver supplies and equipment to
ground forces. JPADS is not currently
used within the JPARC. Alaska-based
airmen with the requirement to train on
JPADS must currently travel to Yuma
Proving Grounds in Arizona to conduct
this training. The Army and Air Force
propose to establish JPADS drop zones
as part of JPARC training exercises. The
Army and Air Force intend to consider
the following alternatives, as well as a
No Action Alternative: Alternative A
proposes conducting JPADS operations
at a reduced altitude sufficient to ensure
the airdrop land within Restricted Area
2205 (R–2205) in the Yukon Training
Area; Alternative B proposes conducting
JPADS operations at a reduced altitude
sufficient to ensure the airdrop land
within in the Donnelly Training Area
Oklahoma Impact Area. (The key
distinction between Alternatives A and
B is that R–2205 currently has more
time and space available to
accommodate JPADS drop zone training
exercises.) The EIS will address
environmental consequences to
airspace, noise, safety, biological
resources, socioeconomics,
transportation, cultural resources, water
resources, wetlands, air quality, land
use, hazardous materials, recreation and
visual resources, environmental justice
and risks to children, subsistence, and
cumulative impacts. Public and agency
scoping may identify other
environmental resources for
consideration in the EIS.
The Army and Air Force will invite
the Bureau of Land Management,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Aviation Administration,
National Marine Fisheries Service,
National Park Service, and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to be cooperating
agencies in preparation of this EIS.
ALCOM will coordinate governmentto-government consultation with
Federally recognized Tribes, following
DoD policy.
Scoping Meetings: The Army and Air
Force, with the support of ALCOM, will
conduct public scoping meetings in
communities likely to be affected by the
proposed action to solicit public and
agency input. The purpose of scoping is
to obtain public, Alaska Native, and
government input on the proposed
action and alternatives, as well as to
gain a better understanding of the
potential issues and concerns related to
this proposal. The schedule and
locations of the scoping meetings are
provided below:
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Thursday, January 13, 2011: 6:30–8:30
p.m., Millennium Hotel, 4800
Spenard Road, Anchorage, Alaska.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011: 6:30–8:30
p.m., Caribou Hotel, Mile 186.5 Grand
Highway, Glenallen, Alaska.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011: 6:30–8:30
p.m., Alaska Steakhouse and Hotel,
1420 Alaska Highway, Delta Junction,
Alaska.
Thursday, January 20, 2011: 12–2 p.m.
and 4–8 p.m., Princess Hotel, 4477
Pikes Landing Road, Fairbanks,
Alaska.
Monday, January 24, 2011: 6:30–8:30
p.m., Motel Nord Haven, 249 George
Parks Highway, Healy, Alaska.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011: 6:30–8:30
p.m., Swiss Alaska Inn, 22056 South
F Street, Talkeetna, Alaska.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011: 6:30–8:30
p.m., Menard Memorial Sports Center,
1001 S. Mack Drive, Wasilla, Alaska.
Federal, State, and local agencies and
interested groups, Alaska Native
organizations, and individual persons
are invited to attend the scoping open
house meetings. All are encouraged to
provide comments on the proposed
actions either at the scoping meetings,
by mail, or electronically, postmarked or
electronically submitted no later than
February 4, 2011, to ensure
consideration in the draft EIS. All
comments received during this scoping
period will be considered in the
preparation of the draft EIS.
Point of Contact: Please direct any
written comments or requests for
information to ALCOM Public Affairs,
9480 Pease Avenue, Suite 120, JBER, AK
99506, Phone: 907–552–2341, Fax: 907–
552–5411 or submit them electronically
at https://www.jparceis.com. You may
also request handicap assistance or
translation services for the public
scoping meetings in advance through
the ALCOM Public Affairs Office.
Bao-Anh Trinh,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010–30759 Filed 12–7–10; 8:45 am]
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System
Waiver of 10 U.S.C. 2534 for Certain
Defense Items Produced in the United
Kingdom
Defense Acquisition
Regulations System, Department of
Defense (DoD).
AGENCY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76444-76446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30759]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force and U.S. Army; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Modernization and
Enhancement of Ranges, Airspace, and Training Areas in the Joint
Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Alaska
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, on behalf of Alaskan Command
(ALCOM), are issuing this notice to advise the public of their intent
to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) evaluating potential
environmental impacts associated with modernizing and enhancing current
military ground and air training assets in Alaska.
This notice is published pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 United States Code [U.S.C]
4321, et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 1500-1508); Executive Orders 11514 and 11991; the
Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970, as amended (42 U.S.C.
4371 et seq.); the Air Force Environmental Impact Analysis Process (32
CFR 989); and the ``Environmental Analysis of Army Actions'' (32 CFR
651). This Notice of Intent describes the Air Force's and Army's
scoping process and identifies ALCOM's point of contact.
In accordance with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Directive
1322.18, Military Training, and Commander U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM),
Joint Training Program of Excellence, ALCOM as DoD's regional joint
headquarters in Alaska, has coordinated with the Services to develop a
joint strategy to identify joint training opportunities in Alaska,
maximize the utilization of training resources, and improve joint
training. The JPARC Modernization and Enhancement EIS will evaluate the
elements of this strategy which are reasonably foreseeable.
At present, the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) consists
of all land, air, and sea training areas used by the Army, Navy, and
Air Force in Alaska. The military uses the JPARC to conduct testing,
unit-level training, and to support various joint exercises and mission
rehearsals. The JPARC was originally developed to support cold war
weapons, tactics, and techniques. Its current configuration cannot
fully meet the training requirement for forces and exercises located in
Alaska. The proposed JPARC enhancements would enable realistic, joint
training and testing to support emerging technologies, respond to
recent battlefield experiences, and train with tactics and new weapons
systems to meet combat and national security needs. JPARC enhancements
would enable the Services to train realistically and jointly so
military personnel could succeed in their mutually supportive combat
roles when exposed to situations faced in actual combat.
The proposal would modernize existing military training and testing
capabilities located in the interior of Alaska through expanding and/or
establishing new Military Operations Areas, restricted airspace,
airspace corridors, ground maneuver training areas, and training
complexes to provide adequate airspace and controlled-access land to
test and train under realistic and varied conditions. The EIS will
analyze the environmental effects of the proposed changes and their
alternatives.
All of the actions proposed in this EIS are independent of each
other and have stand-alone value for improving training operations.
While full implementation of all the proposed actions is desired and
would result in the greatest training benefit for aircrew and ground
troop training, each of the proposals, if implemented alone, would have
a positive effect on the use and/or management of JPARC. Depending on
decisions made and the availability of funding, it is possible that
some of the actions being proposed could be implemented soon after a
Record of Decision (ROD) is issued, some actions could be implemented
quite some time after the ROD is issued, some actions may be deferred
until such time as they are ripe for decision, and some proposed
actions may not be implemented. The following projects are those
currently proposed to be addressed in the JPARC Modernization and
Enhancement EIS.
Fox 3 Military Operations Area (MOA) Expansion and New Paxon MOA:
The Air Force and Army propose to expand the Fox 3 MOA and establish a
new, adjacent Paxon MOA to provide the vertical and horizontal airspace
structure needed to better accommodate low-altitude threat and
multiple-axis mission activities during JPARC training exercises. The
Air Force and Army intend to consider the following alternatives, as
well as a No Action Alternative: Alternative A includes the proposed
expanded Fox 3 MOA and the proposed new Paxon MOA with both
[[Page 76445]]
the high- and low-altitude MOAs; Alternative B includes only the Fox 3
MOA expansion (as in Alternative A) without the new Paxon MOA;
Alternative C includes the Fox 3 MOA expansion without the low-altitude
MOA; Alternative D proposes keeping the Fox 3 MOA boundaries the same
as they currently exist, but separating the MOA into four subdivided
sectors, as well as high- and low-altitude MOAs. The low-altitude MOA
would extend from 500 feet above ground level (AGL) up to, but not
including, 5,000 feet AGL. The high-altitude MOA elevation
Realistic Live Ordnance Delivery: As the range and lethality of
modern weapons increase, so do the amounts of training area and
airspace required to safely and effectively train with these weapons.
The current ranges and restricted airspace of the JPARC are not capable
of supporting realistic training with modern and emerging weapons. The
Army and Air Force propose to establish a realistic air and ground
training environment that would accommodate live ordnance delivery of
modern and emerging weapons by considering the following alternatives,
as well as a No Action Alternative: Alternative A proposes the use of
existing targets in the Oklahoma Impact Area within Restricted Area
2202 (R-2202) with the expansion of this restricted airspace to the
west to encompass the airspace and underlying lands; Alternative B
proposes that live ordnance delivery make use of existing targets at
the Oklahoma and Blair Lakes Impact Areas with new restricted airspace
established that links R-2211 and R-2202. Based on the ceiling altitude
of R-2211 as flight level (FL) 310 and the upper altitude of R-2202
being FL310, the proposed altitude for the restricted airspace linking
these two restricted areas would also be FL310. Higher altitudes may be
required for some live-fire ordnance profiles; Alternative C proposes
weapons corridors through the Eielson Military Operations Area and
overlying air traffic control assigned airspace that would provide two
protective pathways for live ordnance use within the Oklahoma Impact
Area. These corridors would be approximately 10 miles in width and
extend from FL200 to FL310, as needed, to accommodate the delivery
altitudes of the ordnance types being delivered.
Joint Combined Arms Live Fire (JCALF): Current tactics and
techniques established in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of
operation require the Army to regularly integrate attack aviation into
collective and unit-level training. There are currently no facilities
available in the JPARC which are capable of supporting this type of
training. The Army proposes to establish restricted airspace to support
JCALF training over the Battle Area Complex (BAX) located in the
Donnelly Training Area (DTA), near Delta Junction, and the Digital
Multipurpose Training Range located in the Yukon Training Area (YTA).
The Army and Air Force intend to consider the following alternative, as
well as a No Action Alternative, or other reasonable alternative
developed during scoping: Alternative A proposes to establish new
restricted airspace over the BAX in the DTA to support controlled
firing areas and new restricted airspace located within YTA. This
restricted airspace would provide protective areas for the hazardous
activities and weapons surface danger zones of sufficient size for the
types of ordnance used.
Night Joint Training: Combat situations during the hours of limited
visibility require using advanced night vision technology. Training
with this equipment can only be conducted at night. The Army and Air
Force intend to consider the following alternatives, as well as a No
Action Alternative: Alternative A proposes to extend the special use
airspace hours to accommodate night training for major flying exercises
(MFE) during March and October. The hours are currently set to cease
training activities by 10 p.m., with landing by 11 p.m., local time;
Alternative B proposes to extend the JPARC operating hours to allow
tactical flight operations until midnight and landing by 1 a.m., local
time, during March and October. This would allow night training during
these months from a minimum of 1.5 hours to a maximum of 2.5 hours for
each exercise; Alternative C proposes to extend the JPARC operating
hours to allow tactical flight operations until midnight and landing by
1 a.m., local time, during all months of the year and for all training
purposes, not just for MFEs, as is the current situation.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)/Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Access: RPA/UAVs conduct reconnaissance and surveillance activities;
RPA/UAV access throughout the JPARC ranges and airspace is critical to
enhance JPARC training and exercises. The following RPA/UAV corridors
have been developed as individual, standalone proposed actions and
alternatives: Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) to Restricted Area 2211 (R-
2211); Eielson AFB Class D airspace to R-2205; Allen Field to R-2202;
R-2202 to R-2211; R-2205 to R-2202; Fort Wainwright to R-2211; and Fort
Wainwright to R-2205. The Air Force and Army intend to consider the
following alternatives, as well as a No Action Alternative: Alternative
A would establish new restricted airspace for each RPA/UAV corridor
identified above; Alternative B would establish restricted airspace via
a Certificate of Authorization, or other suitable airspace designated
by the Federal Aviation Administration for each RPA/UAV corridor
identified above.
Enhanced Access to Existing Maneuver Space: Services currently lack
year-round accessibility in the Tanana Flats, Donnelly, and Yukon
Training Areas. The Army and Air Force intend to consider the following
alternatives, as well as a No Action Alternative: Alternative A follows
the proposed railroad alignment 11 miles and crosses the Tanana Flats
along an existing winter-access trail to higher ground around Blair
Lakes; Alternative B follows the proposed railroad alignment 8 miles
before crossing the Tanana Flats toward Hill 1406. The route traverses
the eastern slopes of Hill 1406, then a broad terrace southeast toward
Blair Lakes, crossing Dry Creek near Blair Lakes; Alternative C follows
existing trail systems southwest across the Tanana Flats toward Hill
1406, avoiding open areas as much as possible. From Hill 1406, two
possible routes to Blair Lakes are being considered: The first
traverses the eastern slopes of Hill 1406 and then a broad terrace
southeast toward Blair Lakes, crossing Dry Creek near Blair Lakes; the
second route remains on the flats north of Hill 1406, crossing Dry
Creek where the creek enters the flats, then running up the Dry Creek
Valley to the higher ground around Blair Lakes; Alternative D is
similar to Alternative C, except it takes a more direct route from the
Tanana River toward Hill 1406. From Hill 1406, two routes to Blair
Lakes are being considered: The first traverses the eastern slopes of
Hill 1406, then a broad terrace southeast toward Blair Lakes, crossing
Dry Creek near Blair Lakes; the second route remains on the flats north
of Hill 1406, crossing Dry Creek, and then running up the Dry Creek
Valley to higher ground around Blair Lakes.
Joint Air-Ground Integration Complex (JAGIC): The Army requires a
facility to train and test air and ground combat units on skills
necessary to detect, identify, and effectively engage targets while
directing Attack Aviation as in actual combat. A modern facility
designed to support this type of training does not exist in the JPARC.
The Army proposes to develop the JAGIC to provide this capability. The
Army and Air Force intend to consider the following alternatives, as
well as a No Action Alternative: Alternative A
[[Page 76446]]
proposes to locate the JAGIC in the central area of Donnelly Training
Area-West, proximate to the western boundary of the Oklahoma Impact
Area; Alternative B proposes to locate the JAGIC in the Stuart Creek
Impact Area within the Yukon Training Area; Alternative C proposes to
locate the JAGIC in the Blair Lakes Impact Area near the southern
boundary of the Tanana Flats Training Area under the existing
Restricted Area 2211 (R-2211).
Intermediate Staging Bases (ISBs): Currently, Soldiers and airmen
spend up to 6 hours traveling to and from training sites within the
JPARC. This travel reduces available training time and increases risks
of traffic accidents. The Army proposes to locate and construct a
1,000- Soldier ISB near the existing Battle Area Complex (BAX), along
with three 200- to 500-Soldier ISBs at Yukon Training Area (YTA),
Donnelly Training Area-West (DTA-West), and Salcha to reduce travel
time, increase safety, and increase available training time. The Army
and Air Force intend to consider the following alternatives, as well as
a No Action Alternative: Alternative A proposes to provide a permanent
1,000-Soldier ISB near existing BAX, along with three permanent 200- to
500-Soldier ISBs at YTA, DTA-West, and Salcha. The facility is intended
for joint use. ISBs are proposed at key points along the planned rail
corridor close to the planned bridge crossings; Alternative B proposes
to use existing temporary ``relocatable'' ISB facilities over the next
7 years, and then replace them with permanent facilities.
Missile Live Fire for AIM-9X and AIM-120: The AIM-9X and AIM-120
missile systems are the main air-to-air armaments for the F-22 Raptor
and F-15 Eagle. For effective training to be conducted with these
systems, live training shots need to be executed as part of both
individual pilot training and joint training exercises with other air
and ground units. The Air Force and Army intend to consider the
following alternative, as well as a No Action Alternative, or other
reasonable alternative developed during scoping: Alternative A proposes
to consider the existing Temporary Maritime Activities Area (300
nautical miles [NM] long by 150 NM wide; 0 feet above ground level
[AGL]--flight level (FL) 600; includes subsurface operating areas), and
Warning Area 612 (WA-612) (0 feet AGL-FL290) in the Gulf of Alaska for
the missile live fire delivery of the AIM-9X and AIM-120 missiles by
Air Force F-22 fighter aircraft.
Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) Drop Zones: JPADS is a GPS
[global positioning system]-guided precision airdrop system designed to
deliver supplies and equipment to ground forces. JPADS is not currently
used within the JPARC. Alaska-based airmen with the requirement to
train on JPADS must currently travel to Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona
to conduct this training. The Army and Air Force propose to establish
JPADS drop zones as part of JPARC training exercises. The Army and Air
Force intend to consider the following alternatives, as well as a No
Action Alternative: Alternative A proposes conducting JPADS operations
at a reduced altitude sufficient to ensure the airdrop land within
Restricted Area 2205 (R-2205) in the Yukon Training Area; Alternative B
proposes conducting JPADS operations at a reduced altitude sufficient
to ensure the airdrop land within in the Donnelly Training Area
Oklahoma Impact Area. (The key distinction between Alternatives A and B
is that R-2205 currently has more time and space available to
accommodate JPADS drop zone training exercises.) The EIS will address
environmental consequences to airspace, noise, safety, biological
resources, socioeconomics, transportation, cultural resources, water
resources, wetlands, air quality, land use, hazardous materials,
recreation and visual resources, environmental justice and risks to
children, subsistence, and cumulative impacts. Public and agency
scoping may identify other environmental resources for consideration in
the EIS.
The Army and Air Force will invite the Bureau of Land Management,
Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation Administration,
National Marine Fisheries Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to be cooperating agencies in preparation of this
EIS.
ALCOM will coordinate government-to-government consultation with
Federally recognized Tribes, following DoD policy.
Scoping Meetings: The Army and Air Force, with the support of
ALCOM, will conduct public scoping meetings in communities likely to be
affected by the proposed action to solicit public and agency input. The
purpose of scoping is to obtain public, Alaska Native, and government
input on the proposed action and alternatives, as well as to gain a
better understanding of the potential issues and concerns related to
this proposal. The schedule and locations of the scoping meetings are
provided below:
Thursday, January 13, 2011: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Millennium Hotel, 4800
Spenard Road, Anchorage, Alaska.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Caribou Hotel, Mile 186.5
Grand Highway, Glenallen, Alaska.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Alaska Steakhouse and
Hotel, 1420 Alaska Highway, Delta Junction, Alaska.
Thursday, January 20, 2011: 12-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m., Princess Hotel,
4477 Pikes Landing Road, Fairbanks, Alaska.
Monday, January 24, 2011: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Motel Nord Haven, 249 George
Parks Highway, Healy, Alaska.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Swiss Alaska Inn, 22056
South F Street, Talkeetna, Alaska.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Menard Memorial Sports
Center, 1001 S. Mack Drive, Wasilla, Alaska.
Federal, State, and local agencies and interested groups, Alaska
Native organizations, and individual persons are invited to attend the
scoping open house meetings. All are encouraged to provide comments on
the proposed actions either at the scoping meetings, by mail, or
electronically, postmarked or electronically submitted no later than
February 4, 2011, to ensure consideration in the draft EIS. All
comments received during this scoping period will be considered in the
preparation of the draft EIS.
Point of Contact: Please direct any written comments or requests
for information to ALCOM Public Affairs, 9480 Pease Avenue, Suite 120,
JBER, AK 99506, Phone: 907-552-2341, Fax: 907-552-5411 or submit them
electronically at https://www.jparceis.com. You may also request
handicap assistance or translation services for the public scoping
meetings in advance through the ALCOM Public Affairs Office.
Bao-Anh Trinh,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-30759 Filed 12-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-10-P
