[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 1995)] [Notices] [Page 14737] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-6721] [[Page 14737]] DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Air Force Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Airborne Laser Demonstration Phase AGENCIES: Department of Defense, United States Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Space and Missile Systems Center, Phillips Laboratory, DOD. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The United States Air Force (USAF) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the potential impacts of the Demonstrator Phase of the Airborne Laser (ABL) Program. This program is an Air Force Advanced Technology Demonstration program to develop and then demonstrate the necessary technologies required to acquire, track, and then destroy theater ballistic missiles during boost phase. The ABL Demonstrator Phase includes the design, development, integration, and testing of a weapons-class Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) on the aircraft. The ABL Demonstrator Phase is scheduled to begin in January 1997 and be completed by the end of 2001. The decision to be made by the Air Force, is to determine where the ABL Demonstrator Phase test activities will occur. The ABL Program will require a Home Base, a Diagnostic Test Range and an Expanded-Area Test Range. The Home Base will be the location for the ABL Demonstrator Aircraft, its flightline maintenance, ground test facilities, fuel storage and transfer, laser pressure recovery systems, and technical and support personnel. The Diagnostic Test Range is the location for aircraft worthiness and flight certification testing, air refueling, modification testing, communication and navigation system testing, integrated weapon system checkouts without laser operations, short range integrated aircraft and weapons system checkouts and engagements with low- and high-power laser operations, short range launch and recovery operations, and target and debris recovery. The Expanded-Area Test Range is the location for long-range integrated aircraft and weapon system checkouts and low- and high-power laser operations, and target and debris recovery. Alternative sites for the Home Base include Phillips Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM, and Edwards AFB near Lancaster, CA. Potential Test Ranges include: the Western Test Range adjacent to Vandenberg AFB near Lompoc, CA; White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces, NM; and Edwards AFB near Lancaster, CA. The Air Force is planning to conduct a series of scoping meetings to assist in determining the issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS, and to involve the public to help the USAF identify those areas of concern. Comments received as a result of the scoping process will be used to assist in identifying potential impacts to the quality of the human environment. To provide a forum for the community to make oral comments, scoping meetings are scheduled for: April 4, 1995, 7 p.m. at the Ramada Classic Hotel, Albuquerque, NM. April 18, 1995, 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, Las Cruces, NM. May 3, 1995, 7 p.m. at the Desert Inn, Lancaster, CA. May 10, 1995, 7 p.m. at the Best Western Porto Finale, Lompoc, CA. The purpose of these meetings is to identify the environmental issues and concerns that should be analyzed to (1) support the ABL, (2) solicit comments on the proposed action and (3) solicit potential alternatives for consideration in developing the ABL EIS. Public hearings are proposed to be conducted in 1996 for the purpose of obtaining comments on the Draft EIS. Dates, times, and places will be determined and public notification will be made. To ensure the USAF will have sufficient time to consider public scoping comments on environmental issues to be included in the Draft EIS, and alternatives to be included in the final plan, comments and proposals should be forwarded to the address below by May 26, 1995. However, comments will be accepted and considered through the process. Please direct comments or requests for further information concerning the ABL EIS to: Michelle Hedrick, Phillips Laboratory/S,E, 3550 Aberdeen Ave. S.E., Bldg. 434,Albuquerque, NM 87117-5776, Toll free number: 1-800-343-1282. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Environmental impact statement, U.S. Air Force, Phillips Laboratory, Notice of intent, Airborne laser, Kirtland AFB, Edwards AFB, White Sands Missile Range, Vandenberg AFB. Patsy J. Conner, Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 95-6721 Filed 3-17-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3910-01-P