[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60094-60095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30089]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Preparation of the Theater Missile Defense Extended Test Range 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement--Eglin Gulf Test Range

AGENCY: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: This notifies the public that BMDO intends to prepare a 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Eglin Gulf 
Test Range (EGTR). It will support BMDO 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. The Departments of the Air Force, Army, and 
Navy, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of 
Interior, and U.S. Coast Guard will be Cooperating Agencies in this 
effort. As the Executing Agent, the Air Force Development Test Center 
(AFDTC), Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, will manage the SEIS for 
BMDO. The U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command (USASSDC), 
Huntsville, Alabama, will prepare the SEIS documentation for the AFDTC. 
The SEIS would analyze additional missile launch and support locations, 
facility construction, launch preparation activities, missile flight 
tests, radar and optical tracking operations, and intercept tests 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, New Mexico, for TMD tests. 
However, additional interceptor and target missile launch options have 
been identified for the EGTR alternative which are within treaty and 
technology limitations. The EGTR options would provide greater 
flexibility in test scenarios than is possible using other ranges, and 
permits more realistic testing of TMD interceptor systems. Copies of 
the TMD Extended Test Range Final Environmental Impact Statement should 
be available at various locations within the affected communities. The 
exact locations will be available by the beginning of public scoping 
meetings and by contacting the point of contact listed below.
    The purpose of expanding the EGTR's missile defense testing 
capability is to realistically test TMD systems to validate their 
capability to intercept enemy missiles with the capability of ranges up 
to 1,200-kilometers (746 miles). Testing with both target and 
interceptor launch facilities within the continental United States and 
its adjacent waters would provide a cost-effective, flexible, long-term 
means of meeting current and future TMD requirements.
    Environmental issues to be analyzed in the TMD Extended Test Range 
SEIS 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; 
health and safety; land use; noise; socio-economic; transportation; 
utilities; visual and aesthetics; water resources; and other 
environmental issues identified during the scoping process.

PROPOSED ACTION: The BMDO proposes to establish the capability to 
conduct missile defense testing against targets

[[Page 60095]]

simulating threat systems having the capability of ranges up to 1,200-
kilometers (746 miles) with defensive missile intercepts over the Gulf 
of Mexico. The three main types of TMD activities that will be 
evaluated in the SEIS are: (1) Target launches from land at Eglin AFB 
or in the Florida Keys and/or from aircraft from the Gulf of Mexico; 
(2) interceptor (defensive missile) launches from Eglin AFB and/or 
ships; and (3) intercept of the target missile by the interceptor over 
the Gulf of Mexico.
    The ground-launch locations to be evaluated at Eglin AFB are the 
Santa Rosa Island and Cape San Blas properties, and in the Florida 
Keys, Department of Defense controlled areas at Saddlebunch and Cudjoe 
Keys. These locations, along with Boca Chica, Dredger, Sugarloaf, and 
Fleming Keys, will also be evaluated to support missile tracking and 
sensor activities. The air launched locations to be evaluated include 
the airspace within the EGTR and other locations in the Gulf of Mexico 
within U.S. controlled airspace. In addition to the No Action 
Alternative, other alternatives brought forth by the public would be 
considered for evaluation in the SEIS.

SCOPING PROCESS: Comments received during the scoping process will be 
used to assist the BMDO in identifying potential impacts to the 
environment. Individuals or organizations may participate in the 
scoping process by: calling toll free 1-800-931-5566 (for information 
only); using E-Mail to submit questions and concerns, [email protected]; 
or sending written questions and comments to Ms. Linda Ninh, U.S. Army 
Space and Strategic Defense Command, ATTN: CSSD-EN-V, Post Office Box 
1500, Huntsville, Alabama 35807-3801. In addition, individuals or 
organizations may offer verbal or written comments at scoping meetings 
to be held between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the following Florida 
locations:

Fort Walton Beach, Holiday Inn, 1110 Santa Rosa Boulevard--21 Jan. 97
Key West, Holiday Inn, 3841 N. Roosevelt Boulevard--27 Jan. 97
Tampa Bay, Holiday Inn--State Fair, 2708 North 50th Street--3 Feb. 97

and between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the following locations:

Port St. Joe, Port St. Joe High School, 100 Sharp Drive--23 Jan. 97
Marathon, Marathon High School, 350 Sombrero Beach Road--28 Jan. 97
 Tavernier, Coral Shores High School, 89901 Old Highway--30 Jan. 97

    Interested citizens and public officials will be able to receive 
pertinent information regarding the development of the Draft SEIS at 
these meetings. The AFDTC is also required to hold future public 
meetings after the Draft SEIS is prepared. The locations and dates of 
these meetings will also be published in a Federal Register notice 
announcing the availability of the Draft SEIS. The AFDTC intends to 
issue the Draft SEIS in autumn 1997 for public comment and to issue the 
Final SEIS in spring 1998.
Lester L. Lyles,
Lieutenant General, USAF, Director.

    Dated: November 20, 1996.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 96-30089 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M