[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43144-43145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21240]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for F-
22 Aircraft Follow-On Operational Testing and Evaluation and Weapons 
School Permanent Beddown at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada

    The United States Air Force (Air Force) is issuing this notice to 
advise the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts of a 
proposal to station F-22 Tactical Fighter Aircraft at Nellis AFB, NV. A 
total of 17 F-22 aircraft would be permanently based in phases at 
Nellis AFB between the years 2002 and 2010. The aircraft, to be 
assigned to the Operational Test and Evaluation and USAF Weapons School 
programs at Nellis AFB, would use the Nellis AFB Range Complex and 
associated airspace for the purposes of fully testing and evaluating F-
22 operational capabilities and to provide training to Air Force 
pilots. The proposed action entails facility construction activities on 
Nellis AFB over a 6 year period starting in FY 1999. Approximately 370 
personnel would be added to the installation between FY 2001 and 2009. 
Because of the unique nature of the Air Force's Fighter Weapons School 
at Nellis AFB, only the proposed action and the no-action alternative 
have been identified. If feasible alternatives are developed as part of 
the scoping process, they will be included in the draft EIS document. 
The data in this EIS will be considered in making the beddown decision 
and documented in the Air Force's Record of Decision addressing the 
proposal. A separate EIS currently being conducted by the Air Force to 
address Nellis Range Renewal issues, will include potential cumulative 
impacts of F-22 flying operations resulting from this proposed action.
    The Air Force intends to hold three public scoping meetings to be 
held on the following dates and times at the indicated locations:
    1. Convention Center, 301 Brougher, Tonopah, NV, August 26, 1997, 
7:00 p.m.
    2. Dell H. Robison Middle School, 825 Marion Drive, Las Vegas, NV, 
August 27, 1997, 7:00 p.m.
    3. Youth Center, Highway 93N, Caliente, NV, August 28, 1997, 7:00 
p.m.
    These meetings are the first step in soliciting public and 
government agency comments on the proposed action. Comments provided at 
these meetings and throughout the scoping process

[[Page 43145]]

should focus on the merits of the proposal, alternatives, and the 
nature and scope of environmental issues and other concerns that need 
to be assessed in the EIS. During the meetings, the Air Force will 
describe the proposed action and no-action alternative, define the 
process involved in preparing the EIS, and outline the opportunities 
for public involvement in the process. The scoping period for the F-22 
Permanent Beddown at Nellis AFB EIS, will extend through September 30, 
1997.
    Written and oral comments will be accepted at the scoping meetings 
and at any time during the scoping period for the F-22 Beddown Nellis 
AFB EIS. To ensure the Air Force has sufficient time to consider public 
input in the preparation of the Draft EIS, comments should be submitted 
to the address below by September 30, 1997. F-22 Aircraft Beddown, 
Nellis Air Force Base, NV, EIS, HQ AFCEE/ECP, 3207 North Road, Brooks 
Air Force Base, TX 78235-5363, Phone: (210) 536-6544, FAX (210) 536-
3890.
Barbara A. Carmichael,
Alternate Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-21240 Filed 8-11-97; 8:45 am]
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