[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6914-6915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3354]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Preparation of a Draft Theater Missile Defense Extended Test 
Range Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement; Eglin Gulf Test 
Range

AGENCY: DOD, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).

ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: This notifies the public that BMDO is issuing a Draft 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) for the Eglin Gulf 
Test Range (EGTR). The DSEIS assesses the potential impacts associated 
with developmental and operational flight testing of Theater Missile 
Defense (TMD) systems. The proposed action and alternatives 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. As the Executing Agent, the Air Force Development Test Center 
(AFDTC), Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, is managing the DSEIS for 
BMDO. The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC), 
Huntsville, Alabama, is preparing the DSEIS documentation for the 
AFDTC. The DSEIS analyzes additional missile launch and support 
locations, facility construction, launch preparation activities, 
missile flight tests, radar and optical tracking operations, and 
intercept tests in the Gulf of Mexico 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. These additional alternatives are within 
treaty and technology limitations. The EGTR alternatives would provide 
greater flexibility in test scenarios than is possible if testing 
remains limited to existing ranges, and would permit more realistic 
testing of TMD interceptor systems. Copies of the TMD Extended test 
Range Final Environmental Impact Statement, are available at various 
locations within the interested communities. The exact locations can be 
provided by contacting the point of contact listed below.
    The purpose of expanding the EGTR's missile defense testing 
capability is to

[[Page 6915]]

realistically test TMD systems to validate their capability to 
intercept enemy missiles with the capability of ranges up to 1,100-
kilometers (684 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 analyzed in the DSEIS 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; safety and health; land use; 
noise; socio-economic; transportation; utilities; visual and 
aesthetics; and water resources.

Lead Agency: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.

Cooperating Agencies:
    Department of the Air Force
    Department of the Army
    Department of the Navy
    Federal Aviation Administration
    Department of Interior
    U.S. Coast Guard

Proposed Action

    The BMDO proposes to establish the capability to conduct missile 
defense testing against targets simulating threat systems having the 
capability of ranges up to 1,100-kilometers (684 miles) with defensive 
missile intercepts over the Gulf of Mexico.

Preferred Alternative

    The preferred alternative includes three main types of TMD 
activities:
    (a) Target launches from land at Eglin AFB and/or from aircraft 
above the Gulf of Mexico;
    (b) Interceptor (defensive missile) launches from Eglin AFB and/or 
ships; and
    (c) Intercept of the target missile by the interceptor over the 
Gulf of Mexico and within the EGTR.
    The ground-launch locations evaluated at Eglin AFB are the Santa 
Rosa Island and Cape San Blas test locations. The air-launched 
locations evaluated include the airspace within the EGTR and other 
locations in the Gulf of Mexico within U.S. controlled airspace.

Other Alternatives

1. Florida Keys Target Launches

    As an alternative to the air launch and Eglin AFB target launch 
sites, the ground-launch locations evaluated in the Florida Keys are 
Department of Defense controlled areas at Saddlebunch and Cudjoe Keys. 
These locations, along with Boca Chica, Dredger, Sugarloaf, and Fleming 
Keys, are also evaluated to support missile tracking and sensor 
activities.

2. Ship-based Target Launches

    In addition to the air launch and Eglin AFB target launch sites, 
targets launched from ships located within the EGTR and other locations 
in the Gulf of Mexico are evaluated in the DSEIS.

3. Platform-based Interceptor Launches

    In addition to the Eglin AFB interceptor launch sites, interceptors 
launched from platforms located offshore from the Santa Rosa Island and 
Cape San Blas test locations are evaluated in the DSEIS.

4. No Action

    In addition to the above alternatives, the No Action Alternative is 
considered for evaluation in the DSEIS.

Information/Comments

    Information on the proposed action is available at the following 
internet address; http://tw1.eglin.af.mil/46mtd/tmd.htm. Individuals or 
organizations may provide comments by: using E-Mail to submit questions 
and comments, [email protected]; or sending written comments to: Ms. 
Linda Ninh, 46 OG/OGM-TMD, 205 West D Ave., Suite 241, Eglin AFB, 
Florida 32578-6866. In addition, individuals or organizations may offer 
verbal or written comments at public hearings to be held between 7:00 
and 10:00 p.m. at the following Florida locations:

Fort Walton Beach, Holiday Inn, 1110 Santa Rosa Blvd., March 9, 1998
Port St. Joe, Port St. Joe High School, 100 Sharp Drive, March 10, 1998
Key West, Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Ave, March 12, 1998
Marathon, Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Hwy, March 13, 1998

    Public comments are invited through April 3, 1998.
    Interested citizens and public officials will be able to receive 
pertinent information regarding the findings of the Draft SEIS at these 
meetings. The AFDTC intends to issue the Final SEIS in September 1998.

    Dated: February 5, 1998.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-3354 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M