[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 48714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24376]



[[Page 48714]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


Ballistic Missile Defense Organization; Preparation of a Theater 
Missile Defense Extended Test Range Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement--Eglin Gulf Test Range

AGENCY: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).

ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: This notifies the public that BMDO is issuing a Final 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the Eglin Gulf 
Test Range (EGTR). The FSEIS assesses the potential impacts associated 
with 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. No 
decision has been made concerning the EGTR proposal and cannot be made 
until at least 30 days after the NOA is published in the Federal 
Register. As the Executing Agent for the SEIS, the Air Force 
Development Test Center (AFDTC), Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), FL, 
managed the FSEIS for BMDO. The FSEIS analyzed additional missile 
launch and support locations, facility construction, launch preparation 
activities, missile flight tests, radar and optical tracking 
operations, and intercept tests in the EGTR portion of 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, NM, 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 
a more complete set of test scenarios than is possible at existing 
ranges, and would permit realistic threat ranges for 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 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 located within the continental United States and its 
adjacent waters would provide a cost-effective, flexible, long-term 
means of meeting TMD test requirements.
    Environmental issues analyzed in the FSEIS 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 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 enhance the capability to conduct missile 
defense testing and training at the EGTR against targets simulating 
threat systems having the capability of ranges up to 1,100-kilometers 
(684 miles). Defensive missile intercepts would occur over the Gulf of 
Mexico within the EGTR.

Preferred Alternative

    The preferred alternative includes three 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 the Eglin AFB target launch sites, and 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 FSEIS.
    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 and evaluated in the FSEIS.
    4. No Action:  In addition to the above alternatives, the No Action 
Alternative is considered for evaluation in the FSEIS.

Information/Comments

    Information on the proposed action is available at the following 
internet address; http://tw1.eglin.af.mil/46mtd/tmd.htm. The point of 
contact for the FSEIS is: Ms. Linda Busch, 46 OG/OGM-TMD, 205 West D 
Ave., Suite 241, Eglin AFB, FL, 32542-6866. A Record of Decision on the 
EGTR SEIS alternatives could be made available no earlier than [30 days 
of publication].

    Dated: September 4, 1998.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-24376 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M