[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 103 (Friday, May 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34153-34154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13305]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; 
Airfield Repairs, Landing Systems Improvements, and Adjustments to 
Aircrew Training at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma

    The United States Air Force intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential environmental impacts of 
the following proposed actions at the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air 
Force Base, Oklahoma:
     Repair of the west runway (Runway 17 Right/35 Left) and 
associated taxiways;
     Installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) for the 
east runway (Runway 17 Left/35 Right) and a Microwave Landing System 
(MLS) on the assault landing strip;
     Increase C-17 and KC-135 training while phasing out C-141 
aircrew training and reducing C-5 training.
    Deterioration of airfield pavements over the years has increased 
the potential for loose material damage to the aircraft that use the 
west runway and associated taxiways. During the nearly three-year 
phased runway repair program, some increased use of the east runway 
would be necessary. During an approximate four-month period, the west 
runway would be closed and the east runway would be used for all 
essential aircraft operations.
    An instrument approach is a series of predetermined maneuvers for 
the orderly transfer of an aircraft from the beginning of the initial 
approach to a landing, or to a point from which a landing may be made 
visually or a missed approach is executed. Currently, Altus AFB has ILS 
approaches only to each end of the west runway. ILS equipment transmits 
information to aircraft to guide the aircraft to the runway. This ILS 
approach capability would be lost during the repair phase when the west 
runway would be closed. Thus, installing ILS equipment on the east 
runway before the west runway is closed for repair would allow 
continued ILS approach training at Altus AFB. Over the long-term, the 
increased availability of ILS approaches on both runways, as opposed to 
only the west runway, would improve aircrew training efficiency at the 
base. Aircrews currently use simulators for MLS approaches since the 
base does not have MLS equipment on the airfield. MLS approach 
capability to the assault landing strip would allow aircrews to perform 
MLS approaches in the C-17 aircraft. This equipment would also 
complement simulator training.
    As C-141 aircraft are phased out of the Air Force inventory, the 
Air Force's need for C-17 and KC-135 aircrew training will increase and 
need for C-5 aircrew training will decrease from levels previously 
forecast and environmentally assessed. The net effect will be an 
increased need for flying training at Altus AFB. Altus AFB aircrews 
would continue using Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark, Burns Flat, 
Oklahoma, for practice approaches, takeoffs, landings, and closed 
patterns.
    In addition to the Proposed Action, the EIS will evaluate the 
potential environmental impacts of alternatives. One alternative is 
identical to the Proposed Action except that C-5 aircraft operations at 
the base would be reduced during the period when the west runway is 
closed. A second alternative is identical to the Proposed Action except 
that KC-135 aircraft operations at the base would be reduced during the 
period when the west runway is closed. These two alternatives would 
result in increased operations at Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark 
during the period of runway repair. The flying training adjustments 
identified for the

[[Page 34154]]

Proposed Action would occur under a third alternative; however, the 
runway repair and landing systems installations would not occur. A 
fourth alternative would be the same as the Proposed Action except that 
the C-141 aircraft would not be phased out. Therefore, this alternative 
would include C-141 aircraft operations. The EIS will also evaluate the 
No Action alternative.
    The EIS is being prepared in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The Air Force invites government agency 
representatives and members of the community to hear a presentation on 
the proposal and to identify environmental issues to be analyzed in the 
EIS that will be used in the decision-making process.
    A public scoping meeting on the proposal will be held Tuesday, June 
13, 2000. An Open House will be held at 6:30 p.m. The meeting begins at 
7:30 p.m. in Herschel H. Crow Auditorium, Western Oklahoma State 
College, 2801 N. Main, Altus, Oklahoma.
    Comments on this proposed action may be sent (postmarked by June 
30, 2000) to Linda C. Stokes, 97 AMW/PA, 100 Inez Blvd., Suite 2, Altus 
AFB, OK 73523-5047. Ms. Stokes can be reached at (580) 481-7229 or by 
facsimile at (580) 481-5966.

Janet A. Long,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-13305 Filed 5-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-05-P