[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46439-46440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19049]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Development of an Air-to-Ground Training Range in the 
State of Montana

    The Air National Guard (ANG), Air National Guard Readiness Center 
(ANGRC), is preparing an EIS to assess the potential environmental 
impacts of the proposed development of an air-to-

[[Page 46440]]

ground training range in the state of Montana. The EIS will be prepared 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 to 4345) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1500 
to 1508). The ANG (ANGRC) will act as the lead agency for the EIS 
process. Cooperating agencies include the State of Montana, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of 
Indian Affairs.
    The purpose of the proposed range is to enhance combat readiness by 
improving training efficiency for the 120th Fighter Wing (120 FW) of 
the Montana ANG (MTANG), based at the Great Falls International 
Airport. Development of the range would achieve the following 
objectives: Significantly reduce the distance traveled to conduct 
required air-to-ground training, thereby resulting in cost savings; 
significantly increase training time versus time spent in transit, 
thereby enhancing training effectiveness; ensure availability of 
training times; and reduce scheduling conflicts with other units who 
train at ranges currently used by the 120 FW.
    The range would provide scoring capability for air-to-ground 
delivery of inert training munitions. This type of training is 
necessary to satisfy training requirements for the general-purpose 
mission of the 120 FW. The target impact area (roughly 1 square mile in 
size) would be surrounded by a safety buffer zone in order to safely 
accommodate these activities; the total range size would be 3-by-5 
miles, or approximately 9,600 acres. Creation of restricted airspace 
would occur within the existing Hays Military Operations Area (MOA) to 
accommodate approximately 1,000 F-16 air-to-ground sorties at the 
proposed training range.
    The range would be comprised of several different elements. About 
90 percent of the acreage would remain as open space, functioning as a 
safety buffer zone for the target areas. Inside the buffer zone would 
be several targets for training munitions delivery. A series of scoring 
devices would be placed in the target impact area to allow for 
assessment of training ordnance accuracy on each delivery. A group of 
support buildings would provide facilities near the target impact area 
for personnel involved in the daily operation, maintenance, and 
security of the range. The proposed action would also involve 
establishment of one-quarter-acre electronic emitter sites at various 
off-range locations. These emitter sites would serve as operating 
locations for mobile electronic emitters that simulate anti-aircraft 
defensive systems. Each site would consist of a gravel, unfenced 
parking area designed to support temporary use.
    The ANG has initiated a process to identify feasible range siting 
areas (i.e., alternatives) in Montana that would best support MTANG 
training and accommodate safe aircraft operations while minimizing 
impacts on the environment, local communities, and military and 
civilian airspace. The proposed range location must be within a 150 
nautical mile radius from the Great Falls International Airport and on 
land underlying the Hays MOA. Two of the alternatives initially 
satisfying these and other important siting criteria are located in the 
vicinity of the Fort Belknap Reservation in north-central Montana. The 
MTANG and members of the Fort Belknap Indian Community have discussed 
the feasibility of potential range development in these areas. 
Consequently, the Fort Belknap Community Council has identified one 
alternative location immediately west of the Reservation and one 
alternative location on the Reservation. The ANG is continuing its 
effort to identify additional alternative locations for the proposed 
range. Government agencies and the public are encouraged to assist in 
this effort during the scoping process. Each feasible alternative, 
including the No-Action Alternative required by NEPA, will be analyzed 
in the EIS.
    The ANG will initiate a public scoping process to identify relevant 
issues to be analyzed in the EIS. A series of scoping meetings will be 
held in five Montana communities. These meetings will provide a forum 
for interested parties to provide comments (written or oral) on the 
scope of the EIS and to help identify potential alternative locations 
for the proposed range. Scoping meetings will be held at the following 
times and locations:
    1. Fort Belknap Agency, MT, August 14, 6 to 9 p.m., Fort Belknap 
College (Multipurpose Building).
    2. Chinook, MT, August 15, 6 to 9 p.m., Blaine County Library (94 
4th Street).
    3. Hays, MT, August 16, 6 to 9 p.m., John Capture Center (North 
Mayor Drive).
    4. Lodgepole, MT, August 17, 6 to 9 p.m., Medicine Bear Lodge.
    5. Great Falls, MT, August 18, 6 to 9 p.m., MTANG Headquarters 
Building (2800 Airport Avenue B).
    Information gathered at these meetings will be used in the 
development of the Draft EIS. Written comments, which receive the same 
consideration as oral comments, will also be accepted throughout the 
scoping period. To ensure that the ANG has sufficient time to consider 
public input during preparation of the Draft EIS, scoping comments 
should be submitted by September 11, 2000. You may call 1-800-545-8680 
(select option 5, Wing Headquarters) to give oral comments or send 
written comments to Montana EIS, ANG/CEVP, Attention: Major Tammy 
Mitnik, 3500 Fetchet Avenue, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland 20762. 
Names and addresses will be used to compile a mailing list for 
distributing future information regarding the EIS. Please be advised 
that by including your name and address, you are agreeing to this 
information being part of the environmental process. If you have any 
questions or require additional information, please contact Major 
Mitnik at (301) 836-8636 or (301) 836-8065.

Janet A. Long,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-19049 Filed 7-27-00; 8:45 am]
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