[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 75496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-32015]



[[Page 75496]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the New Mexico Training Range Initiative (NMTRI)

AGENCY: Air Combat Command, United States Air Force, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Air Force policy and 
procedures (32 CFR part 989), the Air Force is issuing this notice to 
advise the public of its intent to prepare an EIS to assess the 
potential environmental impacts of a proposal known as the New Mexico 
Training Range Initiative (NMTRI).
    The NMTRI proposal consists of three elements: creation and 
modification of training airspace, authorization for supersonic 
operations in Cannon Air Force Base's centrally located training 
airspace and use of chaff and flares in the new and modified training 
airspace. The purpose of the NMTRI is to provide more effective and 
realistic training conditions for the current airframes and munitions 
of the 27th FW and the New Mexico Air National Guard. In addition to 
the proposed action, two other alternatives and the no-action 
alternative, will be analyzed in the EIS.
    The Air Force will conduct a series of scoping meetings to solicit 
public input concerning the proposal. The scoping process will help 
identify issues to be addressed in the environmental analysis. In 
addition to the comments received at the scoping meetings, written 
comments on the scope of the EIS will be accepted by the Air Force at 
the address below through Feb. 24, 2004. The Air Force will accept 
relevant comments at any time during the environmental analysis 
process.
    Notices will also be made in local areas of concern. Scoping 
meetings will be held at the following locations:

Portales, NM, January 26, 2004, 6-8 p.m., Becky Sharpe Auditorium, 
Eastern New Mexico University College of Business;
Fort Sumner, NM, January 27, 2004, 6-8 p.m., Community Services Bldg., 
514 Avenue C;
Vaughn, NM, January 28, 2004, 4-6 p.m., Vaughn Elementary Multi-Purpose 
Bldg., 101 East 4th Street;
Roswell, NM, January 29, 2004, 6-8 p.m., Goddard High School, 701 E. 
Country Club Rd.

    Point of Contact: Please direct any written comments or requests 
for information to Ms. Brenda W. Cook, HQ ACC/CEVP, 129 Andrews St., 
Suite 102, Langley AFB, VA 23665-2769, (757) 764-9339.

Pamela Fitzgerald,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-32015 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
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