[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 232 (Friday, December 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 70255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26598]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Airspace Training Initiative Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Air Combat Command, United States Air Force.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The United States Air Force is issuing this Notice of Intent 
(NOI) to announce that it is conducting an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to describe the proposed action for the Airspace 
Training Initiative. The proposed action would enhance the F-16 
aircraft training mission for Shaw AFB and McEntire Air National Guard 
Station (ANGS). This NOI describes the Air Force's scoping process and 
identifies the Air Force's point of contact.
    The Air Force conducted a series of scoping meetings in South 
Carolina and Georgia during September 2004 to receive public input on 
alternatives, concerns, and issues to be addressed in an environmental 
analysis. Based on the input received from the scoping meetings, the 
Air Force has determined that an EIS is required. The EIS will consider 
environmental issues identified by the public and agencies during the 
September meetings and received from correspondence during the scoping 
process. The Air Force has currently identified changes to airspace and 
aircraft noise as potential key issues requiring detailed analysis in 
the EIS.
    No additional scoping meetings are scheduled. However, based upon 
interest expressed during community outreach scoping meetings, the 
public comment period has been extended through January 5, 2005. All 
written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts received, as 
a result of the scoping meetings, or during the extended scoping period 
will be considered in the preparation of this EIS.
    The proposed EIS will be prepared in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the 
Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508); 
and the Air Force's Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) (Air 
Force Instruction 32-7061 as promulgated at 32 CFR 989) to determine 
the potential environmental consequences of the Airspace Training 
Initiative. The Federal Aviation Administration is participating as a 
cooperating agency in this process.
    As part of the Airspace Training Initiative proposal, the Air Force 
will analyze alternatives to modify Shaw AFB's airspace to enhance the 
ability of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB and the 169th Fighter 
Squadron at McEntire ANGS to train as they need to fight in the 
evolving Global War on Terror. The proposed action includes the 
following:

--Creating a new Military Operations Area (MOA), that joins the western 
boundary of the existing Gamecock D MOA with the eastern boundary of 
existing Poinsett Electronic Combat Range (ECR).
--Lowering the floor of the existing Gamecock D MOA from 10,000 to 
5,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) and combining and using Gamecock C and 
Gamecock D MOAs concurrently and simultaneously.
--Raising the ceiling on the existing Poinsett Low MOA from 2,500 feet 
MSL to 5,000 feet MSL.
--Modifying the boundary of the existing Bulldog A MOA to match that of 
Bulldog B MOA and lowering the current 11,000 foot MSL floor of the 
``shelf area'' to 500 feet above ground level (AGL) to coincide with 
the Bulldog A floor.
--Extending the use of defensive training with training chaff and 
flares into the new and modified airspace. Developing training 
transmitter sites beneath the Bulldog and Gamecock MOAs and along the 
coast of South Carolina.

    Alternatives to the proposed action include variations in altitude 
structure, special use airspace boundaries, extent and number of 
transmitter sites, and a no-action alternative.
    The Air Force will accept comments at any time during the 
environmental analysis process. However, to ensure the Air Force has 
sufficient time to consider public input in the preparation of the 
Draft EIS, the scoping period has been extended. Comments should be 
submitted to the address below by January 5, 2005.
    Point of Contact: Ms. Linda DeVine, HQ ACC/CEVP, 129 Andrews St., 
Suite 102, Langley AFB, VA 23665-2769, (757) 764-9434.

Anne Rollins,
Alternate Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26598 Filed 12-2-04; 8:45 am]
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