[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27622-27623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2394]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of the U.S. Air Force Supplemental Final Environmental 
Impact Statement and FAA Approval of the Record of Decision for the 
Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (RBTI)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Adoption of the USAF Supplemental Final Environmental Impact 
Statement and Issuance of the FAA Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing--adoption of the United States Air Force 
(USAF) Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the 
Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (RBTI), and approval of the FAA 
Record of Decision (ROD). The USAF proposal was to create airspace that 
allows B-52 and B-1 aircrews to receive much needed realistic combat 
training while maximizing their training time. RBTI includes the Lancer 
Military Operating Area (MOA) and the Instrument Military Training 
Route 178 (IR-178).

EFFECTIVE DATES: April 11, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Federal Aviation Administration, Central Services Area, 
System Support Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nan Terry, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Central Services Area, System Support Group, 2601 
Meacham Blvd, Fort Worth, Texas, 76137, (817) 222-5594.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 19, 1997, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
process for RBTI began with publication of the Notice of Intent (NOI) 
in the Federal Register. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
was published in March 1999 (Volume 64, Number 53). Fifteen public 
hearings were held in 11 communities. The Final EIS, published and made 
available to the public in January 2000, identified the USAF preferred 
alternative as Alternative B.
    In March 2000, the USAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space 
Operations issued its initial Record of Decision (ROD) ((Air Force 
2000b)), choosing Alternative B for implementation. They then submitted 
the formal airspace proposal to establish the Lancher Military 
Operating Area (MOA) to the FAA in April 2000. After conducting its own 
independent evaluation of the environmental documentation and 
completing the aeronautical circularization process, the FAA adopted 
the Final EIS and gave final approval for the RBTI airspace on December 
11, 2001, with an effective date of February 21, 2002.
    The USAF and FAA were sued by parties alleging, among other things 
that there was a failure to comply with NEPA. In March 2003, the U.S. 
District Court, Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division, granted 
summary judgment in favor of the United States. The plaintiffs appealed 
to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. One of the 
plaintiffs also filed a separate petition in the Fifth Circuit alleging 
that the FAA had failed to comply with NEPA in approving the RBTI 
airspace. In a single opinion covering both the USAF and FAA cases, the 
Court of Appeals (October 2004) upheld the adequacy of the Final EIS in 
most respects, but remanded the action to the USAF and FAA to prepare a 
Supplemental EIS (SEIS) addressing the impact of wake vortices on 
ground structures, and to the USAF for compliance with the Council on 
Environmental Quality and USAF internal requirements for addressing FAA 
comments.

Public Involvement Pertaining to the SEIS

    The Air Force, in cooperation with the FAA, published a Notice of 
Availability for the Draft Supplemental EIS in the Federal Register on 
November 18, 2005 marking the beginning of the official comment period. 
Between December 5, 2005 and January 28, 2006, the Air Force and FAA 
conducted a total of five public hearings at locations in the proximity 
of the proposed action and alternatives. Lubbock, Texas was added as 
the fifth public hearing location based on requests from interested 
citizens.
    Notice of Availability of the Final SEIS appeared in the Federal 
Register on August 11, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 155) with a comment 
period of thirty-one (31) days. Additional information regarding the 
public

[[Page 27623]]

involvement process can be found in the USAF ROD dated March 20, 2007.
    Copies of the Final SEIS can be received by contacting Ms. Sheryl 
Parker at (757) 764-9334. The document is also available for review, 
during normal business hours, at the following locations:

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Abilene Public Library.......  202 Cedar St...  Abilene, TX....    79601
Alpine Public Library........  203 N. 7th St..  Alpine, TX.....    79830
Amarillo Public library......  P.O. Box 2171..  Amarillo, TX...    79189
Stonewall County Library.....  P.O. Box H.....  Aspermont, TX..    79502
Reagan County................  County           Big Lake, TX...    76932
                                Courthouse.
Howard County................  312 Scurry St..  Big Spring, TX.    79720
Crane County Library.........  701 S. Alford    Crane, TX......    79731
                                St..
Dallam County Library........  420 Denrock      Dalhart, TX....    79022
                                Ave..
Jeff Davis County Library....  Court and Main   Ft. Davis, TX..    79734
                                Streets.
Ft. Stockton Public Library..  400 N. Water...  Ft. Stockton,      79735
                                                 TX.
Kent County Library..........  P.O. Box 28....  Jayton, TX.....    79258
Winkler County Library.......  307 S. Poplar..  Kermit, TX.....    79745
Dawson Co. Public Library....  P.O. Box 1264..  Lamesa, TX.....    79331
Lubbock Library..............  1306 9th St....  Lubbock, TX....    79401
Marfa City Municipal Library.  P.O. Drawer U..  Marfa, TX......    79845
Irion County Library.........  P.O. Box 766...  Merzton, TX....    76941
Ward County Library..........  409 S. Dwight    Monahans, TX...    79756
                                St..
Ector County Library.........  321 W. 5th St..  Odessa, TX.....    79761
Reeves County Library........  505 S. Park St.  Pecos, TX......    79772
Post Public Library..........  105 E. Main St.  Post, TX.......    79356
City of Presidio Library.....  P.O. Box K.....  Presidio, TX...    79845
Rankin Public Library........  P.O. Box 6.....  Rankin, TX.....    79778
Rotan Public Library.........  404 E. Snyder    Rotan, TX......    79546
                                Ave..
Tom Green County System......  113 W.           San Angelo, TX.    76903
                                Beauregard
                                Ave..
Sierra Blanca Public Library.  Sierra Blanca..  Sierra Blanca,     79851
                                                 TX.
Scurry County Public Library.  1916 23rd St...  Snyder, TX.....    79549
Sterling County Public         P.O. Box 1130..  Sterling City,     76951
 Library.                                        TX.
Taos Public Library..........  402 Camino de    Taos, NM.......    87571
                                la Placita.
City-County Library..........  Box 1018.......  Tahoka, TX.....    79373
Van Horn Library.............  P.O. Box 129...  Van Horn, TX...    79855
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    The FAA's determinations on the project are outlined in the FAA 
ROD, which was approved on April 11, 2007. A copy of the ROD can be 
received by contacting Ms. Nan Terry, in the For Further Information 
Section above.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2007.
Edith V. Parish,
Acting Manager, Environmental Programs Group, System Operations 
Airspace & Aeronautical Information Management, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 07-2394 Filed 5-15-07; 8:45am]
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