[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 150 (Thursday, August 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39307-39308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18814]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) to the Final EIS for the Implementation of the Base 
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 Decisions and Related Actions at 
Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), FL

AGENCY: U.S. Air Force.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 United States Code 4321, et seq.), the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing procedural 
provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (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 a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) evaluating 
potential environmental impacts associated with implementation of a 
portion of the 2005 BRAC Commission's recommendations and related 
actions for Eglin AFB, FL.
    The Air Force ``Record of Decision, Implementation of Base 
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 Decisions for the Joint Strike 
Fighter (JSF) Initial Joint Training Site (IJTS), Eglin AFB, Florida,'' 
dated February 5, 2009, (FR Vol 74, No 34/February 23, 2009) (ROD) 
addressed the JSF IJTS, and resulted in a decision to implement a 
portion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Alternative 
1, that included the beddown of 59 F-35 Primary Assigned Aircraft 
(PAA), associated cantonment construction, and limited flight training 
operations. The ROD also determined that the intent of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) would be furthered by accomplishing the 
SEIS, the scope of which is directed by the ROD.
    The Air Force goal for the SEIS is to analyze the potential beddown 
of the 107 F-35 PAA discussed in the FEIS (Chap. 2, et al.) at Eglin 
AFB. Additional analysis of how to beddown the 59 F-35 PAA identified 
in the ROD and the consequences and potential mitigations associated 
with the beddown of up to 48 additional F-35 aircraft are the subjects 
of this SEIS, which is anticipated to be completed on or about 
September 2010. Where the maximum supportable number of F-35 aircraft 
may ultimately beddown on the Eglin Reservation, how they might be 
operated, and the degree to which other mitigation measures are 
possible are all subjects to be addressed in the SEIS. The Air Force 
intends to analyze a range of alternatives that will, among other 
things, maximize the number of flight training operations able to be 
conducted at Eglin AFB, preserve restricted airspace at Eglin AFB to 
the greatest extent possible, and consider future use of Eglin AFB as a 
training facility for the F-35.
    The temporary operational limitations imposed in the ROD on F-35 
flight training activities to avoid and minimize noise impacts will 
remain in place until the SEIS has been completed and the Air Force has 
decided how best to proceed.
    The Air Force will conduct scoping meetings to solicit public input 
and help identify issues to be addressed in the SEIS. Oral and written 
comments presented at the public meetings, as well as written comments 
received by the Air Force during this scoping period and through public 
comment opportunities in the SEIS process, will be considered in the 
preparation of the SEIS and will be made a part of the administrative 
record.
    Scoping meetings will be held as follows:

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               Date                         City                   Location                  Meeting time
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 24, 2009...................  Crestview...........  Crestview Community        5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
                                                           Center, 1446 Commerce
                                                           Center, Crestview,
                                                           Florida 32539.
August 25, 2009...................  Navarre.............  Days Inn and Suites,       5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
                                                           Navarre Conference
                                                           Center, 8700 Navarre
                                                           Parkway, Navarre,
                                                           Florida 32566.
August 26, 2009...................  Niceville...........  Northwest Florida State    5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
                                                           College (Niceville
                                                           Campus), 100 College
                                                           Blvd. E, Niceville,
                                                           Florida 32578.

[[Page 39308]]

 
August 27, 2009...................  Valparaiso..........  First Baptist Church of    5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
                                                           Valparaiso Fellowship
                                                           Hall, 444 Valparaiso
                                                           Parkway, Valparaiso,
                                                           Florida 32580.
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    Point of Contact: Please direct any written comments or requests 
for information to Mr. Michael Spaits, Public Affairs, AAC/EM-PAV, 
Eglin AFB, FL 32542-5000 (PH: 850-882-2878; [email protected]). 
Handicap assistance and translation service at the public meetings are 
available in advance through Mr. Spaits.

Bao-Anh Trinh,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-18814 Filed 8-5-09; 8:45 am]
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