[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 13 (Friday, January 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 4134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01013]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


Notice of Intent To Prepare An Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) On the Proposal To Relocate the 18th Aggressor Squadron From 
Eielson Air Force Base (EAFB), Alaska to Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson (JBER), Alaska and Rightsizing the Remaining Wing Overhead/
Base Operating Support at Eielson AFB, AK

AGENCY: Pacific Air Forces, 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 Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) considering a proposal to relocate the 18th Aggressor 
Squadron from Eielson AFB to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and 
rightsizing the remaining Wing Overhead/Base Operating Support at 
Eielson.
    Proposed Action: The Air Force proposes to relocate the 18th 
Aggressor Squadron (18 AGRS) from Eielson AFB (EAFB) to Joint Base 
Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER); 18 AGRS consists of 18 assigned F-16 
aircraft and 3 back-up F-16s. This proposed relocation includes 
removing 623 military personnel from EAFB, transferring approximately 
542 positions to JBER, and eliminating 81 positions. The Air Force 
proposes to reduce military and civilian authorizations at EAFB 
appropriate to the command structure required for the remaining 
operations. Current planning estimates call for an end-state of 
approximately 769 appropriated funds personnel at EAFB after FY15 (559 
military and 210 civilian personnel).
    EAFB will continue to host Red Flag and Distant Frontier training 
exercises with the 18 AGRS operating out of JBER under one of two 
possible alternatives:
    Alternative 1: 18 AGRS would deploy to EAFB for the duration of the 
Red Flag exercises.
    Alternative 2 The 18 AGRS F-16 aircraft would fly to and from the 
Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) Military Operations Areas 
(MOAs) in the vicinity of EAFB on a daily basis during exercises, 
requiring aerial refueling. The participating F-16 aircraft would not 
routinely land at EAFB for refueling.
    Both Alternatives would operate in the same air space as currently 
used for Red Flag and Distant Frontier exercises. Transient aircraft 
and personnel from outside of Alaska participating in these exercises 
would continue to deploy to and operate out of EAFB.
    This EIS will also evaluate the impacts of the No Action 
Alternative: Keeping the 18 AGRS stationed at EAFB.
    Scoping: In order to effectively define the full range of issues to 
be evaluated in the EIS, the Air Force will determine the scope of the 
analysis by soliciting comments from interested local, state and 
federal agencies, as well as interested members of the public.
    The Air Force intends to hold scoping meetings as follows:

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                  Dates                              Locations
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February 4-5, 2013......................  Anchorage and Mat-Su Boroughs,
                                           AK.
February 6-7, 2013......................  Fairbanks and North Pole, AK.
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    All meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., AST. Specific 
dates, times, and locations for the scoping meetings will be published 
in local media a minimum of 15 days prior to the scoping meeting dates.
    Public scoping comments will be accepted either verbally or in 
writing at the scoping meetings. Additional scoping comments will be 
accepted at any time during the EIS process. However, in order to 
ensure the Air Force has sufficient time to consider public input, 
scoping comments should arrive at the address below by March 1, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Allen Richmond, AFCEC/CZN, 2261 
Hughes Ave., Ste. 155, Lackland AFB, TX 78236-9853, Telephone: (210) 
395-8555.

Tommy W. Lee,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Officer, DAF.
[FR Doc. 2013-01013 Filed 1-17-13; 8:45 am]
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