[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 15517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06175]



[[Page 15517]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for United States Air Force F-35a Operational Beddown--
Pacific

AGENCY: United States Air Force, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is issuing this notice of intent 
(NOI) to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) 
to address changes made since the February 2016 completion of the F-35A 
Operational Beddown--Pacific EIS (referred herein as the original EIS) 
and signature of the Record of Decision (ROD) in April 2016, announcing 
the Air Force decision to beddown two squadrons of F-35A aircraft at 
Eielson AFB, Alaska. The original EIS evaluated infrastructure 
construction, demolition, renovations, additional personnel, and 
increases in aircraft operations at the airfield and in the Joint 
Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) airspace. However, the Air Force 
is supplementing the original EIS due to projects being identified 
after the ROD was signed that are required to support the F-35 beddown 
at Eielson AFB. These projects are relevant to environmental concerns 
and provide new circumstances and information relevant to Air Force 
decision-making and mitigation activities.
    Scoping and Agency Coordination:To effectively define the full 
range of issues to be evaluated in the SEIS, the USAF will determine 
the scope of the analysis by soliciting comments from interested local, 
state and federal elected officials and agencies, as well as interested 
members of the public and others. This is being done by providing a Web 
site where the public and lodge their comments and/or by mailing 
comments to the base Civil Engineering Squadron.

ADDRESSES: The project Web site (https://www.pacaf-f35aeis.com) 
provides more information on the SEIS and can be used to submit scoping 
comments. Scoping comments may also be submitted to Attn: F-35 Beddown 
SEIS, 354 CES/CEI, P.O. Box 4743, Eielson AFB, AK 99702.
    Comments will be accepted at any time during the environmental 
impact analysis process. However, to ensure the USAF has sufficient 
time to consider public input in the preparation of the Draft SEIS, 
scoping comments should be submitted to the Web site or the address 
listed above by May 15, 2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Air Force proposes to implement three 
actions at Eielson AFB. They are independent of each other and have 
standalone value for improving facility and infrastructure development 
in support of the F-35A beddown at Eielson AFB. The three are to 
provide additional stormwater runoff control; develop equipment and 
material laydown areas; and provide additional heat, water, and power 
to the South Loop. While full implementation of all of the proposed 
actions is desired, and results in the greatest benefit for the 
beddown, each of the proposals if implemented alone would have a 
positive effect on facility and infrastructure development on the base. 
The no-action alternatives will be addressed in the SEIS as well.
    The additional stormwater runoff control measures would include up 
to 20 acres to accommodate additional conveyance and infiltration 
areas. The Air Force identified several areas, adjacent to F-35A 
facilities, to allow flexibility in conveyance and infiltration system 
designs. Stormwater control measures can include, but are not limited 
to, sloping paved areas so that water flows to adjacent vegetated areas 
and using rocks to fill in low areas so that ponds would not be 
created. Wildlife in an active airfield poses a real bird/wildlife 
aircraft strike hazard; therefore, minimizing standing water is a 
primary consideration when designing stormwater runoff control systems.
    The equipment and material laydown areas would entail up to 60 
acres, adjacent to F-35A facilities already identified in the original 
EIS. Because of the remote location, material would need to be 
stockpiled and stored for use when they are needed. Additionally, the 
areas would accommodate the construction contractors' equipment and 
construction worker vehicles involved in this large infrastructure 
development.
    Because of the severe arctic environment and extreme temperature 
differences (exceeding 150 degrees Fahrenheit), Eielson AFB maintains 
an underground utility distribution system. Under this proposed action, 
a utility corridor, both underground for steam, water, and condensate, 
and above ground for power, would be established to connect from the 
existing Central Heat and Power Plant and to the South Loop where F-35A 
facilities identified in the original EIS are being constructed. 
Depending on the route, the utiliduct could extend up to 2 miles.
    The proposed actions at Eielson AFB have the potential to be 
located in a floodplain and/or wetland. Consistent with the 
requirements and objectives of Executive Order (EO) 11990, ``Protection 
of Wetlands,'' and EO 1988, ``Floodplain Management,'' as amended by EO 
13690, ``Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a 
Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input,'' 
state and federal regulatory agencies with special expertise in 
wetlands and floodplains will be contacted to request comment. 
Consistent with EO 11988, EO 13690, and EO 11990, this Notice of Intent 
initiates early public review of the proposed actions and alternatives, 
which have the potential to be located in a floodplain and/or wetland.

Henry Williams,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-06175 Filed 3-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-10-P