[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 32826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14470]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact/
Record of Decision and Adoption of the United States Air Force 
Supplemental Environmental Analysis for the Establishment of the Playas 
Temporary Military Operating Area

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Finding of No Significant Impact/
Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
decision to adopt the United States Air Force (USAF) Playas Military 
Operating Area and Red Flag Rescue Supplemental Environmental Analysis 
(SEA) for the establishment of a Temporary Military Operating Area 
(TMOA) in Playas, New Mexico. This notice announces that based on its 
independent review and evaluation of the SEA and supporting 
documentation, the FAA is adopting the SEA and issuing a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI)/Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
establishment of the Playas TMOA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Miller, Airspace Policy and 
Regulations Group, Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-7378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The USAF has established Red Flag-Rescue as an USAF level combat 
search and rescue exercise that is conducted twice a year using the 
Playas Training and Research Center located in Grant and Hidalgo 
Counties in southwest New Mexico. The Red Flag-Rescue training exercise 
is designed to provide personnel recovery training for U.S. combat 
aircrews, para-rescue teams, survival specialists, intelligence 
personnel, air battle managers, and personnel from the Joint Personnel 
Recovery Center. A TMOA is required for military aircraft that support 
the exercise.
    In accordance with Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (``NEPA''), the Council on Environmental Quality's 
(``CEQ'') regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and 
other applicable authorities, including the FAA Order 1050.1F, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 8-2, and FAA 
Order JO 7400.2M, ``Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters,'' 
paragraph 32-2-3, the FAA has conducted an independent review and 
evaluation of the USAF's SEA, dated February 2018, and its supporting 
documents. As a cooperating agency with responsibility for approving 
special use airspace (SUA) under 49 U.S.C. 40103(b)(3)(A), the FAA 
provided subject matter expertise and coordinated with the USAF during 
the environmental review process.

Implementation

    After evaluating the aeronautical study and the SEA, the FAA has 
issued a FONSI/ROD to establish the Playas TMOA for a period not to 
exceed five days during an 18-day window from August 10-24, 2019. The 
Playas TMOA will be activated by publishing a Notice to Airman two 
cycles (56 days) prior to the exercise in the Notices to Airman 
Publication.
    FAA circularized the proposed action from February 23, 2109 through 
April 1, 2019 in the areas required by JO 7400.2M, which resulted in 
zero public comments. The circularization referenced two events, a USAF 
exercise in May 2019 and another in August 2019. The May 2019 event was 
canceled, but the August 2019 event is the proposed action. The FONSI/
ROD and SEA are available upon request by contacting Paula Miller at: 
Airspace Policy and Regulations Group, Office of Airspace Services, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-7378.

    Issued in Des Moines, WA, on June 24, 2019.
Shawn Kozica,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-14470 Filed 7-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P