[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 65 (Friday, April 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 19055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06935]



[[Page 19055]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Federal Aviation Administration 
Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for 
Establishing the Playas Temporary Military Operations Area, and the 
Adoption of the United States Air Force, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base 
Personnel Recovery Training Program Environmental Assessment

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) Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Personnel Recovery 
Training Program for the establishment of a Temporary Military 
Operations Area (TMOA) in Playas, New Mexico. This notice announces 
that, based on its independent review and evaluation of the EA and 
supporting documents, the FAA is adopting the EA 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

    A TMOA is needed to support large force personnel recovery training 
events, known as Red Flag-Rescue, to ensure combat forces have gained 
experience operating jointly before deploying to theater. The Red Flag-
Rescue training events provide the Department of Defense (DoD) 
personnel recovery forces combat search and rescue missions in a large 
force training event simulating deployed conditions. The Red Flag-
Rescue training events encompass many different types of land-based and 
airspace exercises over several states. The subject FAA FONSI/ROD is 
only for the activation of the Playas TMOA over Playas, New Mexico, for 
a specific exercise within the Red Flag-Rescue.

Implementation

    After evaluating the EA, the FAA has issued a FONSI/ROD to 
establish the Playas TMOA for separate Red Flag-Rescue training events. 
Each training event is anticipated to last approximately two to three 
weeks. The TMOA would only be used during a specified timeframe during 
each Red Flag-Rescue training event with specific times of use 
announced via Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The TMOA would only be 
activated during an approximate two to three week period, biannually, 
for up to four years. The total activation period would not exceed 45 
days. The actual times of use of activation would vary from continuous 
to day-night windows, scheduled to meet training requirements.
    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 EA, dated February 2020, 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.
    The Draft EA was provided for public review for 36 days starting on 
September 20, 2019, and ending on October 26, 2019. Fourteen comments 
were received on the Draft EA during this time period; however, only 
one comment received was specific to the FAA's Proposed Action, and it 
requested clarification of the Proposed Action.
    The FONSI/ROD and EA 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 March 30, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-06935 Filed 4-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P