[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 115 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 32304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12360]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Draft Environmental Assessment; Establishment of Restricted Area 
R-2511 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT; Department of the 
Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DON) has prepared and filed the 
Draft Environmental Assessment--Establishment of Restricted Area R-2511 
at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California with the United 
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Draft Environmental 
Assessment (Draft EA) evaluates the potential environmental 
consequences associated with the establishment of a special use 
airspace (SUA) consisting of one restricted area (RA). The new SUA 
would connect the existing R-2505 and R-2524 RAs. The new RA would be 
titled R-2511 and have the same dimensions as the existing Trona 
Controlled Firing Area (TCFA).

DATES: The 15-day public comment period starts June 17, 2021, and ends 
July 2, 2021. All public comments are due by July 2, 2021. Due to 
current federal and state guidance on social distancing in response to 
COVID-19, the DON will not hold public meetings during the Draft EA 
public comment period.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments with the subject line ``R-2511 Draft 
EA--Public Comments'' by mail at 901 North Heritage Drive, Suite 204, 
Ridgecrest, California 93555, email [email protected], or 
electronically via the project website at https://www.R2511EA.com.
    All comments submitted during the 15-day public comment period will 
become part of the public record and will be considered in the Final 
Environmental Assessment (Final EA). All comments must be postmarked or 
received online by July 2, 2021, for consideration in the Final EA. 
Federal, state, and local agencies (including their respective 
officials) and other interested organizations and individuals are 
encouraged to provide substantive comments on the Draft EA during the 
15-day public comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact: Lonnie D. Covalt, 206-231-
3998, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DON action proponent is NAWCWD, and the 
FAA is a cooperating agency. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake 
(NAWSCL) is located in the western Mojave Desert region of California, 
approximately 150 miles (241 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. 
NAWSCL is host to NAWCWD and other Department of Defense activities. 
NAWCWD is the primary tenant command supported at NAWSCL. The 
Department of the Navy Center of Excellence for Weapons and Armaments 
has responsibility for RDAT&E for the entire spectrum of naval weapons 
and armaments (i.e., air, surface, and subsurface).
    NAWSCL is separated into two range areas: The North and South 
ranges, which are overlain by two RAs. R-2505 overlies the North Range, 
and R-2524 overlies the South Range. NAWCWD, as the NAWSCL ranges' 
scheduling organization, is the using agency that manages operations 
conducted within R-2505 and R-2524. The Joshua Control Facility (Joshua 
Approach) is the controlling agency for R-2505 and R-2524. Access to 
the SUA is governed by FAA regulations.
    Currently, RDAT&E activities between the North and South ranges can 
be conducted by activating the TCFA. The TCFA is used for free flight 
weapon systems transiting from areas within R-2505 to target areas 
within R-2524 and from launch areas within R-2524 to target areas 
within R-2505. The TCFA occupies altitudes with a floor of 6,000 feet 
(ft) (1,830 meters [m]) mean sea level (MSL) and a ceiling up to, but 
not including, Floor Level 200. Ground elevations under the TCFA range 
from 1,642 to 3,567 ft MSL (500 to 1,087 m MSL), providing a minimum of 
2,433 ft (742 m) between the highest ground level point and the 6,000 
ft MSL floor of the TCFA. The proposed R-2511 would have the same 
dimensions as the TFCA.
    The DON distributed the Draft EA to federal agencies with which the 
DON is consulting and other stakeholders. The DON provided public 
notice in local newspapers. The R-2511 Draft EA is available for 
electronic viewing or download at https://R2511EA.com. A hard copy or 
electronic copy (on compact disc) of the Draft EA will be made 
available upon written request by contacting ``R-2511 Establishment 
EA--Public Comments'' at 901 North Heritage Drive, Suite 204, 
Ridgecrest, California 93555, [email protected], or the project 
website at https://www.R2511EA.com.

Lonnie Covalt,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Operations Support Group, Western 
Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2021-12360 Filed 6-16-21; 8:45 am]
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