[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18000-18001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06575]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
T-7a Recapitalization at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice 
of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts 
associated with T-7A Recapitalization at Columbus Air Force Base (AFB), 
Mississippi. The EIS will analyze the potential impacts from 
introduction of T-7A aircraft and flight operations at Columbus AFB and 
associated airspace; introduction of nighttime (between 10 p.m. and 7 
a.m.) T-7A flight operations; changes to the number of personnel and 
dependents in the Columbus AFB region; and construction and upgrade of 
support and maintenance facilities.

DATES: A public scoping period of 30 days will take place starting from 
the date of this NOI publication in the Federal Register. Comments will 
be accepted at any time during the environmental impact analysis 
process; however, to ensure DAF has sufficient time to consider public 
scoping comments during preparation of the Draft EIS, please submit 
comments within the 30-day scoping period. The Draft EIS is anticipated 
in late 2022. The Final EIS and a decision on which alternative to 
implement is expected in mid-2023.

ADDRESSES: For EIS inquiries or requests for printed or digital copies 
of scoping materials please contact Mr. Nolan Swick by phone: (210) 
925-3392. The project website (https://columbus.t-7anepadocuments.com/) 
provides additional information on the EIS and can be used to submit 
scoping comments. Scoping comments may also be submitted via email to 
[email protected] or via postal mail to Mr. Nolan Swick, AFCEC/CZN; 
Attn: Columbus AFB T-7A Recapitalization EIS; Headquarters AETC Public 
Affairs; 100 H East Street, Suite 4; Randolph AFB, TX 78150. Please 
submit inquiries or requests for printed or digital copies of the 
scoping materials via the email or postal address above. For printed 
material requests, the standard U.S. Postal Service shipping timeline 
will apply. Please consider the environment before requesting printed 
material.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DAF intends to prepare an EIS that will 
evaluate the potential impacts from its proposal to recapitalize the T-
38C Talon flight training program at Columbus AFB with T-7A Red Hawk 
aircraft. The proposal supports the Secretary of the Air Force's 
strategic basing decisions to recapitalize existing T-38C pilot 
training installations, and Columbus AFB would be the second 
installation to be environmentally analyzed for possible 
recapitalization. The purpose of this proposal is to continue the T-7A 
recapitalization program by recapitalizing Columbus AFB to prepare 
pilots to operate the more technologically advanced T-7A aircraft. 
Recapitalization is needed because the current training practices with 
the older T-38C aircraft fail to prepare pilots for the technological 
advancements of fourth and fifth generation aircraft.
    Recapitalization entails introduction of T-7A aircraft and flight 
operations at Columbus AFB to replace all T-38C aircraft assigned to 
the installation; introduction of nighttime (between 10 p.m. and 7 
a.m.) flight operations; changes to the number of personnel and 
dependents in the Columbus AFB region; and construction and upgrade of 
support and maintenance facilities. DAF is considering the Proposed 
Action, Alternative 1, Alternative 2, and the No Action Alternative. 
For the Proposed Action, Columbus AFB would receive 61 T-7A aircraft 
and perform sufficient operations for sustaining pilot training while 
simultaneously phasing out the T-38C aircraft and phasing in the T-7A 
aircraft. Alternative 1 also would result in 61 T-7A aircraft being 
delivered to Columbus AFB; however, T-7A operations would be performed 
at an intensity approximately 25 percent greater than the Proposed 
Action to cover a potential scenario in which DAF requires a surge or 
increase in pilot training operations above current plan. For 
Alternative 2, Columbus AFB would receive 77 T-7A aircraft to cover a 
potential scenario in which another military installation is unable to 
accept delivery of all their T-7A aircraft and some of those aircraft 
need to be reassigned to Columbus AFB. T-7A operations for Alternative 
2 would be performed at an intensity identical to Alternative 1. The No 
Action Alternative would not implement T-7A recapitalization at 
Columbus AFB.
    DAF anticipates potential for the following notable environmental 
impacts from the Proposed Action and action alternatives: 1. Increased 
air emissions, particularly nitrogen oxides. 2. Increased noise from 
aircraft operations because the T-7A is inherently louder than the T-
38C and the addition of nighttime operations may be bothersome to some 
residents. Increased noise could have a disproportionate impact on 
certain populations and impact off-installation land use compatibility. 
3. Increased potential for bird/wildlife aircraft strike hazards. 4. 
Construction may have a minor impact on downstream water quality. The 
EIS will model air emissions, noise levels, and the number of sleep and 
school disturbance events and compare to current conditions. DAF will 
also consult with appropriate resource agencies and Native American 
tribes to determine the potential for significant impacts. Consultation 
will be incorporated into the preparation of the EIS and will include, 
but not be limited to, consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act and consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act. Additional analysis will be provided in the Draft 
EIS.
    Scoping and Agency Coordination: To effectively define the full 
range of issues to be evaluated in the EIS, DAF is

[[Page 18001]]

soliciting comments from interested local, state, and federal elected 
officials and agencies, Tribes, as well as interested members of the 
public and others. Comments are requested on potential alternatives and 
impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies, or 
analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the 
human environment. Concurrent with the publication of this NOI, public 
scoping notices will be announced locally. In accordance with DAF 
guidance, in-person public scoping meetings will not be held. Public 
scoping is being accomplished remotely, in accordance with the 2020 
version of 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 1506.6, via the project 
website at https://columbus.t-7anepadocuments.com/. The website 
provides posters, a presentation, an informational brochure, other 
meeting materials, and the capability for the public to provide public 
scoping comments. Scoping materials are also available in print at the 
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library (314 7th Street North, Columbus, 
Mississippi).

Adriane Paris,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-06575 Filed 3-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-10-P