81 FR 26779 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization Program at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility, Washington, Maryland

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 86 (May 4, 2016)

The United States Air Force (Air Force) is issuing this notice to advise the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) Program at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility, Washington, Maryland (JBA). The EIS will assess the potential environmental consequences of the proposal to beddown versions of the Boeing 747-8 passenger aircraft at JBA as replacements to the two existing VC-25A aircraft currently used to transport the President of the United States (POTUS).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 26779]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10401]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization Program at Joint Base 
Andrews-Naval Air Facility, Washington, Maryland

AGENCY: United States Air Force, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States Air Force (Air Force) is issuing this notice 
to advise the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) 
Program at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility, Washington, Maryland 
(JBA). The EIS will assess the potential environmental consequences of 
the proposal to beddown versions of the Boeing 747-8 passenger aircraft 
at JBA as replacements to the two existing VC-25A aircraft currently 
used to transport the President of the United States (POTUS).

DATES: The Air Force plans to hold one daytime and one nighttime public 
scoping meeting, at the locations and times below:
    1. Daytime Scoping Meeting: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9619, 
6527 Suitland Road, Morningside, MD 20746, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2016 
from 9:00- 11:00 a.m.
    2. Nighttime Scoping Meeting: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9619, 
6527 Suitland Road, Morningside, MD 20746, on Monday, May 23rd, 2016 
from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Additional information on the PAR Program and the EIS/EIAP 
process can be accessed at the project Web site at 
www.parprogrameis.com, and the JBA Web site at www.andrews.af.mil. 
Inquiries and comments-by-mail regarding the USAF proposal should be 
directed to AFCEC/CZN, 2261 Hughes Ave., Ste. 155, JBSA-Lackland, TX 
78236-9853, ATTN: Mr. John Guerra.
    The project Web site can also be used to submit scoping comments 
and scoping comments may also be submitted by mail to the address 
listed below. Comments will be accepted at any time during the 
Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP). However, to ensure the 
Air Force has sufficient time to consider public input in the 
preparation of the Draft EIS, scoping comments should be submitted to 
the Web site or the address listed below by May 28th, 2016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The aircraft replacement was requested by 
the White House in April 2006 and was approved by the Secretary of the 
Air Force in a Strategic Basing decision on June 12, 2012. The EIS will 
assess the potential environmental consequences of bedding down the new 
aircraft, including construction of a new Presidential Complex with a 
multi-bay hangar facility, other necessary facility improvements and 
relocation of select facilities displaced by PAR activities. Facilities 
potentially requiring relocation include the Hazardous Cargo Pad (HCP), 
the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Proficiency Range, the Joint Air 
Defense Operations Center (JADOC) Satellite Site, areas of the existing 
golf course, and the Military Working Dog (MWD) Kennel. The EIS will 
analyze various alternatives for implementing the Proposed Action at 
JBA (beddown and operations of a new aircraft) including a No Action 
Alternative. The Air Force is preparing this EIS in accordance with 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; 40 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), Parts 1500-1508, the Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA; and the USAF Environmental 
Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) [32 CFR part 989].
    Scoping and Agency Coordination: To effectively define the full 
range of issues and concerns to be evaluated in the EIS, the Air Force 
is soliciting scoping comments from interested local, state and federal 
agencies and interested members of the public. This NOI also serves to 
provide early notice of compliance with Executive Order (EO) 11990, 
``Protection of Wetlands'' and EO 11988, ``Floodplain Management.'' 
State and federal regulatory agencies with special expertise in 
wetlands and floodplains have been contacted to request comment. The 
Air Force will hold two scoping meetings to inform the public as well 
as to solicit comments and concerns about the proposal. Scoping 
meetings will be held in the local community. Scheduled dates, 
locations, and addresses for each meeting will be published in the 
Washington Post, Prince George's County Gazette, and the Andrews 
Gazette newspapers a minimum of fifteen (15) days prior to each 
meeting.

Anh Trinh,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-10401 Filed 5-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-10-P