83 FR 39080 - Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse; Notice and Request for Public Comment on Boardman, Oregon, and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, Geographic Areas of Concern

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 153 (August 8, 2018)

Page Range		39080-39081
FR Document		2018-16886

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that the Boardman, Oregon, and Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, Geographic Areas of Concern (GAOC) maps are now available for review and to request public comment on the proposed maps. The maps are intended to support outreach efforts by DoD to the energy industry.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39080-39081]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16886]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket ID: DOD-2018-OS-0049)


Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting 
Clearinghouse; Notice and Request for Public Comment on Boardman, 
Oregon, and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, Geographic Areas of Concern

AGENCY: Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, 
Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment on the Boardman, Oregon, 
and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, Geographic Areas of Concern.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to 
announce that the Boardman, Oregon, and Naval Air Station (NAS) 
Patuxent River, Maryland, Geographic Areas of Concern (GAOC) maps are 
now available for review and to request public comment on the proposed 
maps. The maps are intended to support outreach efforts by DoD to the 
energy industry.

DATES: The public comment period will end on September 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by DOD-2018-OS-0049, to 
the following:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Chief 
Management Officer, Directorate for Oversight and Compliance, 
Regulatory and Advisory Committee Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, 
Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven J. Sample, Deputy Director of 
the Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse, 
at 703-571-0076 during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EDT) or by email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 183a(d)(2)(B) of title 10, United 
States Code, provides that, solely for purposes of informing 
preliminary reviews under section 183a(c)(1) and early outreach efforts 
under section 183a(c)(5), DoD shall identify distinct geographic areas 
selected as proposed locations for projects filed, or for projects that 
are reasonably expected to be filed in the near future, with the 
Secretary of Transportation pursuant to section 44178 of title 49, 
United States Code, where the Secretary of Defense can demonstrate such 
projects could have an adverse impact on military operations and 
readiness, including military training routes, and categorize the risk 
of adverse impact in such areas. Section 183a defines adverse impact on 
military operations and readiness as any impact upon military 
operations and readiness, including flight operations, research, 
development, testing, and evaluation and training, that is demonstrable 
and likely to impair or degrade the ability of the armed forces to 
perform their warfighting missions. The identification of a GAOC does 
not equate to a determination that a project in the GAOC would result 
in an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States. 
It only means that such a project would have an adverse impact and 
requires further review by the Military Aviation and Installation 
Assurance Siting Clearinghouse.
    The Boardman GAOC is identified due to possible effects upon two 
main DoD military missions. The Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility 
at Boardman and its associated airspace are the U.S. Navy's primary 
resource for all airborne electronic attack aircraft air combat 
maneuver training. This training includes low level aircraft 
operations. Tall structures, such as wind turbines and electrical 
transmission lines, constructed under Restricted Airspace (R-5701) and 
Military Training Routes will prevent the U.S. Navy from fulfilling the 
training mission. Secondly, the Fossil common air route surveillance 
radar (CARSR) (a long range radar) in Fossil, Oregon, is a vital 
resource for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). 
NORAD defends Canada and the United States against air threats, and an 
accurate ``air picture'' is essential for NORAD to accomplish its air 
defense mission. Rotating wind turbine blades can appear as unwanted 
false targets (clutter) and desensitize the radar, resulting in 
degraded target acquisition and tracking. Much of the information and 
data used to establish the GAOC for the Fossil CARSR is not available 
for public review due to security concerns.
    The NAS Patuxent River GAOC is identified due to possible effects 
upon two DoD military missions. The missions that could be degraded or 
impaired due to wind turbines are the Advanced Dynamic Aircraft 
Measurement System (ADAMS) and the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar 
(DASR), both located at NAS Patuxent River. ADAMS is a national test 
asset and the Department of Navy's only open-air dynamic radar cross 
section (RCS) measurement facility supporting all military services as 
well as other government agencies. ADAMS is used to make precise 
ground-to-air radar signature measurements during aircraft maneuvers. 
The DASR is used to facilitate critical safety of flight control 
instructions for all DoD and civilian aircraft that operate within the 
confines of the NAS Patuxent River Air Traffic Control (ATC) Area of 
Responsibility (AoR). ATC services require the ability to use radar to 
positively identify targets that enter, work within, and depart the AoR 
to prevent mid-air collision and loss of life. The DASR is also 
utilized by ATC to monitor air traffic that might attempt to illegally 
enter the Washington, DC Flight Restricted Zone, thereby posing a 
significant threat to the national security. Rotating wind turbine 
blades can appear as unwanted false targets (clutter) and desensitize 
the radar, resulting in degraded target acquisition and tracking for 
both the ADAMS and DASR at NAS Patuxent River.
    Comments received by the end of the comment period will be 
considered when making the final findings on the designation of these 
proposed GAOCs. Any comment, if applying to only one

[[Page 39081]]

GAOC, should identify that GAOC as the subject.
    Maps identifying the Boardman and NAS Patuxent River GAOCs can be 
viewed in the docket listed above on Regulations.gov.

    Dated: August 2, 2018.
Shelly E. Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2018-16886 Filed 8-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P

39080 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Notices

the National Academy of Sciences, DATES: The public comment period will combat maneuver training. This training
known as Hazard Analysis Critical end on September 7, 2018. includes low level aircraft operations.
Control Point (HACCP). The information ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, Tall structures, such as wind turbines
collection requirements fall under identified by DOD–2018–OS–0049, to and electrical transmission lines,
§ 260.15 of the regulations. These the following: constructed under Restricted Airspace
guidelines required that a facility’s • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// (R–5701) and Military Training Routes
quality control system have a written www.regulations.gov. Follow the will prevent the U.S. Navy from
plan of the operation, identification of instructions for submitting comments. fulfilling the training mission. Secondly,
control points with acceptance criteria • Mail: Department of Defense, Office the Fossil common air route
and a corrective action plan, as well as of the Chief Management Officer, surveillance radar (CARSR) (a long
identified personnel responsible for Directorate for Oversight and range radar) in Fossil, Oregon, is a vital
oversight of the system. Compliance, Regulatory and Advisory resource for the North American
Affected Public: Business or other for- Committee Division, 4800 Mark Center Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
profit organizations; not-for-profit Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, NORAD defends Canada and the United
institutions; state, local or tribal Alexandria, VA 22350–1700. States against air threats, and an
government. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: accurate ‘‘air picture’’ is essential for
Frequency: On occasion. Steven J. Sample, Deputy Director of the NORAD to accomplish its air defense
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to Military Aviation and Installation mission. Rotating wind turbine blades
obtain or maintain benefits. Assurance Siting Clearinghouse, at 703– can appear as unwanted false targets
This information collection request 571–0076 during normal business hours (clutter) and desensitize the radar,
may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. resulting in degraded target acquisition
the instructions to view Department of to 5:00 p.m. (EDT) or by email: and tracking. Much of the information
Commerce collections currently under steven.j.sample4.civ@mail.mil. and data used to establish the GAOC for
review by OMB. the Fossil CARSR is not available for
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
Written comments and public review due to security concerns.
183a(d)(2)(B) of title 10, United States The NAS Patuxent River GAOC is
recommendations for the proposed Code, provides that, solely for purposes
information collection should be sent identified due to possible effects upon
of informing preliminary reviews under two DoD military missions. The
within 30 days of publication of this section 183a(c)(1) and early outreach
notice to OIRA_Submission@ missions that could be degraded or
efforts under section 183a(c)(5), DoD impaired due to wind turbines are the
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. shall identify distinct geographic areas Advanced Dynamic Aircraft
Dated: August 3, 2018. selected as proposed locations for Measurement System (ADAMS) and the
Sarah Brabson, projects filed, or for projects that are Digital Airport Surveillance Radar
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. reasonably expected to be filed in the (DASR), both located at NAS Patuxent
[FR Doc. 2018–16934 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am] near future, with the Secretary of River. ADAMS is a national test asset
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Transportation pursuant to section and the Department of Navy’s only
44178 of title 49, United States Code, open-air dynamic radar cross section
where the Secretary of Defense can (RCS) measurement facility supporting
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE demonstrate such projects could have all military services as well as other
an adverse impact on military government agencies. ADAMS is used to
Office of the Secretary operations and readiness, including make precise ground-to-air radar
military training routes, and categorize signature measurements during aircraft
[Docket ID: DOD–2018–OS–0049) the risk of adverse impact in such areas. maneuvers. The DASR is used to
Section 183a defines adverse impact on facilitate critical safety of flight control
Military Aviation and Installation
military operations and readiness as any instructions for all DoD and civilian
Assurance Siting Clearinghouse;
impact upon military operations and aircraft that operate within the confines
Notice and Request for Public
readiness, including flight operations, of the NAS Patuxent River Air Traffic
Comment on Boardman, Oregon, and
research, development, testing, and Control (ATC) Area of Responsibility
NAS Patuxent River, Maryland,
evaluation and training, that is (AoR). ATC services require the ability
Geographic Areas of Concern
demonstrable and likely to impair or to use radar to positively identify targets
AGENCY: Under Secretary of Defense for degrade the ability of the armed forces that enter, work within, and depart the
Acquisition and Sustainment, to perform their warfighting missions. AoR to prevent mid-air collision and
Department of Defense. The identification of a GAOC does not loss of life. The DASR is also utilized by
ACTION: Notice and request for public equate to a determination that a project ATC to monitor air traffic that might
comment on the Boardman, Oregon, and in the GAOC would result in an attempt to illegally enter the
NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, unacceptable risk to the national Washington, DC Flight Restricted Zone,
Geographic Areas of Concern. security of the United States. It only thereby posing a significant threat to the
means that such a project would have national security. Rotating wind turbine
SUMMARY: The Department of Defense an adverse impact and requires further blades can appear as unwanted false
(DoD) is publishing this notice to review by the Military Aviation and targets (clutter) and desensitize the
announce that the Boardman, Oregon, Installation Assurance Siting radar, resulting in degraded target
and Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Clearinghouse. acquisition and tracking for both the
River, Maryland, Geographic Areas of The Boardman GAOC is identified ADAMS and DASR at NAS Patuxent
Concern (GAOC) maps are now due to possible effects upon two main River.
available for review and to request DoD military missions. The Naval Comments received by the end of the
public comment on the proposed maps. Weapons Systems Training Facility at comment period will be considered
The maps are intended to support Boardman and its associated airspace when making the final findings on the
outreach efforts by DoD to the energy are the U.S. Navy’s primary resource for designation of these proposed GAOCs.
industry. all airborne electronic attack aircraft air Any comment, if applying to only one

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Document Created: 2018-08-08 02:06:08
Document Modified: 2018-08-08 02:06:08

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice and request for public comment on the Boardman, Oregon, and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, Geographic Areas of Concern.
Dates		The public comment period will end on September 7, 2018.
Contact		Steven J. Sample, Deputy Director of the Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse, at 703-571-0076 during normal business hours Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EDT) or by email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 39080

83 FR 39080 - Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse; Notice and Request for Public Comment on Boardman, Oregon, and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, Geographic Areas of Concern

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEOffice of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 153 (August 8, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary