Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative in Texas and New Mexico

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 66605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33209]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative in Texas and New Mexico

    The United States Air Force (USAF) is issuing this notice to advise 
the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts of a proposal to 
implement the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (RBTI). This 
proposal is intended to provide efficient, integrated training 
opportunities for aircrews flying B-1B aircraft from Dyess Air Force 
Base (AFB), Texas, and B-52H aircraft from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. 
The proposed action for RBTI would involve several interrelated 
elements:
    1. Modifications and additions to existing military training route 
(MTR) airspace used generally for low-altitude training activities;
    2. Modifications and additions to existing military operations area 
(MOA) airspace used for medium to high altitude training and 
maneuvering;
    3. Increased flights by B-1B and B-52H aircraft in the MTR and MOA 
airspace;
    4. Acquisition of a total of 12, 15-acre parcels under the MTR and 
MOA airspace for construction and operation of an Electronic Scoring 
Site system consisting of electronic emitters and associated 
facilities; and
    5. Closure of existing Electronic Scoring Site systems at Harrison, 
Arkansas and La Junta, Colorado, and transfer of equipment to the 
proposed Electronic Scoring Site system developed for RBTI.
    The Air Force has developed three alternatives, each of which 
fulfills the requirements of the proposed action. Two of these 
alternatives use airspace over lands located in west Texas; the third 
uses airspace in northeastern New Mexico. All three of these 
alternatives, and the No-Action alternative will be evaluated in the 
EIS. If feasible alternatives are developed as part of the scoping 
process, they will be included in the EIS.
    Implementation of any of the three alternatives fulfilling the 
proposed action would require the Federal Aviation Administration to 
modify existing special use airspace and to chart new airspace. 
Similarly, the Air Force would undertake real estate actions to acquire 
access to the 12, 15-acre sites for the electronic scoring system.
    The information in this EIS will be considered in making the 
decision whether to implement RBTI, and if so, to select an alternative 
for implementation. A separate EIS is currently being conducted by the 
Air Force to address use of existing military airspace over west Texas 
and northeastern New Mexico by units stationed at Holloman AFB, New 
Mexico. This proposal, as well as other actions, will be assessed for 
potential cumulative impacts in the RBTI EIS.
    The Air Force intends to hold several public scoping meetings in 
the potentially affected areas of Texas and New Mexico. Dates, times, 
and locations for these meetings will be announced through press 
releases, newspapers and other media sources accessible to the public 
and agencies. These meetings are the first step in asking for public 
and government agency comments on the RBTI proposal. Comments provided 
at these meetings and throughout the scoping process should focus on 
the merits of the proposal, alternatives, and the nature and scope of 
environmental issues and other concerns that need to be addressed in 
the EIS. During the meetings, the Air Force will describe the proposed 
action and all alternatives, the National Environmental Policy Act 
process, and outline the opportunities for public involvement in the 
process.
    Comments will be accepted throughout the analysis process, however, 
to ensure the Air Force has sufficient time to consider public input in 
the preparation of the Draft EIS, comments should be submitted to the 
address below by February 17, 1998.

RBTI EIS, c/o 7 CES/CEV, 710 3rd Street, Dyess AFB, TX 
79607.
Barbara A. Carmichael
Alternate Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-33209 Filed 12-18-97; 8:45 am]
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