Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for the Hardwood Range Expansion and Related Airspace Actions, Hardwood Range, Wood County, WI

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force

Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for

the Hardwood Range Expansion and Related Airspace Actions, Hardwood

Range, Wood County, WI

The United States Air Force and the Air National Guard are

announcing their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) to analyze the proposed action regarding the Hardwood Range

expansion into Wood County Wisconsin and modification and/or expansion

of related airspace in the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

This action will be known as the Hardwood EIS.

The Air National Guard proposes to modify Hardwood Air-to-Surface

Gunnery Range located on the northern most portion of Juneau County

near the town of Finley, Wisconsin. This proposed action will expand

the land area by approximately 7,130 acres north of the current

boundaries into Wood County. A new target area, an area for an aircraft

assault strip and a new drop zone is proposed to be developed. The

action will provide for multi-directional entry into the range,

allowing each unit to accomplish a broader range of training, and

helping to reduce the expense incurred in deploying to more distant

ranges. This action is also being proposed to enhance operational

safety. The proposed expansion would ensure military flights remain

over land owned or controlled by the government, further increasing

safety for the civilian population near the range. The number of

aircraft sorties flown annually would increase from 3,401 to 3,966.

Restricted airspace would be modified to include the contiguous new

range boundaries to ensure the safety of non-participating aircraft.

The action would lower the bottom altitude and expand the lateral

confines of the Restricted Airspace 6904B. It would also increase the

maximum altitude of R-6904A and R-6904B from 17,000 MSL to 25,000 MSL.

Three stand-alone airspace actions are being proposed which are

independent of the range expansion. The first proposed airspace action

will establish six new Military Training Routes (MTRs) south of the

range that will encompass two ground tracks. The proposed ground tracks

would be oriented predominately north-south, and extend approximately

200 Nautical Miles (NM) from Hardwood Range. The two ground tracks

merge approximately 60 NM south of the range. The location is

southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa. A total of approximately

2,150 flights would be flown annually along the six routes. These MTRs

will allow Air National Guard and other military units closer training

airspace, allowing the units to accomplish more training on each

flight.

The second airspace proposal will increase the number of sorties

flown from 185 to 1,340 in the existing Volk South Military Operations

Area (MOA). This MOA is located south of Hardwood Range. It is

presently used in conjunction with the range and other adjoining

airspace for aircraft training sorties. The use of multi-directional

entries into Hardwood Range would increase utilization. Also, new

weapons and tactics would require increased use of the Volk South MOA

in conjunction with adjoining Volk West and Volk East MOAs.

The third airspace action is to reassess Visual Route-1616 for

increased utilization. This MTR begins in southeastern Minnesota and

traverses easterly into Hardwood Range. The utilization would increase

from 2,187 to 2,423 sorties annually. This increase is expected to

satisfy users training requirements.

Alternatives under consideration include establishing a new air-to-

surface gunnery range, using the existing US Army Range at Fort McCoy,

closing Hardwood Range and redirecting units to other ranges, and the

no action alternative.

The Air Force and Air National Guard are planning to conduct a

series of scoping meetings on the following dates and times at the

indicated locations:

1. Mauston Expo Center, Hickory Street, Mauston, WI, February 14,

1995, 7:00 PM.

2. Independence High School, 108 6th Street, Independence, WI,

February 15, 1995, 7:00 PM.

3. Pittsville Community Center, Main Street and 3rd Avenue,

Pittsville, WI, February 16, 1995, 7:00 PM.

4. Tilford Middle School, 308 East 13th Street, Vinton, IA,

February 21, 1995, 7:00 PM

5. Boscobel Community Center, Oak Street, Boscobel, WI, February

22, 1995, 7:00 PM.

6. Elkader Community School, North 1st Street, Elkader, IA,

February 23, 1995, 7:00 PM

The purpose of these meetings is to present information concerning

the proposed actions and alternatives under consideration and solicit

public input on issues to be addressed, effort to be expended, and

alternatives that should be addressed in the EIS. Questions or

clarifications concerning the proposal, or any other information

presented, will be answered as they relate to the scope of the effort

anticipated.

The scoping meetings will provide opportunities for clarification

of the proposal and statements from representatives of government

agencies and the public. Additional presentations and questions will be

accepted at the end of the meeting. Submission of written and oral

comments and questions will be accepted. Submission [[Page 4404]] of

written comments is encouraged but is not required. Written comments

and questions of any length submitted at the meeting or during the

scoping period will be considered in their entirety and will carry the

same weight as oral comment.

The Air Force and Air National Guard will accept comments at the

address below at any time during the environmental impact analysis

process. To ensure the Air Force and the Air National Guard have

sufficient time to consider public input in the preparation of the

Draft EIS, comments should be submitted to the address below by March

21, 1995. For further information concerning the preparation of the

Hardwood EIS, or to provide written comment, contact:

Program Manager, Hardwood EIS, Air National Guard Readiness Center,

ANGRC/CEVP, 3500 Fetchet Avenue, Andrews Air Force Base, MD 20331-5157.

Patsy J. Conner,

Air Force Federal Register Liasion Officer.

[FR Doc. 95-1606 Filed 1-20-95; 8:45 am]

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