Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for F- 22 Aircraft Follow-On Operational Testing and Evaluation and Weapons School Permanent Beddown at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force

Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for F-

22 Aircraft Follow-On Operational Testing and Evaluation and Weapons

School Permanent Beddown at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada

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) to assess the potential environmental impacts of a

proposal to station F-22 Tactical Fighter Aircraft at Nellis AFB, NV. A

total of 17 F-22 aircraft would be permanently based in phases at

Nellis AFB between the years 2002 and 2010. The aircraft, to be

assigned to the Operational Test and Evaluation and USAF Weapons School

programs at Nellis AFB, would use the Nellis AFB Range Complex and

associated airspace for the purposes of fully testing and evaluating F-

22 operational capabilities and to provide training to Air Force

pilots. The proposed action entails facility construction activities on

Nellis AFB over a 6 year period starting in FY 1999. Approximately 370

personnel would be added to the installation between FY 2001 and 2009.

Because of the unique nature of the Air Force's Fighter Weapons School

at Nellis AFB, only the proposed action and the no-action alternative

have been identified. If feasible alternatives are developed as part of

the scoping process, they will be included in the draft EIS document.

The data in this EIS will be considered in making the beddown decision

and documented in the Air Force's Record of Decision addressing the

proposal. A separate EIS currently being conducted by the Air Force to

address Nellis Range Renewal issues, will include potential cumulative

impacts of F-22 flying operations resulting from this proposed action.

The Air Force intends to hold three public scoping meetings to be

held on the following dates and times at the indicated locations:

1. Convention Center, 301 Brougher, Tonopah, NV, August 26, 1997,

7:00 p.m.

2. Dell H. Robison Middle School, 825 Marion Drive, Las Vegas, NV,

August 27, 1997, 7:00 p.m.

3. Youth Center, Highway 93N, Caliente, NV, August 28, 1997, 7:00

p.m.

These meetings are the first step in soliciting public and

government agency comments on the proposed action. Comments provided at

these meetings and throughout the scoping process

[[Page 43145]]

should focus on the merits of the proposal, alternatives, and the

nature and scope of environmental issues and other concerns that need

to be assessed in the EIS. During the meetings, the Air Force will

describe the proposed action and no-action alternative, define the

process involved in preparing the EIS, and outline the opportunities

for public involvement in the process. The scoping period for the F-22

Permanent Beddown at Nellis AFB EIS, will extend through September 30,

1997.

Written and oral comments will be accepted at the scoping meetings

and at any time during the scoping period for the F-22 Beddown Nellis

AFB EIS. 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 September 30, 1997. F-22 Aircraft Beddown,

Nellis Air Force Base, NV, EIS, HQ AFCEE/ECP, 3207 North Road, Brooks

Air Force Base, TX 78235-5363, Phone: (210) 536-6544, FAX (210) 536-

3890.

Barbara A. Carmichael,

Alternate Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-21240 Filed 8-11-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3910-01-P