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

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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