Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Pope Air Force Base Runway Extension

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

the Pope Air Force Base Runway Extension

The United States Air Force is issuing this notice to advise the

public of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

assessing the potential environmental impacts of extending the runway

at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. The present runway is too short

to accommodate fully loaded, fully fueled C-5, C-17, and C-141

aircraft. An extended runway will accommodate fully loaded and fueled

planes and increase the efficiency of Pope's operations. The Air

Mobility Command (AMC) proposes lengthening the runway in order to

support Pope's strategic airlift mission better. Four alternatives are

being considered--extending the northeast end, extending the southwest

end, extending both ends, and leaving the runway as is (``no action'').

All alternatives but the ``no action'' alternative involve extending

the runway and adjacent taxiways, constructing a satellite fire station

and various air navigation structures, rerouting of various utilities,

and obtaining additional property for an end of runway clear zone and

to mitigate potentially impacted wetlands.

The Air Force will hold a public scoping meeting, in compliance

with the National Environmental Policy Act, to request public

involvement to identify environmental concerns that need to be

addressed in the EIS. The schedule for the scoping meeting follows:

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Date Location Time

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25 February 1999........................ Spring Lake Town Hall Assembly 7:00-10:00 p.m.

Room, 300 Ruth St., Spring

Lake, NC 28390.

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This meeting is the first step in soliciting public and government

agency comments on the proposed action. Comments provided at this

meeting and throughout the scoping process should focus on the nature

and scope of the environmental issues and other concerns that need to

be assessed in the EIS. During the meeting the Air Force will describe

the proposed action and alternatives, define the process involved in

preparing an EIS, and outline the opportunities for public involvement

in the process. AMC will evaluate any reasonable alternatives

identified during the scoping process and address them in the Draft

EIS. The Draft EIS will be made available to the public and comments on

it will be addressed during a public hearing. The information presented

in the Draft EIS along with public comments will be included in the

Final EIS. The Final EIS together with economic and technical data will

be considered in making a final decision regarding the proposed runway

extension. The final decision will then be documented in a Record of

Decision that will be made public by the Air Force. To assure the Air

Force will have sufficient time to fully consider public inputs on the

proposed action and alternatives, written comments should be mailed no

later than March 11, 1999.

Please direct written comments or requests for further information

concerning the Pope AFB Runway Extension EIS to: Mr. Jonathan D.

Farthing, HQ AFCEE/ECA, 3207 North Road, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5363,

(210) 536-4203.

Carolyn A. Lunsford,

Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-2857 Filed 2-4-99; 8:45 am]

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