24 August 2006
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[Federal Register: August 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 164)]
[Notices]
[Page 50048-50049]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24au06-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Transfer of Cannon Air Force Base and Melrose Air Force Range From
Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command
AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Special Operations
Command, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) NEPA Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR]
parts 1500-1508), and the United States Air Force's (USAF)
Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP, 32 CFR part 989), the Air
Force is preparing an EIS to consider the proposed action of
transferring certain Air Force Special Operations equipment and
personnel to Cannon AFB. The Air Force proposes to transfer aircraft
and personnel from Hurlburt Field, Florida, or other existing
operational locations to Cannon AFB, New Mexico. Potential AFSOC assets
to beddown include aircraft, weapons systems, equipment, and personnel.
Growth is planned through Fiscal Year 2013 at Cannon AFB, and AFSOC
proposes to begin utilizing Melrose Air Force Range (AFR), existing
training airspace, and existing Military Training Routes from Cannon
AFB. This NOI describes the Air Force's scoping process and identifies
the Air Force's point of contact. As part of the proposal, the Air
Force will analyze potential environmental impacts associated with the
proposed aircraft, equipment, and personnel transfer, beddown,
training, and operations.
Background: On June 19, 2006, in accordance with the 2005 Defense
Base Closure and Realignment Commission Report, the SECDEF designated
the AFSOC's establishment of the 16th Special Operations Wing at Cannon
[[Page 50049]]
AFB, beginning October 2007, as the new mission for that base. The EIS
will analyze the impacts of that proposed action on the environment.
AFSOC is considering what aircraft and other equipment to base at
Cannon AFB, how best to utilize existing facilities, and what
facilities will need to be modified or built. The proposed action will
consider moving approximately 90 aircraft and approximately 3,500
personnel to the base. It is possible that additional facilities may
need to be constructed at Melrose AFR. The impacts from the proposed
actions will be considered in the EIS. In addition, the EIS will also
address alternatives to the proposed action, including a ``no action''
alternative. Because the proposed action is to be taken as the result
of the BRAC directive to the SECDEF to designate a new mission for
Cannon AFB, the basing/installation alternative will be limited to the
confines of Cannon AFB and Melrose AFR; however, the airspace
alternatives will include Melrose AFR, surrounding Military Training
Routes and Military Operations Areas (MOAs) including the Mt Dora MOA,
Pecos MOA Complex and Bronco MOA.
DATES: The Air Force will hold a series of scoping meetings to solicit
public input concerning the scope of the proposed action and
alternatives, as well as to help identify other concerns and issues to
be addressed in the environmental analysis. The scheduled dates, times,
locations, and addresses for the scoping meetings are as follows:
1. September 18, 2006--Monday, 6-8 p.m., at Clovis and Portales,
NM, Clovis Community College, 417 Schepps Blvd.
2. September 19, 2006--Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., at Clayton, NM, Clayton
High School, 323 South Fifth Street.
3. September 20, 2006--Wednesday, 6-8 p.m., at Fort Sumner, NM,
Fort Sumner Community House, 137 East Baker Avenue.
No additional meetings are scheduled at this time. In addition to
comments received at the scoping meetings, any written comments on the
scope of the EIS received at the address below by October 5, 2006, will
be considered in the preparation of this EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carl T. Hoffman, HQ AFSOC/A7CV,
427 Cody Ave., Suite 225, Hurlburt Field, FL 32544-5434, (850) 884-
5984.
Bao-Anh Trinh,
DAF, Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-14031 Filed 8-23-06; 8:45 am]
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