67 FR 51 pgs. 11678-11679 - Notice of Availability Missile Defense Agency Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Validation Of Operational Concept Environmental Assessment
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 51Pages: 11678 - 11679
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-6429 Filed 3-13-02; 1:41 pm]
Agency: Defense Department
Sub Agency: Office of the Secretary
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Availability Missile Defense Agency Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Validation Of Operational Concept Environmental Assessment
AGENCY:
Missile Defense Agency
ACTION:
Notice of availability
SUMMARY:
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) (formerly the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization) announces the availability of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Validation of Operational Concept (VOC) Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA assesses the potential impacts of construction and test activities at GMD VOC test sites. The proposed action includes construction and operational testing of six ground-based interceptor (GBI) silos and support facilities, In-Flight Interceptor Communication System Data Terminals (IDTs), and Defense Satellite Communication System (DSCS) earth terminals in central Alaska; an IDT and DSCS earth terminal at Eareckson Air Station (AS), Alaska; construction of a missile transfer facility at Eielson Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska; use of the existing COBRA DANE Radar, with upgraded hardware and software and interior modifications, at Eareckson AS; interior modifications and hardware and software upgrades to the Early Warning Radar at Beale AFB, California; and Battle Management, Command and Control [BMC2] nodes at one or more of Peterson AFB, Cheyenne Mountain Complex and Shriever AFB in Colorado, Eareckson AS, Alaska, Beale AFB California, and contractor facilities in Alabama and California.
Fort Greely, Alaska was considered as the preferred alternative for the six GBI silos and support facilities and associated BMC3 including one IDT, one DSCS earth terminal, a BMC2 execution node and installation of terrestrial fiber optic cable. Clear Air Force Station, Alaska is being considered as an alternative location to Fort Greely, Alaska as the GBI silo and support facilities location.
The no-action alternative was also considered. Under the no-action alternative, MDA would not proceed with construction and testing to support validation of the GMD operational concept through ground-based testing. Selection of the no-action alternative would not allow the operationally realistic testing needed to further develop the GMD element of the Midcourse Defense Segment.
Comments: Public comments on the EA must be received by April 13, 2002. Written comments or a request for a copy of the EA should be directed to: U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, ATTN: Mr. David Hasley, SMDC-EN-V, P.O. Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807-3801.
As the proposed action includes multiple locations, some of which are under the administrative control of the United States Army and some of which are under the administrative control of the United States Air Force, the MDA has used both Army Regulation 200-2 and Air Force Instruction 32-7061 in preparing the EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI). An unsigned FNSI will be distributed with the final EA. The FNSI will be signed after a 30-day public review period, and the proposed action could be implemented unless the MDA determines that information presented during the 30-day public review period reveals an unassessed potential for significant impacts on the environment. Interested parties can also review the unsigned FNSI, EA, and referenced NMD Deployment EIS on the internet at: www.acq.osd.mil/bmdo/bmdolink/html/newrel.html#envir.ANC or at the following locations:
University of Alaska, Anchorage
Consortium Library
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
Alaska Resources Library Information Services
3150 C Street, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
Delta Junction Library
2288 Deborah Street
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Anderson School Library
1st Avenue
Anderson, AK 99744
Alaska State Library 344 W. 3rd. Avenue,
Suite 125
Anchorage, AK 99501
Fairbanks North Star Borough
Public Library
Noel Wien Library
1215 Cowles Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701-4313
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Elmer E. Rasmuson Library
PO Box 756800
Fairbanks, AK 99775-6800
Barbo Branch Library
10321 Live Oak Blvd.
Live Oak, CA 95953
Beale Air Force Base
Military Library
Marysville, CA 95903
Sutter County Library
750 Forbes Avenue
Yuba City, CA 95991
Yuba City Library
303 2nd Street
Marysville, CA 95901
Yuba College Library
Yuba College
Marysville, CA 95901
Falmouth Public Library Reference Section
123 Katherine Lee Bates Rd
Falmouth, MA 02540
Mashpee Public Library
Steeple Street,
Mashpee Common
Mashpee, MA 02649
Sandwich Public Library
142 Main Street
Sandwich, MA 02563
U.S. Coast Guard Library
Building 502
Otis ANGB, MA 02542
Cape Cod Community College Library
2240 Iyanough Rd.
West Barnstable, MA 02668-1599
Defense Technical Information Center
8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 0944
Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-6218
Dated: March 12, 2002.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 02-6429 Filed 3-13-02; 1:41 pm]
BILLING CODE 5001-08-P