[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18000-18001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06575]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
T-7a Recapitalization at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice
of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to
assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts
associated with T-7A Recapitalization at Columbus Air Force Base (AFB),
Mississippi. The EIS will analyze the potential impacts from
introduction of T-7A aircraft and flight operations at Columbus AFB and
associated airspace; introduction of nighttime (between 10 p.m. and 7
a.m.) T-7A flight operations; changes to the number of personnel and
dependents in the Columbus AFB region; and construction and upgrade of
support and maintenance facilities.
DATES: A public scoping period of 30 days will take place starting from
the date of this NOI publication in the Federal Register. Comments will
be accepted at any time during the environmental impact analysis
process; however, to ensure DAF has sufficient time to consider public
scoping comments during preparation of the Draft EIS, please submit
comments within the 30-day scoping period. The Draft EIS is anticipated
in late 2022. The Final EIS and a decision on which alternative to
implement is expected in mid-2023.
ADDRESSES: For EIS inquiries or requests for printed or digital copies
of scoping materials please contact Mr. Nolan Swick by phone: (210)
925-3392. The project website (https://columbus.t-7anepadocuments.com/)
provides additional information on the EIS and can be used to submit
scoping comments. Scoping comments may also be submitted via email to
[email protected] or via postal mail to Mr. Nolan Swick, AFCEC/CZN;
Attn: Columbus AFB T-7A Recapitalization EIS; Headquarters AETC Public
Affairs; 100 H East Street, Suite 4; Randolph AFB, TX 78150. Please
submit inquiries or requests for printed or digital copies of the
scoping materials via the email or postal address above. For printed
material requests, the standard U.S. Postal Service shipping timeline
will apply. Please consider the environment before requesting printed
material.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DAF intends to prepare an EIS that will
evaluate the potential impacts from its proposal to recapitalize the T-
38C Talon flight training program at Columbus AFB with T-7A Red Hawk
aircraft. The proposal supports the Secretary of the Air Force's
strategic basing decisions to recapitalize existing T-38C pilot
training installations, and Columbus AFB would be the second
installation to be environmentally analyzed for possible
recapitalization. The purpose of this proposal is to continue the T-7A
recapitalization program by recapitalizing Columbus AFB to prepare
pilots to operate the more technologically advanced T-7A aircraft.
Recapitalization is needed because the current training practices with
the older T-38C aircraft fail to prepare pilots for the technological
advancements of fourth and fifth generation aircraft.
Recapitalization entails introduction of T-7A aircraft and flight
operations at Columbus AFB to replace all T-38C aircraft assigned to
the installation; introduction of nighttime (between 10 p.m. and 7
a.m.) flight operations; changes to the number of personnel and
dependents in the Columbus AFB region; and construction and upgrade of
support and maintenance facilities. DAF is considering the Proposed
Action, Alternative 1, Alternative 2, and the No Action Alternative.
For the Proposed Action, Columbus AFB would receive 61 T-7A aircraft
and perform sufficient operations for sustaining pilot training while
simultaneously phasing out the T-38C aircraft and phasing in the T-7A
aircraft. Alternative 1 also would result in 61 T-7A aircraft being
delivered to Columbus AFB; however, T-7A operations would be performed
at an intensity approximately 25 percent greater than the Proposed
Action to cover a potential scenario in which DAF requires a surge or
increase in pilot training operations above current plan. For
Alternative 2, Columbus AFB would receive 77 T-7A aircraft to cover a
potential scenario in which another military installation is unable to
accept delivery of all their T-7A aircraft and some of those aircraft
need to be reassigned to Columbus AFB. T-7A operations for Alternative
2 would be performed at an intensity identical to Alternative 1. The No
Action Alternative would not implement T-7A recapitalization at
Columbus AFB.
DAF anticipates potential for the following notable environmental
impacts from the Proposed Action and action alternatives: 1. Increased
air emissions, particularly nitrogen oxides. 2. Increased noise from
aircraft operations because the T-7A is inherently louder than the T-
38C and the addition of nighttime operations may be bothersome to some
residents. Increased noise could have a disproportionate impact on
certain populations and impact off-installation land use compatibility.
3. Increased potential for bird/wildlife aircraft strike hazards. 4.
Construction may have a minor impact on downstream water quality. The
EIS will model air emissions, noise levels, and the number of sleep and
school disturbance events and compare to current conditions. DAF will
also consult with appropriate resource agencies and Native American
tribes to determine the potential for significant impacts. Consultation
will be incorporated into the preparation of the EIS and will include,
but not be limited to, consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act and consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act. Additional analysis will be provided in the Draft
EIS.
Scoping and Agency Coordination: To effectively define the full
range of issues to be evaluated in the EIS, DAF is
[[Page 18001]]
soliciting comments from interested local, state, and federal elected
officials and agencies, Tribes, as well as interested members of the
public and others. Comments are requested on potential alternatives and
impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies, or
analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the
human environment. Concurrent with the publication of this NOI, public
scoping notices will be announced locally. In accordance with DAF
guidance, in-person public scoping meetings will not be held. Public
scoping is being accomplished remotely, in accordance with the 2020
version of 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 1506.6, via the project
website at https://columbus.t-7anepadocuments.com/. The website
provides posters, a presentation, an informational brochure, other
meeting materials, and the capability for the public to provide public
scoping comments. Scoping materials are also available in print at the
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library (314 7th Street North, Columbus,
Mississippi).
Adriane Paris,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-06575 Filed 3-28-22; 8:45 am]
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