[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2803-2804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1533]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Enhanced Training In Idaho Mountain Home AFB, ID

    The United States Air Force intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the proposed action regarding the 
establishment of a tactical training range in Owyhee County, Idaho 
supporting enhanced training for Mountain Home AFB and the Idaho Air 
National Guard. In conjunction with the range, modification of airspace 
would occur in the state of Idaho and Nevada. This proposal will be 
known as Enhanced Training in Idaho (ETI).
    The Air Force proposes to establish the ETI in the eastern half of 
Owyhee County, Idaho, near Clover Butte. This proposal would establish 
a series of target areas including one tactical range, five simulated 
bombing target areas and a series of 30 emitter sites to compliment 
existing assets and allow various training opportunities.
    The ETI would consist of a 12,000-acre tactical range designed to 
provide aircrews with a realistic target array that allows simultaneous 
attacks from any axis. Only small training munitions would be expended 
on the tactical range. In addition, the Air Force would establish five 
simulated bombing sites on which no ordnance would be expended. The 
simulated bombing target areas would consist of two industrial 
complexes with a railyard, two Surface-to-Air Missile sites, and a 
Forward Edge of Battle Area array. Four of the simulated bombing areas 
would each cover 5-acres and the remaining area would cover 1-square 
mile.
    In addition to the target areas, the Air Force would establish ten 
1-acre emitter sites and twenty 0.25-acre emitter sites. These emitter 
sites would allow the placement of simulated enemy threat radars to 
provide aircrews with a diverse target/threat array. In total, the 
proposed ETI would supplement the existing range facilities, and allow 
various target numbers and locations to provide realism and simulate 
anticipated combat conditions.
    Airspace actions associated with the ETI would permit more 
efficient utilization of the airspace and range assets. The proposal 
includes expansion of the Owyhee Military Operations Area (MOA) to the 
north and expansion of the Paradise East MOA to the southeast to join 
the Owyhee MOA. Restricted airspace would be restructured within 

[[Page 2804]]
the ETI area by eliminating R-3202B and R-3202C, elevating the ceiling 
of R-3202A to 29,000 MSL and establishing new restricted airspace 
around the 12,000-acre tactical range.
    In addition to the proposed action, two alternatives will be 
considered: the no action alternative, and a 12,000-acre tactical range 
similar to the proposed range, but located further west, near Grasmere.
    The Air Force will conduct public scoping meetings to assist it in 
determining the issues and concerns that should be addressed in the 
EIS. Notice of time and place of the scoping meetings will be made to 
public officials and announced in the news media in areas where the 
scoping meetings will be held.
    To assure there will be sufficient time to consider public inputs 
on issues to be included in developing the EIS when attendance at the 
scoping meetings is not possible, comments should be forwarded to the 
addressee below by April 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lt Col R. Oholendt, Air Combat Command 
Airspace and Range Management Division, HQ ACC/DOR, Langley Air Force 
Base, Virginia 23665; Telephone (804) 764-6026.
Patsy J. Conner,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-1533 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
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