[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 182 (Thursday, September 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54139-54140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21880]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent

AGENCY: United States Air Force, Air Mobility Command, Federal Aviation 
Administration.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321--4347; 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508; and 32 
CFR part 989.

SUMMARY: The Air Force issues this notice to advise the public of its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Beddown and Flight Operations of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at Grand 
Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The EIS will assess the potential 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed beddown and flight 
operations of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) at Grand Forks Air Force 
Base (GFAFB). The proposal responds to the 2005 Base Realignment and 
Closure (BRAC) decision to beddown the emerging UAS mission at GFAFB 
and entails restructuring airspace in the vicinity of GFAFB to allow 
for the safe training and operations of UASs. Additional information is 
available at the project Web site listed below.

DATES: Four scoping meetings will be held as follows:
    1. October 6, 2008; 4 p.m., Grand Forks, ND.

[[Page 54140]]

    2. October 7, 2008; 4 p.m., Devils Lake, ND.
    3. October 8, 2008; 4 p.m., Langdon, ND.
    4. October 9, 2008, 4 p.m., Carrington, ND.

ADDRESSES: 1. Grand Forks--Red River High School, 2211 17th Avenue.
    2. Devils Lake--Lake Region State College, Dining Room, 1801 
College Drive.
    3. Langdon--North Dakota State University, Langdon Research 
Extension Center, 9280 107th Ave NE.
    4. Carrington--Carrington High School Common Area, 100 3rd Ave S.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Doug Allbright, 618-229-0846.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Headquarters Air Mobility Command (HQ AMC), 
the Air National Guard (ANG), the Air Combat Command (ACC) and the 
319th Airlift Refueling Wing (319 ARW) would provide the required 
equipment, facilities, necessary infrastructure, staffing and airspace 
to support the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision to 
beddown the emerging UAS mission at GFAFB. The Federal Aviation 
Administration is participating in this process as a Cooperating 
Agency.
    The proposed action, Alternative A, would restructure airspace in 
the vicinity of GFAFB to allow for the safe training and operations of 
UASs. These modifications would include establishing a restricted area 
above GFAFB, converting a portion of the existing Tiger and Devils Lake 
Military Operations Areas (MOAs) to restricted airspace, expanding the 
Camp Grafton restricted area (R-5401) for the use of non-eye safe 
lasers, and creating restricted corridors to link the training areas 
with GFAFB. Use of non-eye safe lasers at Camp Grafton would be 
contained within the existing land boundaries of Camp Grafton. These 
airspace changes would allow UAS pilots to receive the training 
necessary to remain proficient in operating these aircraft.
    Alternatives: Three action alternatives and a no-action alternative 
have initially been identified for analysis, they include:
    Alternative A: This alternative consists converting a portion of 
the Tiger and Devils Lake MOAs to restricted airspace, creating four 
new restricted airspace areas and expanding airspace at Camp Grafton. 
The new areas consist of a UAS arrival and departure airspace area, two 
Predator transit corridors, and a north-south Predator access corridor. 
Existing restricted airspace above Camp Grafton would be expanded for 
use of the non-eye safe Predator laser. Minor building renovations and 
the installation of two aviation fuel tanks at GFAFB would also be 
required.
    Alternative B: This alternative consists of converting the entire 
Tiger and Devils Lake MOAs to restricted airspace, establishing three 
new restricted areas and expanding airspace at Camp Grafton for use of 
the non-eye safe Predator laser. The new airspace would consist of a 
UAS arrival and departure airspace area and two Predator transit 
corridors. The minor renovation and tank installation would also occur 
under this alternative.
    Alternative C: This alternative consists of the actions proposed in 
Alternative A along with the construction of a new UAS hangar at GFAFB.
    No Action: This alternative consists of no changes to the existing 
airspace structure around GFAFB and no renovation or construction would 
occur at GFAFB to accommodate the 2005 BRAC recommendations.
    Direct written comments to: HQ AMC/A7PI, 507 Symington Drive; Scott 
Air Force Base, Illinois 62225 or via the project Web site at: http://www.grandforksuaseis.com. All are encouraged to provide comments on the 
proposed action either at the scoping meetings or by mail, postmarked 
no later than 30 October 2008 to ensure proper consideration in the 
environmental impact analyses.

Bao-Anh Trinh,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-21880 Filed 9-17-08; 8:45 am]
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