15 March 2002 Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Federal Register: March 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 51)] [Notices] [Page 11678-11679] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15mr02-54] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 [[Page 11679]] 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