Air Force Public Scoping Hearings

U.S. AIR FORCE ISSUES NOTICE OF INTENT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND TO HOLD PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS ON THE PROPOSED AIRSPACE OPTIMIZATION FOR READINESS FOR MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho – The U.S. Air Force will hold public scoping meetings regarding a proposed airspace optimization for Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

The meetings will be arranged in a “come and go,” open house format. The meetings will provide information about the proposal and accept written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Airspace modification will allow the Air Force to provide more realistic and efficient airspace training. It will also improve aircrew proficiency in low-altitude tactics and radar masking in mountainous terrain and improve pilot survivability. There are a few proposed airspace modifications that include:

1) changing low-altitude airspace floors that currently prohibit realistic low-altitude training certification and maintenance training and negatively impact vertical capability and capacity,

2) providing consistent low-level operational floors for low-altitude flights to allow use of topographic features of mountainous terrain to mask the aircraft and safely neutralize or avoid technologically advanced threats, and

3) allowing aircrews to descend at supersonic speed and to fly at lower supersonic altitudes so they can realistically train on evasive maneuvers.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Air Force will analyze potential environmental consequences associated with optimizing available Mountain Home Air Force Base airspace. Alternatives that address the training requirements will be defined as reasonable alternatives for analysis in the EIS. The analysis will also include the No Action Alternative, which provides a benchmark to enable Air Force decision makers to compare the magnitude of the potential environmental effects of the proposed action. An alternative will not be selected until after the EIS is complete. For more information, please visit the project website: www.mountainhomeafbairspaceeis.com.

Notification of the proposed action and a request for comment will be published in the Federal Register and various media in local communities potentially affected by the proposed action. To gather further input regarding the scope of the proposed action and alternatives, the Air Force will hold a series of public scoping meetings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates:

November 4, 2019

McDermitt Combined School, 100 Olavarria Street, McDermitt, Nevada

November 6, 2019

The Riverside Hotel, 2900 West Chinden Boulevard, Boise, Idaho

November 7, 2019

Grand View Elementary School, 205 1st Street, Grand View, Idaho

November 8, 2019

Mountain Home Junior High School, 1600 East 6th South, Mountain Home, Idaho

The open house sessions are an opportunity for community members to speak with Air Force personnel one-on-one to learn more about the mission. No formal presentation will be given. All members of the public are invited. Written comments are encouraged. Public input supports the Air Force in making better informed decisions.

Scoping comments can be submitted in person at the scoping meetings, via the project website or by U.S. Mail at the address below. A comment form is available on the project website (www.mountainhomeafbairspaceeis.com). Although comments will be accepted throughout the environmental impact analysis process, public input must be received by November 25, 2019 to ensure consideration in the Draft EIS. Mail written comments to:

Mountain Home AFB Airspace Optimization EIS

1740 East Fairview Avenue, PMB 20 Meridian, Idaho 83642

For further information, please contact:

366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

366 Gunfighter Ave, Bldg 512, Ste 2014 Mountain Home AFB, ID 83648

Phone: 208-828-6800; Email: 366fw.pa.public.affairs@us.af.mil