DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Personnel Recovery Training Program has been released and a public comment period has been opened.
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) announces the availability of and invites public comments on its Draft EA evaluating the proposed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) Personnel Recovery (PR) Training Program. The Proposed Action includes routine and specialized formal training for PR forces as a well as large-force joint/multi-national exercises centered out of Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and hosted by various organizations depending on the PR training event. Comprehensive PR training would involve ground, flight, and water activities. The proposed PR training would utilize training sites on federal, state, municipal, or private property that have been previously disturbed and that are currently or were previously used for activities similar to those defined under the Proposed Action and the No-Action Alternative across four states: Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Overall there are 179 proposed PR training sites that may be utilized, 154 of which are already authorized and used for PR training. Under the Proposed Action, 25 additional sites would be authorized for use, and the range of authorized PR training activities on some current sites would be expanded to include additional activities.
The USAF invites public participation through this solicitation for comments on the Draft EA and unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Comments are invited and will be accepted through Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. The Draft EA and FONSI are available on the internet at https://www.dm.af.mil/ under “Environmental Assessment.” Written comments regarding the Draft EA and FONSI should be directed by mail to Mr. Kevin Wakefield, 355 CES/CEIE, 3775 South 5th Street, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ 85707-4927.
Copies of the Draft EA and FONSI are available for review at the following locations as well as attached:
Arizona: Burton Barr Central Library, Phoenix, AZ; Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library, Main Library, Flagstaff, AZ; Himmel Park Library, Tucson, AZ; Dr. Fernando Escalante Community Library and Resource Center, Tucson, AZ; Quincie Douglas Library, Tucson, AZ; Salazar-Ajo Library, Ajo, AZ; Venito Garcia Library and Archives, Sells, AZ; University of Arizona, Main Library, Tucson.
California: Point Loma/Hervey Library, San Diego, CA; Ocean Beach Library, San Diego, CA; Paradise Hills Library, San Diego, CA; Mission Valley Library, San Diego, CA.
Nevada: Clark County Library, Las Vegas, NV; East Las Vegas Library, NV; Summerlin Library, Las Vegas, NV.
New Mexico: Glenwood Library, Glenwood, NM; Lordsburg-Hidalgo Library, NM; Silver City Public Library, Silver City, NM; Marshall Memorial Library, Deming, NM.
This Draft EA is provided for public comment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 CFR §§1500-1508, and 32 CFR §989, Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP). Public commenting on the analysis and consideration of environmental impacts allows the USAF to make better, informed decisions.
The USAF will consider all substantive comments, which include comments that challenge the environmental analysis, methodologies, or information in the Draft EA as being inaccurate or inadequate; identify impacts not analyzed, or mitigations not considered. Non-substantive comments are considered those the express a conclusion, an opinion, or a vote for or against the proposal or some aspect of it, state a political position, or otherwise state a personal preference.
PRIVACY ADVISORY NOTICE
Letters or other written comments provided may be published in the EA and made available to the public. Providing personal information is voluntary. Only the names of the individuals making comments and specific comments will be disclosed; personal home addresses and phone numbers will not be published in the EA.