Draft Supplemental EA Evaluates Proposed New Landing and Drop Zones for Personnel Recovery Training in Central and Southern Arizona

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DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 355th Fighter Wing released the 563rd Rescue Group Personnel Recovery Supplemental Environmental Assessment today for public review and comment. A 30-day comment period follows the release of the document. The comment period will end Monday, May 4, 2015.

The draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed increase in the number of helicopter landing zone (HLZ) and drop zone (DZ) sites available for personnel recovery training use by the U.S. Air Force.  There would be no increase in flights departing from or returning to D-M as part of this action.    

Of the 20 identified and evaluated sites, the Air Force proposes using 16 for routine personnel recovery training events and exercises.  The HLZ/DZs are located in a variety of settings on state and Federal lands throughout southern and central Arizona.  Sites are located in six counties: Cochise, Gila, Graham, Pima, Pinal and Santa Cruz. 

The Draft Rescue Group SEA can be viewed by the end of April 2nd at http://www.dm.af.mil, and will be available at the following regional libraries:
Cochise County: Elsie S. Hogan Community Library, 100 North Curtis Avenue, Willcox, AZ 85643
Gila County: Globe Public Library, 339 South Broad Street, Globe, AZ 85501
Graham County:  Safford City Graham Library, 808 South Seventh Avenue, Safford, AZ 85546
Pima County: Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 North Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701
Pinal County: Oracle Public Library, 565 American Avenue, Oracle, AZ 85623
Santa Cruz County: Nogales-Rochlin Library, 518 North Grand Avenue, Nogales, AZ 85621

Public comments must be submitted in writing by Monday, May 4, 2015, either via e-mail to 355fw.pa.comment@us.af.mil, or by mail to: ATTN: RESCUE SEA COMMENT, 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 3405 S Fifth Street, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona 85707.

All comments will be considered before the SEA is finalized.

Contact the 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office with any questions at 520-228-3378.

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563d Rescue Group Draft SEA (4,167 KB)
----Appendix A: Consultation Letters (594 KB)
----Appendix B: Project Area (5,089 KB)
----Appendix C: Airspace Descriptions (354 KB)
----Appendix D: Threatened & Endangered Species List (973 KB)

Final EA for West Coast Combat Search and Rescue Beddown - June 2002 (15.63 MB)