F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment - Joint Base Elmendorf ...

F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment
Executive Summary
Airspace. An increase in average sonic booms by an estimated one to three booms per month
would occur under MOAs used for training. Alaska Natives who live under or spend extensive
time subsistence hunting and fishing under these MOAs could discern the additional sonic
booms. The increased frequency of sonic booms would not be expected to affect land use or
land use patterns, ownership, or management, but the increase has the potential to cause
additional annoyance to residents and long-term users of the lands under the affected airspace.
Socioeconomics
Base. The addition of 103 Air Force personnel to support the additional six F-22 primary
aircraft represents less than one percent of JBER employment. The potential population,
employment, income, and output associated with an addition of less than one percent of the
personnel and no new construction would be expected to result in no measurable effect upon
the regional economy. The Anchorage housing market with approximately 6,700 vacant units
and a 6.0 percent vacancy rate would be expected to easily absorb the additional personnel.
Airspace. There would be no discernible effects on social or economic conditions under the
airspace. The projected increase in sonic booms may annoy individuals participating in
subsistence or recreational hunting or fishing. This would not be expected to significantly affect
activities under the airspace or local economies that rely on subsistence resources. The Air
Force has established procedures for any damage claims associated with sonic booms that begin
by contacting the JBER Public Affairs Office.
Environmental Justice
Base. Federal agencies are required by law to address potential impacts of their actions on
environmental and human health conditions in minority and low-income communities.
Furthermore, they must identify and assess environmental health and safety risks that may
disproportionately affect children. The low-income communities and the minority and youth
population near JBER were evaluated. The off-base community of Mountain View has a
concentration of minority and low-income population. The proportion and type of JBER flight
operations from the main and cross-wind runways are performed to avoid the extension of 65
dB L dn noise contours into the Mountain View community. No off-base significant noise
impacts are expected to minority or low-income communities. There would be no health and
safety risks to children.
Airspace. High proportions of Alaska Natives who live under the airspace are representative of
rural populations throughout the state. Persons living under the airspace, particularly the
Stony MOAs, could notice or be annoyed by increased sonic booms. This change in sonic
booms by an additional one to three per month would not be expected to damage health or
other environmental resources. No disproportionately high or adverse impacts to minority or
low-income communities would result from increased F-22 training. There would be no health
and safety risks to children.
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