F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment - Joint Base Elmendorf ...
F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment - Joint Base Elmendorf ...
F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment - Joint Base Elmendorf ...
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SECTION 7 (ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT)<br />
COMPLIANCE WILDLIFE ANALYSIS FOR F-<strong>22</strong> PLUS-<br />
UP ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, JOINT BASE<br />
ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON (JBER), ALASKA<br />
1.1 Introduction<br />
The United States Air Force (Air Force) is preparing an F-<strong>22</strong> <strong>Plus</strong>-<strong>Up</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong><br />
<strong>Assessment</strong> (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of the proposal to add<br />
six primary and one back-up F-<strong>22</strong> aircraft to the <strong>Joint</strong> <strong>Base</strong> <strong>Elmendorf</strong>-Richardson (JBER) F-<strong>22</strong><br />
inventory, an increase in primary aircraft of approximately 17 percent.<br />
1.2 Purpose and Need for F-<strong>22</strong> <strong>Plus</strong>-<strong>Up</strong> at JBER<br />
In 2006 the Air Force selected <strong>Elmendorf</strong> Air Force <strong>Base</strong> (AFB), Alaska, as the location for the<br />
Second F-<strong>22</strong> Operational Wing [F-<strong>22</strong> Beddown <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> (EA), <strong>Elmendorf</strong>,<br />
Alaska, and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), date 2006].<br />
1.2.1 Purpose for F-<strong>22</strong> <strong>Plus</strong>-<strong>Up</strong> at JBER<br />
On July 29, 2010, the Department of the Air Force announced actions to consolidate the F-<strong>22</strong><br />
fleet. The Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force determined that the<br />
most effective basing for the F-<strong>22</strong> requires redistributing aircraft from one Holloman AFB, New<br />
Mexico F-<strong>22</strong> squadron to existing F-<strong>22</strong> units at JBER; Langley AFB, Virginia; and Nellis AFB,<br />
Nevada. The second Holloman AFB F-<strong>22</strong> squadron would be relocated to Tyndall AFB, Florida,<br />
an existing F-<strong>22</strong> base. This consolidation would maximize combat aircraft and squadrons<br />
available for contingencies, and enhance F-<strong>22</strong> operational flexibility (Air Force 2010). The<br />
purpose of the proposed plus-up of F-<strong>22</strong> aircraft at JBER is to provide additional Air Force<br />
capabilities at a strategic location to meet mission responsibilities for worldwide deployment.<br />
1.2.2 Need for F-<strong>22</strong> <strong>Plus</strong>-<strong>Up</strong> at JBER<br />
Two squadrons of F-15C aircraft and one squadron of F-15E aircraft were relocated from JBER<br />
between 2005 and 2010. Since World War II, JBER has provided an advanced location on U.S.<br />
soil for projection of U.S. global interests. Additional F-<strong>22</strong> aircraft are needed at JBER to<br />
provide U.S. Air Force capability to respond efficiently to national objectives, be available for<br />
contingencies, and enhance F-<strong>22</strong> operational flexibility.<br />
1.3 Project Description<br />
The Proposed Action is to augment the existing F-<strong>22</strong> Operational Wing at JBER with six primary<br />
aircraft and one backup aircraft. This augmentation, when added to the existing JBER 36<br />
primary and three back-up F-<strong>22</strong> aircraft, would result in two F-<strong>22</strong> squadrons with 21 primary<br />
and two back-up aircraft each. Addition of the six primary and one back-up F-<strong>22</strong> aircraft would<br />
F-<strong>22</strong> <strong>Plus</strong>-<strong>Up</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> Wildlife Analysis<br />
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