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

F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................. Inside Back Cover
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. ES-1
1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR F-22 PLUS-UP AT JBER ........................................................... 1-1
1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1.1 Aircraft Characteristics of the F-22.......................................................................... 1-3
1.1.2 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)............................................................... 1-5
1.2 Purpose of F-22 Plus-Up at JBER ......................................................................................... 1-5
1.3 Need for the F-22 Plus-Up at JBER ...................................................................................... 1-6
2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ............................ 2-1
2.1 Proposed Action Elements Affecting JBER-Elmendorf ......................................................... 2-2
2.1.1 JBER-Elmendorf Flight Activities ........................................................................... 2-2
2.1.2 JBER-Elmendorf Facilities ...................................................................................... 2-3
2.1.3 JBER-Elmendorf Personnel ..................................................................................... 2-5
2.2 Proposed Action Elements Affecting Alaskan Airspace ............................................................ 2-5
2.2.1 F-22 Training Flights Within Alaskan Airspace .................................................... 2-12
2.2.2 Air-to-Ground Training .......................................................................................... 2-14
2.2.3 Defensive Countermeasures ................................................................................... 2-14
2.3 Alternatives Considered But Not Carried Forward ............................................................. 2-16
2.3.1 Alternative Locations ............................................................................................. 2-16
2.3.2 Alternative Flight Operations at JBER .................................................................. 2-16
2.4 No Action Alternative ......................................................................................................... 2-16
2.5 Environmental Impact Analysis Process ............................................................................. 2-17
2.5.1 EA Organization .................................................................................................... 2-17
2.5.2 Scope of Resource Analysis ................................................................................... 2-18
2.5.3 Public and Agency Input ........................................................................................ 2-18
2.6 Regulatory Compliance ....................................................................................................... 2-19
2.6.1 National Environmental Policy Act ....................................................................... 2-19
2.6.2 Endangered Species Act ......................................................................................... 2-19
2.6.3 Cultural Resources Regulatory Requirements ....................................................... 2-20
2.6.4 Clean Air Act ......................................................................................................... 2-20
2.6.5 Other Regulatory Requirements ............................................................................. 2-21
2.7 Environmental Comparison of the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative ............... 2-21
3.0 BASE AND TRAINING AIRSPACE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .................................... 3-1
3.1 Airspace Management and Air Traffic Control .................................................................... 3-1
3.1.1 Base Airfield and Vicinity Existing Conditions ....................................................... 3-1
3.1.2 Training Airspace Existing Conditions .................................................................... 3-2
3.2 Noise ..................................................................................................................................... 3-6
3.2.1 Noise Characteristics and Measures......................................................................... 3-6
3.2.2 Base Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 3-9
3.2.3 Training Airspace Existing Conditions .................................................................. 3-14
3.3 Safety .................................................................................................................................. 3-17
3.3.1 Base Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-17
3.3.2 Training Airspace Existing Conditions .................................................................. 3-22
3.4 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................... 3-26
3.4.1 Base Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-28
3.4.2 Training Airspace Air Quality Existing Conditions ............................................... 3-30
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