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Regular Agenda Item 2. N.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	03/01/2022
Submitted By:	Jacque Sanders, Deputy County Manager/Librarian
Department:	Deputy County Mgr/Library District

Information

Request/Subject

Provide Comment Letter on the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Regional Special Use Airspace Optimization to Support Air Force Missions in Arizona.

Background Information

On January 18, 2022, the Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force published in the Federal Register, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Regional Special Use Airspace Optimization to Support Air Force Missions in Arizona. The scoping period began at that time. The Air Force is soliciting comments on the potential alternatives to the Proposed Action and information or analyses relevant to the Proposed Action. Comments can be made at public meetings, submitted online at the project website (www.ArizonaRegionaAirspacesEIS.com), or by mailing to: Arizona Regional Airspace EIS, c/o Cardno, 501 Butler Farm Rd., Suite H, Hampton, VA 23666. To ensure full consideration of all comments in preparing the Draft EIS, comments should be submitted by March 4, 2022.

The Air Force proposes to modify existing Military Operations Areas (commonly referred to as MOAs) available to aircrews stationed at Davis Monthan and Luke Air Force Bases and Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona. There are currently ten existing Air Force MOAs in Arizona and New Mexico that are available to these bases. The 'Outlaw' and 'Jackal' MOAs are over adjacent areas in Gila County.

Evaluation

There are four alternatives under consideration for this EIS. While the EIS speaks to all ten MOAs, the evaluation will consider only those impacts to the Outlaw and Jackal MOAs.

Alternative 1 - represents no action and no changes.

Alternative 2 - is to fully optimize ten existing MOAs, including lowering the floors of Outlaw and Jackal to 500 feet above ground level (from the existing 3,000 ft), lowering the altitude for releasing flares to 2,000 feet (from the existing 3,000 ft) and authorizing supersonic flight at 5,000 feet (from the existing 30,000 ft).

Alternative 3 - is a variation of Alternative 2, which would include those modifications proposed for Alternative 2, but which would lower the floor of the Jackal MOA to 100 feet.

Alternative 4 - is a variation of Alternative 2, which would include those modifications proposed for Alternative 2, but which would authorize supersonic flight at 10,000 feet for Outlaw and Jackal MOAs (from the existing 30,000 ft)

Conclusion

Official comments to this Scoping Period for this EIS will be considered part of the public record as this process moves forward.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors consider issuing official comments during this scoping period.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to consider issuing official comments from the Board of Supervisors regarding the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Regional Special Use Airspace Optimization to Support Air Force Missions in Arizona. (Jacque Sanders)

Attachments
Air Force EIS Comment Ltr 2022
Federal Register Jan. 18, 2022