1.1 NEED AND PURPOSE FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION
1.1.1 NEED
1. To enhance the national defense, the USAF plans to test its
existing ground-based radar systems for detecting potential inbound
missile threats. To accomplish this, the USAF must realistically
simulate inbound missile threat trajectories from potential Pacific
Basin adversaries. To meet this requirement, the USAF proposes
the USAF ait program, with test objectives that mandate
a trajectory that is capable of specific azimuths and altitudes
to provide a threat-like scenario to existing operational ground-based
radars. These operational ground-based radars will observe and
evaluate the simulated inbound threat trajectory of the USAF ait
sub_orbital test vehicles.
2. Two existing USAF radar systems have high potential for NMD
application. The upgraded PAVE PAWS radar located at Beale AFB,
California is a wide-looking potential target detection element
of a future NMD system. The HAVE STARE tracking radar located
at Vandenberg AFB, California represents a candidate design to
perform the narrow-looking, target tracking radar role in a future
NMD system. To fully understand the utility of these radars in
an NMD role, the USAF plans to integrate and test these systems
using realistic threat scenarios. California is the only location
where these radars are close enough to be tested together. The
PAVE PAWS radar initially detects an incoming target and hands
over specific target tracking to the HAVE STARE.
1.1.2 PURPOSE
The purpose of the proposed action is to evaluate the performance
and utility of existing radar systems to support potential low_cost,
low_risk NMD architectures. This is the USAF NMD initiative. Testing
the operational ground-based radar system requires the launch
of a test vehicle that can be simultaneously detected and tracked
by both systems. The USAF ait program will allow the evaluation
of the systems' capabilities to simultaneously acquire and accurately
track the test vehicle and to manage data.
1.2 ALTERNATIVE SELECTION CRITERIA
To support the USAF ait program, an alternative must meet the following criteria:
Radar Coverage: Must allow simulation of inbound hostile threat trajectories, and confirm the ability of existing U.S. early warning PAVE PAWS and HAVE STARE radar sites in California to detect the test vehicle.
Overflight: Must avoid overflight of populated areas and minimize overflights of environmentally sensitive areas.
Logistics: Must be supportable year-round using existing transportation infrastructure, such as air cargo and barge systems.
Weather: Must provide weather conditions compatible with the launch of sub-orbital solid rocket motor test vehicles.
Range: Must provide launch capability within a maximum of 2,000 kilometers (km) from the radar coverage area to accommodate the range of the two-stage USAF ait test vehicle and to provide desired trajectories into the early warning radar coverage.
Launch Capability: Must be capable of using the existing proven,
low_cost, low_risk USAF ait test vehicle.
1.3 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
1. Requirements of NEPA and the implementing regulations of the
President's CEQ require federal agencies (e.g., the USAF)
to evaluate the impact that their proposed actions would have
on the environment. The purpose of this EA is to fulfill those
requirements for the USAF ait program and to make the USAF
decision makers aware of potential environmental consequences
of proposed action and alternatives.
2. Several potential alternatives were considered but eliminated
from further detailed analysis in this EA based upon selection
criteria described above developed for this proposed action. As
explained more fully below, based on the evaluation of potential
alternatives, only the AADC commercial spaceport on Kodiak Island,
Alaska, will meet the selection criteria for the USAF ait
program. The construction and operation of AADC's KLC was the
subject of an EA conducted by the FAA. The FAA EA for KLC was
completed in June 1996 and a FONSI (Attachment 1) was signed for
the KLC site by the FAA in October 1996. To avoid a repetitive
discussion of the environmental issues associated with AADC's
construction and operation of KLC previously discussed in the
FAA EA, and to focus the USAF decision making process on the issues
associated with the USAF ait program, the USAF adopts the
FAA EA analysis and findings regarding the construction and operation
of KLC. The FAA is a cooperating agency for the USAF ait
EA. The location of the KLC site is shown in Figure 1.1.
3. To assist in identification of the scope of the EA for the
USAF ait program, the USAF conducted a scoping process
to solicit input from the public regarding issues that were considered
during preparation of the EA. Through a series of public announcements,
press releases, purchased newspaper display advertisements that
appeared in the Kodiak Daily Mirror, on August 18 and September
3, 1997 (see Appendix A) and an Internet notice, the USAF requested
review and comment from the public. A summary of the issues raised
during the scoping process is provided in Appendix A of this USAF
EA. In addition to the public scoping process, the USAF consulted
with federal and state agencies.
4. Potential impacts associated with the two sub-orbital launches
of the USAF ait test vehicles are identified and analyzed
herein. In addition to the FAA EA, this EA addresses environmental
impacts associated with the launch of two USAF ait test
vehicles, including an analysis of air quality, biological resources,
noise, health and safety, and hazardous materials. This analysis
will result in either a FONSI or a finding that an EIS must be prepared.
1.4 DECISION TO BE MADE
The decision to be made regarding the USAF ait program is whether to:
Proceed with the two sub-orbital launches of the USAF ait test vehicle from KLC to challenge the existing ground_based radar systems' ability to rapidly acquire and accurately track the test vehicle, as well as the systems' capabilities to manage data.
Take no action (i.e., No Action alternative) and not launch the
two USAF ait test vehicles and not conduct the test of
the existing ground-based radar system.
1.5 PERMITS, APPROVALS AND CONSULTATIONS
1. The FAA and AADC have or are obtaining various permits and
approvals for operation of the KLC. Table 1.1 lists these
permits and approvals pertinent to the USAF ait program.
The USAF is working directly with FAA and with the appropriate
agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] and National
Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS]) to assure that the ait program
is in compliance with federal and state regulations, including
the permits and approvals obtained by AADC.
2. Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies
to consult with the USFWS to determine if their actions have the
potential to impact threatened or endangered species. Based on
the recent listing of the Steller's eider as a threatened species,
the USAF has completed informal Section 7 consultation with the
USFWS for the USAF ait program. In addition, the USAF
has completed informal consultation with the NMFS regarding the
Steller sea lion, which NMFS reclassified from threatened to endangered
effective June 1997.
3. The USAF is also addressing the issues of air space and maritime
traffic. The USAF is coordinating with the FAA regarding commercial
airspace corridors, and the FAA is a cooperating agency for this
EA. The USAF is working with the U.S. Coast Guard on maritime
traffic impacts.
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