Notice of Availability

  • Published
  • By Mike Walton
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  Interested parties are hereby notified that the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has prepared a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for implementation of the General Plan (GP) at Arnold Air Force Base (AFB), Tennessee.

Statutory Authority. This notice is being issued to interested parties in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (Public Law [PL] 91-190, 42 U.S. Code 4321 et seq.) as amended in 1975 by PL 94-52 and PL 94-83.

Purpose. The general purpose of the Proposed Action is 1) to improve Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) test capabilities and support facilities by upgrading existing facilities; 2) to bolster military personnel morale and skills by providing modern on-site training and health fitness facilities; and 3) to reduce the physical footprint of AEDC by demolishing obsolete test cells, supporting facilities and associated equipment that are no longer required.

Proposed Action. The Proposed Action would involve implementation of 13 demolition projects and 19 construction projects identified in the Arnold AFB General Plan. All of these projects would occur within the boundaries of Arnold AFB, with the majority occurring within the AEDC industrial area.  The results of this Draft PEA indicate that the Proposed Action would not have a significant effect on the environment and that a
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) would be appropriate.  One construction project to upgrade the perimeter road within the industrial area would affect approximately 0.03 acres of wetlands and would result in a Finding of No Practical Alternative (FONPA).  The road could not be sited such that it would both avoid impacts to wetlands and accomplish its purpose of providing unimpeded access to the fence line.  Measures will be implemented to mitigate impacts to levels of insignificance via coordination with all appropriate federal, state, and local agencies.  The USAF will conduct project-specific consultations on a case-by-case basis as funding is received to implement projects evaluated in this PEA. 

Comments. The Draft PEA will be available for review for 30 days beginning 31 July 2015 and ending on 31 August 2015 on the AEDC website at http://www.arnold.af.mil  .  Public comments and inquiries about the Draft PEA should be directed to Mr. Troy Morris, 100 Kindel Drive Suite B-311, Arnold AFB, TN 37389-2322 or submitted via e-mail to troy.morris.1@us.af.mil. 

-AEDC-