Final Environmental Assessment for the Installation of a Range Safety Lighting System at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida.

摘要

Proposed Action: The Proposed Action is for the Air Force to install an RSLS around the perimeter of the north and south range complexes at APAFR to allow pilots conducting nighttime ordnance training to easily see APAFR. The RSLS would consist of 30 green and infrared spectrum lights elevated on 10-foot poles and evenly spaced around the perimeter of the north and south ranges. The lights would be operated one to two nights per week for up to a few hours. Air Force Instruction (AFI) 13-212, Range Planning and Operations (Section 4.15, Night Operations), states that Class B ranges must have light patterns to ensure positive range and target area identification unless an Operational Risk Management Assessment (ORMA) has determined otherwise. Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative): Similar to the Proposed Action, Alternative 1 would install the RSLS but utilize exclusionary mapping to site the individual lights away from wetlands, floodplains, protected species and other resources in order to avoid as many environmental effects as possible. No Action Alternative: Under this alternative, the Air Force would follow procedures set forth in an ORMA to establish and maintain safe conditions for nighttime ordnance training.