Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Airborne Laser Program at Kirtland AFB, White Sands Missile Range/ Holloman AFB, New Mexico; Edwards AFB, Vandenberg AFB, California.

摘要

This Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to analyze the potential environmental consequences of the Proposed Action and No-Action Alternative. The environmental consequences of testing the ABL were analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Program Definition and Risk Reduction Phase of the Airborne Laser Program, dated April 1997. Since that date, the proposed test activities have been refined sufficiently to warrant analysis in a supplemental EIS. Changes to the test activities that support a supplemental analysis include the addition of a second ABL aircraft, refinement of both ground- and flight-test activities, and analysis of the potential for laser energy to continue off the test ranges. The document includes analysis of local community, airspace, health and safety, hazardous materials and hazardous waste management air quality, noise, biological resources, cultural resources, and socioeconomics. The Proposed Action involves both ground-level and flight testing of the ABL systems. Two ABL aircraft (Block 04 and Block 08 aircraft) would be utilized during test activities. Software upgrades to the Block 2004 aircraft would be tested and added to that test article under a Block 2006 effort. Once upgraded with the newer operating system the Block 2004 aircraft would be designated as the Block 2006 aircraft. Ground-testing activities would be conducted at Edwards AFB within the installations' boundaries and on existing test ranges. Kirtland AFB and WSMR/Holloman AFB have been identified as alternative ground-test locations in the event ground tests cannot be conducted at Edwards AFB. Flight test activities would be conducted at WSMR including FAA-coordinated airspace and airspace utilized by Fort Bliss, at R- 2508 Airspace Complex utilized by Edwards AFB, and at the Western Range over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Vandenberg AFB.