Notice2025-06573
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Homeland Defense Over-the-Radar at Northwest Region
Primary source
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Published
April 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentAir Force Department
Abstract
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed acquisition of land for, and construction and operation of Homeland Defense Over-The-Horizon Radar (HLD-OTHR) transmission and receiver sites in the northwest region of the United States. Oregon Military Department (OMD) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are cooperating agencies pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Once constructed, the HLD-OTHR would provide persistent, long- range early detection capabilities of airborne threats approaching North America. This EIS is prepared to meet the requirements of both NEPA and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. The Unique Identification Number for this EIS is EISX-007-57-UAF-1743672205.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 74 (Friday, April 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 74 (Friday, April 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16513-16514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06573]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Homeland Defense Over-the-Radar at Northwest Region
AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice
of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to
evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with the
proposed acquisition of land for, and construction and operation of
Homeland Defense Over-The-Horizon Radar (HLD-OTHR) transmission and
receiver sites in the northwest region of the United States. Oregon
Military Department (OMD) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are
cooperating agencies pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). Once constructed, the HLD-OTHR would provide persistent, long-
range early detection capabilities of airborne threats approaching
North America. This EIS is prepared to meet the requirements of both
NEPA and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. The Unique
Identification Number for this EIS is EISX-007-57-UAF-1743672205.
DATES: A public scoping period of 45 days will take place starting
from the date of this NOI publication in the Federal Register. The
meetings will be held in the following communities on the following
dates:
1. Mountain Home, Idaho--Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. MT.
2. McDermitt, Nevada--Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. PT.
3. Ontario, Oregon--Thursday, May 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
MT.
4. Christmas Valley, Oregon--Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to
7:00 p.m. PT.
5. Burns, Oregon--Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
PT.
6. Virtual--Monday, May 19, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. MT.
ADDRESSES: Specific locations for public scoping meetings identified in
the DATES section are:
1. American Legion Hall Post 101 at 715 S 3rd Street, Mountain
Home, ID 83647.
2. McDermitt Community Center adjacent to the McDermitt Library at
135 Oregon Road, McDermitt, Nevada 89421.
3. Four Rivers Cultural Center & Museum, 676 SW 5th Ave., Ontario,
Oregon 97914.
[[Page 16514]]
4. Christmas Valley Community Hall, 87345 Holly Lane, Christmas
Valley, Oregon 97641.
5. Burns Chamber of Commerce, Burns, 484 N Broadway Ave., Burns,
Oregon 97720.
6. Teams. Visit <a href="http://www.othrnweis.com">www.othrnweis.com</a> for the meeting link.
Comments can also be submitted through U.S. mail to Attn. OTHR NW
EIS, 3527 S Federal Way, Ste. 103 #1026, Boise, ID 83705.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information on the HLD-
OTHR at Northwest Region EIS can be found on the project website at
<a href="http://www.othrnweis.com">www.othrnweis.com</a>. Inquiries regarding the proposal should be directed
to Austin Naranjo, Mountain Home AFB Public Affairs, 208-828-6800 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#162520205041384657384663747a7f7538577070777f6465566365387770387b7f7a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c2f1f4f48495ec9283ec92b7a0aeaba1ec83a4a4a3abb0b182b7b1eca3a4ecafabae">[email protected]</span></a> with ``OTHR NW EIS'' in the subject
line. For printed material requests, the standard U.S. Postal Service
shipping timeline will apply.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Proposed Action, the DAF would
acquire land for, and construct and operate two HLD-OTHR systems in the
northwest region of the United States. Construction and operation of
the proposed HLD-OTHR would provide enhanced regional long-range, early
detection capability of airborne threats that may be obscured from
conventional line of sight radar systems by the curvature of the Earth.
These threats are difficult to detect and can strike with limited
warning, which reduces the time and response options available to our
national leaders. The Proposed Action is needed because U.S.
adversaries continue to develop and deploy highly advanced weapons
systems capable of disrupting or defeating our military and civilian
targets in North America.
The DAF would acquire land currently owned and managed by OMD and
seek to withdraw land managed by BLM for siting and construction of
these facilities. The acquisition would involve the purchase, lease,
and withdrawal of land, conducted through the DoD Major Land
Acquisition Proposal.
The EIS will analyze the Proposed Action and a No Action
Alternative. Key resources of concern, for which adverse impacts could
occur, include cultural resources, visual resources, and biological
resources. An assessment of potential impacts to all relevant resource
areas will be included in the EIS, including an analysis of
environmental effects that are reasonably foreseeable and have a close
causal relationship to the Proposed Action.
Potential permits that may be required include, but are not limited
to, General Construction and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System. Additionally, the DAF will consult with U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act as well as Oregon
State Historic Preservation Office and federally recognized tribes
regarding Section 106 consultation under the National Historic
Preservation Act.
Please provide comments on alternatives or impacts and on relevant
information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposed action.
Comments will be accepted at any time during the Environmental Impact
Analysis Process; however, to ensure the DAF has sufficient time to
consider public scoping comments during preparation of the Draft EIS,
please submit comments within the 45-day scoping period. Comments
regarding the proposal can be submitted during the scoping meetings,
project website, or see the ADDRESSES section in this document. The
Draft EIS is anticipated in early 2026 and the Final EIS is anticipated
in summer 2027. A decision could be made no earlier than 30 days after
the Final EIS.
The DAF invites the public, stakeholders, and other interested
parties to attend one or more of the five in-person and one virtual
scoping meetings.
Tommy W. Lee,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-06573 Filed 4-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3911-44-P
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