Proposed Establishment and Modification of Oregon Military Training Airspace

  • Published
  • By Special Public Affairs Office
  • 173rd Fighter Wing
The purpose of the proposed Oregon Airspace Initiative is to provide properly-configured and located military airspace which will provide efficient, realistic mission-oriented training with adequate size, and within reasonably close proximity, to support advanced 21st century air-to-air tactical fighters and evolving training requirements of the Oregon Air National Guard (ANG).

Several factors have driven the proposed action for establishment and modification of Oregon Military Training Airspace. Among these factors are travel distance and time required to access existing training airspace areas, the frequency of weather conditions which limit the availability of coastal airspace areas for operational training, and finally, the need to modify the configuration and vertical limits in order to effectively meet the needs of the evolving missions and technological advancements of the F-15.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 United States Code [USC] 4321-4347), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508), and 32 CFR Part 989 et seq., Environmental Impact Analysis Process), the NGB will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that considers the potential consequences to the human and natural environment that may result from implementation of this action. The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the EIS was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2013.

Public involvement is of primary importance in complying with NEPA, which requires full and honest disclosure of potential environmental impacts to the public. The Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) provides multiple opportunities for public involvement. The public has an important role in providing input during this process to help the National Guard Bureau (NGB) make more informed decisions about implementing this proposal.

The first opportunity for public involvement is the process called "public scoping." The scoping period for this EIS began with the publication of a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register on May 17, 2013. Scoping meetings will provide the opportunity for the public to engage with the units on the proposed action. Scoping meetings will be held in Tillamook (June 17), Astoria (June 18), Condon (June 19), Burns (June 20), and Prineville (June 21). Please check back on this website for specific meeting locations and time.

Although NGB will continue to take comments throughout the entire EIAP, a second opportunity for public comment will occur following publication of the Draft EIS; to be complete in the months following the scoping meetings.

We have provided on this page, documents and links which explain and highlight details of this Oregon Airspace Initiative proposal. Any questions or comments should be directed to: ang.env.comments@ang.af.mil. Please include "Oregon Airspace Initiative EIS" in the subject line.

OR

By U.S. Mail to:

Robert Dogan, NGB/A7AM

Shepperd Hall

3501 Fetchet Avenue

Joint Base Andrews MD 20762-5157


Details of the Proposed Action

The proposed action includes modification and addition to military training airspace located over northwestern, north-central and south-central Oregon and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, minor portions of the Proposed Action would be located above a small area of northwestern Nevada and the southwestern-most corner of Washington. It is important to note that this Proposed Action would involve airspace only and does not include any project components that would touch or otherwise directly affect the ground or water surface.

In support of the Oregon ANG's 142d and 173d Fighter Wings, the Air Force and the NGB are proposing (Alternative A) to expand, modify, and establish air-to-air training airspace areas in four locations around the state:

1) Proposed expansion of Warning Area 570 (W-570) to the west over the Pacific Ocean (1,000 feet above mean sea level [MSL] to 50,000 MSL);

2) Proposed establishment of the Eel Military Operations Area (MOA) directly underneath the existing Eel Air Traffic Control Assigned Area which is aligned north/south along the Oregon coast from approximately Astoria to Lincoln City and adjacent to W-570 (11,000 MSL to 18,000 MSL);

3) Proposed expansion of the existing Juniper/Hart MOA Complex to the east approximately 20 miles which would extend from approximately Burns to Frenchglen in Oregon and to Big Mountain in northwestern Nevada (11,000 MSL to 18,000 MSL, with the Juniper East Low MOA from 500 feet above ground level to 10,999 MSL); and

4) Proposed establishment of the Redhawk MOA in north central Oregon roughly bounded by Highway 97/197 on the west, the towns of Wasco and Lexington on the north, US Highway 395 on the east, and US Highway 26 on the south (11,000 MSL to 18,000 MSL).

Review more project background and details:

Review the full text of the Notice of Intent (NOI) here.

Review the Oregon Airspace Initiative Maps (Figures 1 - 4) here.