MH2 MOUNTAIN HOME AFB ALTERNATIVE
Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and its associated training airspace represent one of five Air Force
basing locations for the beddown of the Initial F-22 Operational Wing. This section describes the
elements of the alternative that could affect both the base and the associated airspace.
MH2.1 Mountain Home AFB: Base
The four elements with the potential to affect Mountain Home AFB include (1) drawdown
(removal) of F-15Cs and beddown of F-22s, (2) sorties by F-22s, (3) construction, and (4) personnel
changes.
MH2.1.1 Drawdown of F-15Cs/Beddown of F-22s
If this alternative were selected, a total of 72 operational Primary Aircraft Inventory (PAI) F-22
aircraft, divided into three squadrons of 24 aircraft, would comprise the wing at Mountain Home
AFB. In addition, each squadron would receive two Backup Aircraft Inventory (BAI) F-22s as
replacements for operational aircraft requiring maintenance or otherwise out of service.
The beddown would start in September 2004 with delivery of the first
F-22 to the base; by June 2007, when the full complement of 72 PAI
and 6 BAI (2 BAI for each of the three squadrons) F-22s would be at
the base, the beddown would be complete. The beddown process
would occur in three segments, each associated with development of an
operational squadron. Since the F-22 would replace the 18 PAI and 2
BAI F-15C, the Air Force would drawdown (remove) Mountain Home
AFB’s F-15C operational squadron.
The schedule for drawdown (removal) of the F-15Cs would start in
October-December 2007 after beddown of the first two F-22 squadrons
is complete (Table MH2.1-1). At no time would the combination of
F-22s and F-15Cs on base exceed the final total of 72 PAI F-22s slated
for the Operational Wing. For all of the transition years, however, more
total aircraft would be based at Mountain Home AFB than under
baseline conditions. The base would continue to support other
squadrons of the 366th Wing which currently consists of 49 other
aircraft: F-15Es (18), F-16s (18), B-1Bs (7), and KC-135s (6). By
completion of the F-22 beddown, 127 total aircraft (PAI and BAI)
would be based at Mountain Home AFB. Transient (visiting) aircraft,
such as A-10s, F-16s, and transports, would also continue to use the
base.
Mountain Home AFB
PAI consists of the F-22s
authorized and assigned to
perform the wing’s missions.
BAI includes F-22s used as
substitutes for PAI aircraft
undergoing maintenance or
otherwise unable to fly.
The 366th Aerospace
Expeditionary Wing is composed
of fighters, bombers, and tankers
such as the KC-135, pictured
here.
Page MH2-1
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
Table MH2.1-1. Proposed F-22 Beddown
and F-15C Drawdown Schedule:
Mountain Home AFB
Based F-15C
PAI Aircraft
Based F-22
PAI Aircraft
Total PAI
Aircraft
Baseline
18
0
18
2004
18
7
25
2005
18
32
50
2006
14
58
72
2007
0
14
72
The 366th Wing at Mountain Home AFB is under the Air Force’s Expeditionary Air Force (EAF)
Construct. The EAF Construct grew out of the need for the United States to deploy forces
worldwide despite the reduction in United States overseas basing and personnel. Under the EAF,
the Air Force has divided its forces into 10 Aerospace Expeditionary Forces (AEFs) and 2 AEWs to
make worldwide deployments more predictable and manageable.
MH2.1.2 Sorties
The 366th Wing is one of two AEWs designed for crisis response. While not part of the EAF
program, the 366th Wing serves as another important pillar of United States defense in its role as an
AEW. This role involves overseas deployments for the 366th Wing, as well as for its individual
squadrons (like the F-15C squadron). Each AEW is eligible for deployment for 90 days every other
120 days.
The F-22 squadrons would be incorporated into and commanded by the
366th Wing, which would retain its overall AEW role. However, the
operational F-22 squadrons would also be integrated into the Air Force’s
EAF Construct as individual squadrons under an AEF. An AEF is a
“package” (group of different types of aircraft with a mix of capabilities
suited to the tasking) deployed to overseas locations for about 90 days. These AEFs consist of
wings or squadrons from multiple United States bases and may operate as a unit or be integrated
with other forces overseas. Pre- and/or post-deployment training at locations other than a “home”
base cover approximately another 30 days out of the year. Squadrons or wings at the bases are
rotated into the AEF program on a 15-month cycle.
A sortie is the flight of a
single aircraft from
takeoff through landing.
By completion of the beddown of aircraft, the Initial F-22 Operational
Wing would fly 11,187 sorties per year from Mountain Home AFB
Beddown of F-22s at
(Table MH2.1-2). Based on projected requirements and deployment
Mountain Home AFB would
increase overall sorties by
patterns, the F-22 squadrons would fly an additional 5,760 sorties at
58 percent.
overseas airfields during deployments or at other locations for exercises
or in preparation for deployments. On average, each squadron (24 PAI
aircraft) would be deployed for 120 days per year (90 days AEF and 30 days pre- or post-AEF
Page MH2-2
Mountain Home AFB
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
training); this equates to a single squadron being deployed all year. In addition, each squadron
would participate in training exercises and operate out of another United States or overseas base for
an average of one week per year, flying another 333 (or 111 sorties per squadron) sorties at remote
locations other than Mountain Home AFB. Some of these remote sorties would involve ordnance
delivery training or missile firing at approved ranges, such as the Nellis Range Complex in Nevada,
Utah Test and Training Range, or Eglin AFB’s over-water ranges in the Gulf of Mexico.
The 11,187 F-22 sorties at Mountain Home AFB would represent an increase of 8,595 sorties over
baseline levels. This increase would result from two factors: 54 more aircraft (72 F-22s versus the 18
F-15Cs) and the increased sortie rate of F-22s (20 sorties per aircraft per month) as compared to the
F-15C (18 sorties per aircraft per month). Total sorties would still remain below those analyzed
previously (Air Force 1998a) for the base.
Table MH2.1-2. Comparison of Baseline F-15C and
Projected F-22 Annual Sorties
Baseline
Sorties
Projected
Sorties
F-15C
2,592
F-22
11,187
Total All Aircraft1
14,758
Total All Aircraft1
23,353
Note: 1. Includes 12,166 sorties by other based and transient aircraft.
In 2007, with completion of the beddown, the F-22s would perform about 48 percent of all sorties
at the base. Currently, the F-15Cs account for 18 percent of the total sorties. The F-22s would
employ similar departure and landing procedures as currently used by the F-15Cs at the base. F-22
operations would adhere to existing restrictions, avoidance procedures, and the quiet-hours program
(10:30 pm to 6:30 am) at Mountain Home AFB. However, the F-22’s power would allow it to
accelerate more quickly to climb speed and reduce power sooner past the departure end of the
runway. In contrast, the F-15C maintains a higher power setting throughout its climb. Overall, this
capability of the F-22 would result in lower noise exposure in the airfield environment as the aircraft
takes off.
The F-22 would fly the same percentage (30 percent) of sorties after dark
(i.e., about 1 hour after sunset) as the F-15Cs under the Air Force’s
Environmental night (10:00
initiative to increase readiness. Approximately 5 percent (out of the total
pm to 7:00 am) is the period
when the effects of aircraft
30 percent) of the after-dark sorties are expected to occur during
noise on people are
environmental night (10:00 pm to 7:00 am), which is identical to the
accentuated.
F-15Cs, while the rest of the after-dark sorties are expected to occur
about 1 hour after sunset. While the percentages of environmental night
operations would not change with beddown of operational F-22s, the total annual sorties during this
period would increase by 429, or by less than 2 per flying day (260 flying days per year).
The F-15Cs use the afterburner to take off about 40 percent of the time. In contrast, the F-22s are
expected to use the afterburner 5 percent or less of the time to take off.
Mountain Home AFB
Page MH2-3
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
MH2.1.3 Construction
Additional infrastructure and facilities would be required at Mountain
Home AFB to support F-22 operations (Table MH2.1-3). A total of
31 construction, modification, or infrastructure improvement projects
directly related to the beddown would be implemented from 2002 to
2004 (Figure MH2.1-1). Most construction would occur in 2002 and
2003. In total, the construction, modifications, and infrastructure
improvements would affect about 440 acres and cost approximately
$395.2 million. Affected acres represent the area covered by the
construction footprints of the proposed facilities plus the surrounding
lands where construction-related clearing and grading would occur.
Infrastructure upgrades, such as connecting new facilities to water and
power systems, would also add to the affected areas on the base.
F-22 buildings, including the
parts store and weapons load
trainer, would be to the left
(southeast) of the B-1B
hangars shown in this picture.
Construction of a second runway parallel to the existing runway, 600 housing units, additional
aircraft parking apron, and three new maintenance hangars represent the most substantial
construction projects proposed at Mountain Home AFB. These projects account for 84 percent of
the affected acres. Construction of the runway would occur parallel and west of the existing runway.
The new housing units would be located in the northeast corner of the base, near the existing base
housing area. Most other construction and modification projects would be located along the
flightline and supporting industrial area in the southeastern portion of the bases (see Figure
MH2.1-1). As an indirect result of the beddown construction, the base would likely need to relocate
the existing wastewater treatment plant and storage lagoon (not listed in Table MH2.1-3) on the
western edge of the base to accommodate the northern end of the new runway. A potential location
for the relocated facility would be in the open area in the northcentral portion of the base. This
relocation could affect approximately 30 acres.
MH2.1.4 Personnel Changes
Beddown of the Initial F-22 Operational Wing at Mountain Home AFB
would require basing 1,846 personnel to operate and maintain the wing
Base personnel would
increase by 24 percent
and to provide necessary support services. Fewer personnel, particularly
as a result of the
for maintenance, would be needed for the F-22 wing than for an
beddown.
equivalent number of F-15C aircraft. For Mountain Home AFB, the F-22
personnel positions would be drawn from the equivalent positions
associated with existing F-15C manpower authorizations. As such, total personnel would increase
by 1,201 because the base currently supports only one F-15C squadron (Table MH2.1-4).
Page MH2-4
Mountain Home AFB
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
Table MH2.1-3. Proposed Construction and Modification
for Mountain Home AFB
Year
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002/03/04
2002/03/04
2002/03/04
2002/03/04
2003
2003
2003
2003/04
2003/04
2003/04
2003/04
2003/04
2004
2002/03/04
Description
Low Observable/Composite Repair Facility
Fighter Squadron Operations Maintenance
Hangar
Flight Simulator Building
Engine Shop Storage
Armament Building
Fuel Cell Hangar
Parts Store
Hush House Foundation
Vertical Tank Storage
PMEL
Weapons Loading Trainer
Munitions Administration Facility
20 MM Ammunition Storage
Expanded Fuel Operations Facility
Maintenance Training Detachment Facility
Aircraft Apron
Second Runway and Taxiways
Three-Bay Munitions Maintenance Facility
Dormitory
On-Base Housing (600 Units)
Roads, Storm Drains, Parking1
Child Care Facilities
Dining Hall
Fighter Squadron Operations/Maintenance
Hangar
Fitness Center
Transportation, Civil Engineering Squadron,
Supply
Various (Family Services, Ed Center)
Recreation Center
Temporary Lodging Facility
Fighter Squadron Operations/Maintenance
Hangar
Associated Utilities/Infrastructure
Action
Construct
Construct
Affected Area
In Acres
1.96
3.42
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Upgrade
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
0.98
0.46
0.58
1.10
2.66
0.046
0.66
0.22
0.82
0.46
0.28
NA
0.56
10.94
206.61
0.60
3.22
150.00
NA
1.20
0.46
3.42
Construct
Construct
1.14
1.04
Construct
Construct
Construct
Construct
1.14
0.42
1.98
3.42
Construct
Total
39.97
≈440
Note: 1. Affected area included in other facility totals.
Mountain Home AFB
Page MH2-5
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
Table MH2.1-4. Proposed Personnel Changes: Mountain Home AFB
Baseline
Personnel
F-15C
Baseline
Personnel
Total
Projected
Personnel
F-22
Projected
Personnel
Total
Total
Change in
Personnel
September 2004 –
August 2005
September 2005 –
June 2006
September 2006 –
June 2007
CHANGE PER
BEDDOWN PHASE1
Officer
38
512
169
643
+131
+43
+44
+44
Enlisted
607
3,604
1,598
4,595
+991
+330
+330
+331
Civilian
0
877
791
9561
+79
+26
+26
+27
Total
645
4,993
1,846
6,194
+1,201
+399
+400
+402
Note: 1. Includes 54 contractor personnel.
The Air Force expects that the changes in personnel needed for the beddown would occur in three
phases associated with the establishment of the three squadrons (refer to Table MH2.1-1), starting in
September 2004 and ending by June 2007.
MH2.2 Mountain Home AFB: Training Airspace
MH2.2.1 Airspace Use
As the replacement for the F-15Cs at Mountain Home AFB, the F-22
would conduct the same types of missions and training programs.
The Air Force expects that the F-22 would use the training airspace
associated with Mountain Home AFB in a manner similar to the
F-15C operational squadron’s current use of the airspace. All F-22
flight activities would take place in existing airspace; no airspace
modifications would be required for the F-22.
Members of the public
expressed concern that
replacing the F-15C with the
F-22s at Mountain Home AFB
could require changes to
existing airspace. Because the
two aircraft have similar
missions, no airspace changes
are required.
Training for the F-22s, like the F-15Cs, would be conducted in
Military Operations Areas (MOAs) and overlying Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA).
The affected airspace units for the Mountain Home AFB alternative consist of five MOAs (Jarbidge,
Owyhee, Paradise East, Paradise West, and Saddle) with overlying ATCAAs (Table MH2.2-1 and
Figure MH2.2-1). Used on a continuing basis for local training, this airspace receives 100 percent of
current F-15C sortie-operations and would continue at the same percentage for the F-22s under the
proposed beddown.
Aircraft conducting air-to-air training commonly schedule and use the
Jarbidge and Owyhee MOAs as one unit. Often, during exercises,
Paradise East and West MOAs are also included. With its air-to-air
mission, the F-22 would follow this pattern of use.
Mountain Home AFB
A sortie-operation is
one use of a single
airspace unit by one
aircraft.
Page MH2-7
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
Table MH2.2-1. Baseline and Projected Annual SortieOperations in Airspace Associated with Mountain Home AFB
Airspace Unit
Floor
(feet)
Ceiling
(feet)1
Jarbidge MOA
100 AGL 18,000 MSL
Owyhee MOA
100 AGL 18,000 MSL
Paradise East MOA 14,500 MSL 18,000 MSL
Paradise West MOA 14,500 MSL 18,000 MSL
Saddle MOA
10,000 MSL 18,000 MSL
Baseline
F-15C
Use
Total
Baseline
Use
Projected
F-22 Use
Projected
Total
Use
1,149
1,633
1,007
1,342
687
8,273
7,846
3,352
4,382
2,169
3,375
4,796
2,958
3,941
2,018
10,499
11,009
5,303
6,981
3,500
Note: 1. ATCAA overlies all of these MOAs extending up to 50,000 feet MSL
MSL = mean sea level; AGL = above ground level
By completion of the beddown in 2007, total sortie-operations would increase in each of the MOAs
and overlying ATCAA by 27 to 61 percent above total baseline levels. The Jarbidge and Owyhee
MOAs would receive the lowest percentage increase in use (27 and 40 percent, respectively). Total
sortie-operations in the other MOAs (Paradise East, Paradise West, and Saddle) would increase 58,
59, and 61 percent, respectively. Overall, the F-22s would perform 46 percent of total sortieoperations for the five MOAs. In comparison, baseline F-15C use accounts for 22 percent of total
sortie-operations. For each of the MOAs, F-22 sortie-operations would be about three times as
numerous as those by the F-15Cs under baseline. Such increases correlate directly to the increase in
number of aircraft and the increased utilization rate of the F-22s.
F-15E, F-16, B-1B, and KC-135 aircraft flown
General F-15 and F-22
by the 366th Wing and A-10s flown by the Idaho
Altitude Use
Air National Guard (Boise, Idaho), would
% of Flight
% of Flight
continue to conduct sortie-operations in all five
Altitude
Hours:
Hours:
MOAs and overlying ATCAAs. In the Jarbidge
(feet)
F-15C
F-22
MOA, which encompasses the restricted airspace
>30,000
8%
30%
for two air-to-ground ranges (Saylor Creek
10,000-30,000
67%
50%
Range and Juniper Butte Range), F-15Es, F-16s
5,000-10,000
14%
15%
and A-10s would continue as the dominant
2,000-5,000
8%
3.75%
users, flying 60 percent of the sortie-operations.
1,000-2,000
2.75%
1%
These aircraft would continue to spend
500-1,000
0.25%
0.25%
additional time in this MOA to use the ranges.
F-22s would fly more of the time at higher altitudes
The F-15Cs do not and the F-22s would not use
than the F-15Cs now flying in MOAs.
the ranges, although they would fly through the
ranges’ restricted airspace as part of their use of the MOA. The F-15Es, F-16s, and A-10s combined
would continue to dominate use of the Owyhee MOA (52 percent) with F-22s conducting the
highest percentage of sortie-operations in the high-altitude Paradise East and West MOAs. A-10s
and F-22s
Page MH2-8
Mountain Home AFB
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
Mountain Home AFB
Page MH2-9
Figure MH2.2-1
Airspace Associated with Mountain Home AFB
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
would be the largest users of the Saddle MOA, accounting for 18 and 58 percent of the total use,
respectively.
Like the F-15C aircraft, the F-22 would fly approximately 90-minute-long sorties, including takeoff,
transit to and from the training airspace, training activities, and landing. Depending upon the
distance and type of training activity, the F-22 would spend between 20 to 60 minutes in the training
airspace. In many instances, single sorties would involve the use of more than one MOA for daily
training. Because four of five MOAs (except Saddle) abut one another, aircraft may use them in
combination to achieve training requirements. On occasion during an exercise, the F-22 may spend
up to 90 minutes in a set of MOAs.
The F-22 would consistently fly at higher altitudes than the F-15C
(Table MH2.2-2), operating mostly (95 percent) at altitudes above 5,000
In Mountain Home AFB
feet above ground level (AGL). In comparison, the F-15Cs operate
airspace, certain units are
above this altitude 83 percent of the time in the MOAs. While the
authorized for supersonic
Jarbidge and Owyhee MOAs permit flight down to 100 feet AGL, Air
flight above 10,000 feet
AGL.
Force procedures prohibit the F-22 and F-15C from flights below 500
feet AGL. The Air Force also employs seasonal, altitude, and locational
restrictions for flight activity below 2,000 feet AGL. Most of these restrictions are implemented to
reduce overflight noise over recreationists and certain wildlife species during specific times of the
year. Other restrictions apply to avoidance of Native American traditional activities as defined
through ongoing government-to-government relations with the Shoshone-Paiutes in southwest
Idaho. By agreement, the Air Force conducts no flights over the Duck Valley Reservation below
15,000 feet AGL. Thus, Mountain Home AFB aircraft generally avoid flights over the Duck Valley
Reservation. In the other three MOAs (Paradise East, Paradise West, and Saddle), the floors (base
altitudes) start well above 5,000 feet AGL, so 100 percent of the flight time would be above this
altitude.
The F-22 would, on average, fly the same percentage of time (30 percent) after dark as do the
F-15Cs that currently use the airspace. About 5 percent of total after-dark operations would
continue to occur during environmental night (10:00 pm to 7:00 am). Other users, such as the
B-1Bs and F-15Es from the 366th Wing and transients, would continue to account for most of the
environmental night operations.
Like the F-15Cs, the F-22 would employ supersonic flight within the
Owyhee and Jarbidge MOAs where such activity is already authorized.
Such activity is not authorized in the other three MOAs. Due to the
mission of the F-22 and the aircraft’s capabilities, the Air Force anticipates
that approximately 25 percent of the time spent in air combat maneuvers
would involve supersonic flight. All supersonic flight would be conducted
above 10,000 feet AGL, with 60 percent occurring above 30,000 feet
mean sea level (MSL). In comparison, the F-15Cs commonly conduct
supersonic flight for about 7.5 percent of the time spent in air combat
maneuvers. Most of the F-15C flights are performed between 10,000 feet
AGL and 30,000 feet MSL. Supersonic flight would continue to be
performed with restrictions, including avoiding the portions of the MOAs
overlying the Duck Valley Reservation.
Page MH2-10
Mountain Home AFB
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
Table MH2.2-2. Baseline and Projected Altitude Use in
Airspace Associated with Mountain Home AFB
PERCENT TIME OF AVERAGE SORTIEOPERATION
(FEET)
F-15C/F-22
1,000 –
5,000
5,000 –
10,000
SUPERSONIC
AUTHORIZED
Airspace Unit1
5001,000
10,000 –
30,000 >30,000
Jarbidge MOA
5/0.25 12/4.75
13/15
62/50
8/30
Yes
Owyhee MOA
5/0.25 12/4.75
13/15
62/50
8/30
Yes
Paradise East MOA
NA
NA
NA
100/70
0/30
No
Paradise West MOA
NA
NA
NA
100/70
0/30
No
Saddle MOA
NA
NA
30/20
70/50
0/30
No
Note: 1. Refer to Table MH2.1-5 for floor and ceiling altitudes.
MH2.2.2 Defensive Countermeasures
Like the F-15Cs, the F-22 would deploy chaff and flares as defensive countermeasures in training.
Chaff and flares are the principal defensive mechanisms dispensed by military aircraft to avoid
detection or attack by enemy air defense systems. Because of evolving tactics and mission scenarios,
the F-22 is expected to use fewer defensive countermeasures (i.e., chaff and flares) per sortie, due to
its stealth characteristics. However, because the F-22 is so new, this reduction in chaff and flare use
cannot yet be defined. For the purposes of this analysis, it is estimated that the expenditure of chaff
and flares by the F-22s would match that of F-15Cs on a per-sortie basis. Chapter 2 (section 2.1.2)
provides details on the composition, characteristics, and uses of chaff and flares.
Chaff and flare use would continue in the Jarbidge, Owyhee, Paradise
East, and Paradise West MOAs. Current restrictions prohibit such use
in the Saddle MOA. Numerous seasonal and locational restrictions
apply to the use of chaff and, especially, flares in these MOAs (Air Force
1998b). For example, chaff may not be dispensed over the Duck Valley
Reservation, and flares are not used at night at any altitude or below 20,000 feet AGL during the
day. Under the Mountain Home AFB alternative, F-22s would use up to 41,951 bundles of chaff
and up to 22,374 flares per year (in 2007 and after) in the MOAs. In addition, to minimize the risk
of inadvertent fires, flares can be released only above 2,000 feet AGL in the MOAs. This release
altitude is about three times higher than the minimum safe release
altitude. The Air Force also restricts all flare use during periods of
Annual Chaff and Flare Use
extreme fire danger (Air Force 1998b). This level of use would
represent an annual increase of 32,226 bundles of chaff and 17,190
Chaff
Flares
flares over baseline F-15C use. Chaff and flare use by the F-22s
F-15C
9,725
5,184
would follow all current locational, seasonal, and altitude restrictions
F-22
41,951
22,374
for the MOAs. Because it would be dispensed at higher altitudes by
Change +32,226 +17,190
the F-22s, chaff would disperse more (Air Force 1997), minimizing
the amount and size of fibers occurring in any location. Several
Baseline and projected
chaff use would adhere to
current seasonal and
altitude restrictions.
Mountain Home AFB
Page MH2-11
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
factors indicate that flare use by the F-22s would not increase the risk of wildfires. First, as noted
above, the F-22 is likely to employ fewer flares than the F-15Cs due to its stealth capabilities.
Second, 80 percent of the F-22’s flight activity (including flare use) would occur above 10,000 feet
MSL, thereby increasing the margin to ensure complete flare consumption. Third, about 45 percent
of the flares would be expended in the Paradise East and West MOAs whose floors prohibit flight
below 14,500 feet MSL (or about 6,000 to 10,000 feet AGL). Last, the current altitude restrictions
for flare use in the Owyhee and Jarbidge MOAs would still apply.
MH2.3 Permits and State Consultation
Mountain Home would continue to work closely with federal and state permitting agencies. Air
quality permits to construct and operate new stationary sources would be obtained for new or
modified sources of regulated pollutants from engine shops, construction and operation of a new
Low Observability Composite Repair Facility and other structures.
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) would receive a wetland mitigation plan
for approval with mitigation of impacts to any federally defined jurisdictional wetlands under the
Clean Water Act.
A National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) Permit would be obtained from the
IDEQ, for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Closure of the Wastewater
Treatment Plant and construction of new facilities. An Idaho Land Application Permit would also
be obtained for the RCRA Closure of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the associated
wastewater land application. A water well closure permit would also be obtained from the Idaho
Department of Water Resources for the closure of two water wells.
In addition, the Federal Facilities Agreement with the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (USEPA) has the Air Force consulting with the IDEQ regarding any proposed construction
near any Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) sites on Mountain Home AFB.
MH2.4 Public and Agency Concerns
The Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process has
undergone an extensive 8-month public scoping period, with 33 scoping meetings in five states. The
Air Force publicized the scoping meetings by publishing six meeting notices in local and regional
newspapers, sending press releases to area television stations, and placing flyers in community
buildings and businesses.
In order to ensure maximum opportunity for community dialogue, scoping was conducted in two
distinct phases. Sixty-eight people attended the Phase-One and Phase-Two scoping meetings for
Mountain Home AFB. The Phase-One scoping meeting was held in Mountain Home, Idaho, on
April 11, 2000. The Phase-Two scoping meetings were in Boise on July 25, Twin Falls on July 26,
Mountain Home on July 27, and Duck Valley Reservation on August 9. Written comments were
received from the public and agencies prior to close of the scoping period.
During the scoping meetings, people were given the opportunity to ask questions and provide
comments on the Initial F-22 Operational Wing beddown proposal. Some of the inputs include:
Page MH2-12
Mountain Home AFB
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
•
What kind of noise data do you have now comparing the F-22 to the F-15C? (see section
MH3.2)
•
What kinds of facilities would be needed off of the installation? (facility improvement or
construction would only occur on base)
•
How many sonic booms are envisioned over the areas in which the F-22 will train? (see
section MH3.2.2)
•
What kind of runway would Mountain Home AFB require? (see section MH2.1.3)
•
Will flight rules in the Owyhees change because of the F-22? (Flight rules will stay the
same, see section MH2.2.1)
•
Will the F-22 use flares and chaff? (see section MH2.2.2)
•
Do these aircraft have lasers? (the F-22s will not have lasers)
•
You’ve identified Langley AFB as the preferred alternative. What rank is Mountain
Home? (Mountain Home AFB is one of the five locations evaluated in this Draft EIS;
see Table 2.4-1 and 2.4-2 in Chapter 2 for a comparative analysis)
•
Does this jet carry any toxic materials like hydrazine that are hazardous? (hydrazine will
not be used by the F-22; see section MH3.17)
•
What kind of support equipment goes with the F-22? (see section MH2.1.3 for basing
facilities)
•
Will the F-22 train differently than the F-15s at Mountain Home? (see section MH2.2.1)
•
What will they do with the airspace – will there be changes? (see section MH3.1)
Mountain Home AFB
Page MH2-13
Initial F-22 Operational Wing Beddown Draft EIS
Page MH2-14
Mountain Home AFB