Final
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
for
Global Hawk Main Operating
Base Beddown
United States Air Force
Air Combat Command
March 2001
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
AB
AFB
AFI
AGE
AGL
AICUZ
APCD
APZ
AQMD
AQCR
ARTCC
BASH
BMP
CAA
CARB
CEQ
CFR
CO
COA
CWA
CZ
dB
DNL
DoD
DRMO
EA
EPA
ERP
FAA
FONSI
FY
g
HAP
IFR
IICEP
Lb
LRE
M
m3
MCE
MOA
MSL
NAA
NAAQS
NEPA
Assembly Bill
Air Force Base
Air Force Instruction
Aerospace Ground Equipment
Above Ground Level
Air Installation Compatible Use
Zone
Air Pollution Control District
Accident Potential Zone
Air Quality Management District
Air Quality Control Region
Air Route Traffic Control Center
Bird-aircraft strike hazard
Best Management Practices
Clean Air Act
California Air Resources Board
Council on Environmental Quality
Code of Federal Regulations
Carbon Monoxide
Certificate of Authorization
Clean Water Act
Clear Zone
Decibel
Day-Night Average Sound Level
Department of Defense
Defense Reutilization and Marketing
Office
Environmental Assessment
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Restoration Program
Federal Aviation Administration
Finding of No Significant Impact
Fiscal Year
Gram
Hazardous Air Pollutant
Instrument Flight Rules
Intergovernmental/Interagency
Coordination for Environmental
Planning
Pound
Launch and Recover Element
Million
Cubic meter
Mission Control Element
Military Operations Airspace
Mean Sea Level
Nonattainment Areas
National Ambient Air Quality
Standards
National Environmental Policy Act
NESHAP
NM
NOx
NPDES
O3
PAA
Pb
PM 10
ppm
PSD
RAPCON
RCRA
SEL
sf
SHPO
SIP
SOx
SWPPP
TRACON
UAV
µg
µg/m3
USFWS
VFR
VOC
National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants
Nautical Mile
Nitrogen Oxides
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System
Ozone
Primary Aircraft Assigned
Lead
Particulate Matter < 10 Micrometers
in Diameter
Parts per Million
Prevention of Significant
Deterioration
Radar Approach Control
Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act
Sound Exposure Level
Square Feet
State Historic Preservation Officer
State Implementation Plan
Sulfur Oxides
Storm Water Pollution Prevention
Plan
Terminal Radar Approach Control
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Microgram
Microgram per Cubic Meter
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Visual Flight Rules
Volatile Organic Compound
COVER SHEET
Environmental Assessment for
Global Hawk Main Operating Base Beddown
Responsible Agency: United States Air Force, Air Combat Command
Proposed Action: Establish a main operating base for the high-altitude, unmanned aerial
vehicle, Global Hawk, at one of five Air Force bases within the contiguous United States.
Written comments and inquiries regarding this document should be directed to
HQ ACC/CEVP
129 Andrews St., Ste 102
Langley AFB, VA 23665-2769
ATTN: Ms. Sheryl Parker
In addition, the document can be viewed on and downloaded from the world wide web at
www.cevp.com.
Designation: Final Environmental Assessment
Abstract: The purpose of the proposed action is to establish and operate a main
operating base for the Global Hawk, an unmanned aerial vehicle, at one of five Air Force
bases within the contiguous United States. The proposal involves locating 18 highaltitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, associated equipment, and
approximately 900 personnel at an Air Force base. The beddown would start with an
initial beddown of up to four aircraft in 2001, with two additional aircraft delivered each
year through 2012. The proposal includes constructing support facilities and using
existing airspace around the base. Based on the Air Force’s alternative identification and
evaluation process, five alternative bases were carried forward for detailed analysis: 1)
Beale Air Force Base (AFB), California; 2) Edwards AFB, California; 3) Ellsworth AFB,
South Dakota; 4) Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and 5) Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Beale
AFB is the Air Force’s preferred alternative for the location of the main operating base
beddown. In addition, as required by the Council for Environmental Quality regulations
implementing NEPA (CFR 40 Parts 1500-1508), the no-action alternative was also
analyzed. Under this alternative, the Air Force would not beddown the Global Hawk at
one of the five alternative bases at this time.
Final
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
for
Global Hawk Main Operating
Base Beddown
United States Air Force
Air Combat Command
March 2001