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This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes potential environmental impacts of anticipated future development within the five major cantonment areas on Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. The Eglin military complex is a U.S. Air Force-controlled, multiservice Department of Defense (DoD) Major Range and Test Facility and training area. Its primary function is to support research and development of conventional weapons and electronic systems, as well as to support individual and joint training of operational units. Eglin AFB is located in the Florida Panhandle in portions of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Gulf Counties (Figure 1-1). The base is a national asset of the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) headquartered at Edwards AFB, California. Eglin AFB is facing considerable challenges in accommodating future missions and developments. Some of these challenges are fiscal constraints, ongoing demands of maintaining aging infrastructure, changing missions, urban sprawl, encroachment, congested airspace, global climate change, and limited resources. As the host wing for Eglin AFB, the 96th Test Wing (96 TW) is the test and evaluation center for air-delivered weapons, navigation and guidance systems, Command and Control systems, and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) systems. The 96 TW performs development test and evaluation across the complete system life cycle for a wide variety of customers, including Air Force Systems Program Offices, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), logistics and product centers, Major Commands (MAJCOM), other DoD services and U.S. government agencies, foreign military sales, and private industry.

This finding, and the analysis upon which it is based, was prepared pursuant to the President s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations as promulgated at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1500 (40 CFR 1500 1508), as well as the U.S. Air Force Environmental Impact Analysis Process as promulgated at 32 CFR Part 989. The Department of the Air Force has conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the potential environmental consequences associated with the construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) array at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. That EA, finalized in January 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference into this finding. The U.S. Air Force is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, and electricity accounts for 48 percent of Air Force energy usage. In 2010, the Air Force developed two plans (Air Force Energy Plan and Air Force Infrastructure Energy Plan) to address its overall energy strategy, which includes strategies for reducing energy consumption, controlling costs, and increasing renewable generation. The Air Force has the challenge of meeting or exceeding federal energy goals as established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and departmental goals established in the Air Force Energy Plan and the Air Force Infrastructure Energy Plan. The Air Force Energy Vision is to reduce demand through conservation and efficiency; increase supply through alternative energy sources; and create a culture where all Airmen make energy a consideration in everything they do. The Air Force goals, as related to renewable energy, include the following: -Meet or exceed federal mandates -Increase on-base renewable generation -Control and/or reduce energy costs

This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a solar photovoltaic (PV) array on Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. The Eglin military complex is a U.S. Air Force-controlled, multiservice Department of Defense (DoD) Major Range and Test Facility Base and training area. Its primary function is to support research and development of conventional weapons and electronic systems, as well as individual and joint training of operational units. Eglin AFB is located in the Florida Panhandle in portions of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Gulf Counties (Figure 1-1). The base is a national asset of the Air Force Materiel Command headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and the Air Force Test Center headquartered at Edwards AFB, California. As the host wing for Eglin AFB, the 96th Test Wing (96 TW) is the test and evaluation center for air-delivered weapons, navigation and guidance systems, Command and Control systems, and Air Force Special Operations Command systems. The 96 TW performs development test and evaluation across the complete system life cycle for a wide variety of customers, including Air Force Systems Program Offices, Air Force Research Laboratory, logistics and product centers, Major Commands, other DoD services and U.S. government agencies, foreign military sales, and private industry. The 96 TW commander serves as the installation commander. In addition, the 96 TW supports Eglin with traditional military services, civil engineering, personnel, logistics, communications, computer, medical, security, and all other host services and base operating support functions (U.S. Air Force, 2012). Eglin AFB comprises 724 square miles of reservation land with 36 specific test areas and approximately 125,000 square miles of charted airspace referred to as the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR), which extends south to the Florida Keys.

The Proposed Action, within the context of the EA, is to replace existing residential driveways with new driveways, along with upgrading and improving utility connections (laterals) or distributions within the 100-year floodplain at the Hurlburt Field Soundside Manor housing area. This represents a change from the May 2011 MHPI EIS, which analyzed the impacts from home construction within Soundside Manor and only limited housing demolition activities within the floodplain; the EIS did not address these specific construction activities within th floodplain since they were not expected to impact the floodplain at that time. Based on an overlay of the proposed design layouts over the Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain map (2013), an estimated 3,600 square feet (SF) of driveway would be located in the floodplain. Currently, approximately 2,200 SF of housing units, 8,100 SF of driveway, and 5, 700 SF of sidewalk are located in the floodplain. As part of demolition of existing homes and new construction, the estimated amount of housing unit square footage within the floodplain would be reduced to zero, and the amount of driveway and sidewalk square footage within the floodplain would be reduced to 3,600 SF and 4,800 SF, respectively.

This finding, and the analysis upon which it is based, was prepared pursuant to the President s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations as promulgated at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1500 (40 CFR 1500 1508) plus the U.S. Air Force s Environmental Impact Analysis Process as promulgated at 32 CFR 989. The Department of the Air Force has conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the potential environmental consequences associated with the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) activities at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. That EA dated November 2012 is hereby incorporated by reference into this finding. The purpose of this action is to be able to quickly and efficiently process modifications in natural resources management activities and to update the NEPA analysis by re-evaluating natural resources management activities and by performing a cumulative environmental analysis of all management activities. The need for the Proposed Action is to provide managers a quick response to new priority needs, as well as maintain the current approval process for routine activities. Additionally, some of Eglin AFB s natural resources and activities have changed since the original environmental analysis was completed, requiring new environmental analysis to be performed.

The Eglin Military Complex, located in the northwest Florida panhandle (Figure 1-1), is one of 19 component installations categorized as a Department of Defense (DoD) Major Range Test Facility Base (MRTFB). Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) is situated among four counties: Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County, and Walton County. In addition, Cape San Blas, part of a peninsula in Gulf County, is also located on a part of Eglin AFB. Eglin AFB s primary function is to support research, development, test, and evaluation of conventional weapons and electronic systems. It also provides support for individual and joint training of operational units. The Eglin Military Complex currently comprises four components (U.S. Air Force, 2001), which do not include the cantonment or main base areas: (1) Test Areas/Sites (2) Interstitial Areas (areas beyond and between the test areas) (3) The Eglin Gulf Test Range (4) Airspace (overland and water) The U.S. Air Force Air Armament Center (AAC) has responsibility for the Eglin Military Complex and for all its users, which include DoD, other government agencies, foreign countries, and private companies. For Range operations, the AAC provides environmental analyses and necessary National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation to ensure compliance with U.S. Air Force policy and applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. The AAC includes two wings and four directorates that collectively operate, manage, and support all activities on the Eglin Military Complex. The AAC accomplishes its Range operations through the 46th Test Wing (46 TW) with support from the 96th Air Base Wing. The 46 TW commander is responsible for day-to-day scheduling, executing, and maintaining of this national asset. Test Area (TA) B-75 makes up a portion of the Eglin Military Complex and supports a variety of test and training missions.

The Eglin Military Complex, located in the northwest Florida panhandle (Figure 1-1), is one of 19 component installations categorized as a Department of Defense (DoD) Major Range Test Facility Base. Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) is situated among three counties: Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton. Eglin AFB s primary function is to support research, development, test, and evaluation of conventional weapons and electronic systems. Eglin AFB also provides support for individual and joint training of operational units. The Eglin Military Complex currently comprises four components (U.S. Air Force, 2001a), which do not include the cantonment or main base areas: 1. Test Areas/Sites 2. Interstitial Areas (areas beyond and between the test areas) 3. The Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range 4. Airspace (overland and water) The U.S. Air Force Air Armament Center (AAC) has responsibility for the Eglin Military Complex and for all its users, which include DoD, other government agencies, foreign countries, and private companies. For Range operations, the AAC provides environmental analyses and necessary National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation to ensure compliance with U.S. Air Force policy and applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. The AAC includes two wings and four directorates that collectively operate, manage, and support all activities on the Eglin Military Complex. The AAC accomplishes its Range operations through the 46th Test Wing (46 TW) with support from the 96th Air Base Wing. The 46 TW commander is responsible for day-to-day scheduling, executing, and maintaining of this national asset. Test Area (TA) C-64 makes up a portion of the Eglin Military Complex and supports a variety of test and training missions. The continued DoD utilization of the Eglin Military Complex requires flexible and unencumbered access to land ranges and airspace, which support all of Eglin AFB s operations.

The Proposed Action is for the 46th Test Wing Commander to establish a new authorized level of activity for TA B-70 that is based on an anticipated maximum usage. Demonstrating that the individual and cumulative effects of this usage level do not have significant environmental impact is the method for establishing the maximum threshold baseline, which is being identified as the Range Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) Baseline. The environmental analysis is accomplished by evaluating the effect that the military mission activities and expendables have on Eglin AFB' s natural, physical, and cultural environment. The Range analysis performed in this report allows for a cumulative look at the impact on Eglin AFB receptors from all mission activities occurring on TA B-70. By implementing an authorized level of activity, Range management will be streamlined and cumulative environmental impacts will be more fully considered. The No Action Alternative and Alternative 1 are not expected to be sufficient to account for the expected growth of training activities at Eglin AFB over the next 10 years. Therefore, Alternative 2 was selected as the Preferred Alternative in order to adequately cover the environmental analysis needed to support potential increases in training requirements as they occur. There were no alternatives eliminated from detailed analysis.

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act ( 40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1508), Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 5090.1 C, and Air Force Instruction 32-7061, the Department of Navy has conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the probable environmental consequences for the development of the Joint Maneuver Test Range (JMTR) on Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) proposes to develop and enhance existing test capabilities for the mine roller system and related equipment at the Joint Maneuver Test Range (JMTR) on Auxiliary Field 4 on Eglin AFB. Auxiliary Field 4 is an abandoned air strip located halfway between Eglin AFB's runway and Test Area B-71 off Range Road 236. NSWC PCD proposes to modify the JMTR to simulate the terrains encountered in Southwest Asia. Mine roller system testing must be conducted according to procedures and requirements outlined in the Allied Vehicle Testing Publication (NATO, 1991). Based on these requirements and information received directly from warfighters who operate tactical vehicles and mine roller systems in Southwest Asia, 25 testing components have been identified and would be incorporated into the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT &E) activities at the JMTR on Auxiliary Field 4. The JMTR is a research and development (R&D) facility that tests and evaluates mine roller systems and related equipment performance in any and all variables that are commonly encountered by warfighters in Southwest Asia. Enhancement and development of the proposed 25 testing components at the JMTR to accurately simulate all aspects of those terrains would properly test these systems under rigorous conditions to ensure potential deficiencies are identified and resolved before they are deployed.

The Proposed Action is for the 46th Test Wing Commander to establish a new authorized level of activity for the interstitial area that is based on an anticipated maximum usage. Demonstrating that the individual and cumulative effects of this usage level do not have significant environmental impact is the method for establishing the maximum threshold baseline, which is being identified as the Range Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) Baseline. The environmental analysis is accomplished by evaluating the effect that the military mission activities and expendables have on Eglin AFB' s natural, physical, and cultural environment. The Range analysis performed in this report allows for a cumulative look at the impact on Eglin AFB receptors from all mission activities occurring in the interstitial area. By implementing an authorized level of activity, Range management will be streamlined and cumulative environmental impacts will be more fully considered. The No Action Alternative and Alternative 1 are not expected to be sufficient to account for the expected growth of training activities at Eglin AFB over the next 10 years. Therefore, Alternative 2 was selected as the Preferred Alternative in order to adequately cover the environmental analysis needed to support potential increases in training requirements as they occur. There were no alternatives eliminated from detailed analysis.

The Proposed Action is for the 46th Test Wing Commander to establish a new authorized level of activity for the TA C-80 Complex that is based on an anticipated maximum usage. The method for establishing this maximum threshold baseline requires demonstrating that the individual and cumulative effects of this usage level would not have significant environmental impacts. This maximum level is being identified as the Range Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) Baseline. The environmental analysis evaluated the effects of military mission activities and expendables on Eglin AFB s natural, physical, and cultural environment. The military mission has been broadly identified as the effector of environmental impacts, and Eglin AFB s environment has been identified as the receptor. Evaluation and quantification of this effector-receptor relationship is the scientific basis for the environmental analysis detailed in this report. The purpose and need of the Proposed Action is twofold, as described below. 1. Purpose: to quickly and efficiently process new programs requesting access to the TA C-80 Complex during both routine and crisis situations Need: to provide military users a quick response to priority needs during war or other significant military involvement, as well as maintain the current approval process for routine uses; and 2. Purpose: to update the NEPA analysis by reevaluating the mission activities and by performing a cumulative environmental analysis of all mission activities. Need: the need associated with this item is multifaceted and is described below. Eglin AFB previously performed environmental analysis for mission activities at the TA C-80 Complex, as presented in the 2000 Test Area C-80 Complex Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) (U.S. Air Force, 2000a).

This finding and the analysis upon which it is based were prepared pursuant to the President's Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act as put into effect by 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1500-1508 and the U.S. Air Force Environmental Impact Analysis Process as effectuated by 32 CFR Part 989. The Air Force has conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the probable environmental consequences for Long-Term Vegetation Control on Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. The principal purpose of maintaining the habitats at Eglin AFB is to support military testing and training. Due to the varied needs of Eglin missions, a variety of habitats are necessary, ranging from dense forests to cleared ranges. To better maintain the spectrum of habitats, the Air Force proposes to reduce and/or phase out current mechanical vegetation management practices (mowing, roller drum chopping, chainsaws, hand-held saws) and allow for chemical vegetation management in areas where mechanical means are not possible or desirable. Program implementation would reduce vegetation control operation costs, erosion and stream sedimentation, and impacts to sensitive species and habitat associated with land test areas. Also, the Proposed Action would provide Eglin AFB natural resource managers with flexible vegetation management tools for sensitive species habitat improvement, particularly restoration of longleaf pine savannas for species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW). Other portions of the reservation would be maintained in habitat conditions as required by the military mission.

The Air Force proposes to renovate and build an addition to Building 614 in support of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Reprogramming Facility (JRF) at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida (Figure 1-1). The proposed project would include the construction of a 6,700 square-foot building addition, a parking lot, interior renovations, existing pavement demolition, force protection standoff measures, new chillers, a transformer, a back-up generator, and associated infrastructure. The proposed project would provide a lab, control room, conference room, and supporting spaces for the JSF Stimulation System Integration System (StimSIS) equipment necessary to test mission data. Building construction and renovation activities would meet Special Access Program Facility (SAPF) criteria for processing and storing classified information and provide radio frequency (RF) shielding for operational purposes.

The purpose for the action is to provide special operations forces and the joint military forces community a realistic, instrumented, urban live-fire range environment on Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) for experimentation, test, training, and evaluation of advanced operational/training technologies. This proposed urban live-fire environment is referred to in this environmental assessment (EA) as Interoperable Urban Joint Close Air Support or IU-JCAS. The construction of this area is the major feature of Phase I of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Urban Training and Capabilities. Other phases would be evaluated once funding is available and sufficient details exist for analysis. United States (U.S.) Special Operations Command through AFSOC needs to train aircrew and special tactics teams how to locate, identify, and direct fire upon enemy combatants in an urban setting. This will prepare fighters for the current wartime environment and for future actions in the global war on terrorism. Current combat operations require AFSOC and U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) rotary-wing and fixed-wing gunships to fire in an urban environment. Aircrews prepare for this type of combat either by conducting dry fire on real urban areas or in simulation with no feedback or by conducting live fire in an open environment on individual targets with feedback. There is presently no training site on Eglin AFB that allows live fire of the needed weapons calibers in an urban environment, specifically live fire directed between buildings that provides feedback through instrumentation. Thus, the situation is such that the first time any AFSOC or USASOC crewmember conducts live fire in an urban environment is in combat. The action is needed to bring together the elements of ground units calling for live fire, gunship live fire response, and realistic urban targets.

The Proposed Action is to initiate activities under the Ranger Training Brigade (RTB) Recapitalization Master Plan for the 6th Ranger Training Battalion (6th RTB) at Camp James Rudder on Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) (Figures 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3). These activities include constructing six pre-engineered metal buildings, replacing the gymnasium, renovating the student and cadre barracks, and building a Controlled Environment Storage Facility (Boat House, new Building 6070), a consolidated Company Operations Facility and a consolidated Maintenance and Storage Facility. Infrastructure needed to support daily operation includes utility line connections to the buildings. Buildings 6016, 6018, 6019, 6020, 6022, 6024, 6025, 6030, 6034, 6041, 6042, 6043, 6044, 6045, 6046, and 6070 would be demolished. The demolition of existing buildings encompasses 41,150 square feet. This Environmental Assessment (EA) describes the potential environmental impacts that would result from these activities. The Ranger Training Brigade is the proponent of the action, and the Air Force is the cooperating agency.