GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- United States Air Force
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact/Draft Finding of No Practicable Alternative for the Proposed Mixed-Use Business Park on an Enhanced Use Lease at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota
Air Mobility Command Headquarters and Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB) announce the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that evaluates the potential environmental impacts of activities associated with the development of a mixed-use business park by Grand Forks County (County) under an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) on an underutilized, non-excess portion of Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota (ND). Grand Forks AFB proposes to lease approximately 217 acres to the County for the purpose of developing, constructing, and operating a mixed-use business park to support research and development, testing and evaluation, and operations of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), as well as activities centered on the development of sensor technology and data management.
The activities associated with the proposed action include development, construction, and operation of the proposed mixed-use business park upon execution of a 50-year land lease. The proposed action also includes the use of UAS to launch and recover remotely piloted aircraft subject to notice to the County, written request to the Air Force for its review and approval, and compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The draft EA evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed action and reasonable alternatives to include the no action alternative on air quality, water resources, biological resources, cultural resources, hazardous materials and wastes, geology and soils, land use, noise, transportation, utilities, socioeconomics, environmental justice, and occupational health and safety. The draft EA analyzes the impacts of two proposed alternative layouts of the proposed business park that includes construction in wetlands that will require a Finding of No Practicable Alternative. Alternative 2, the preferred alternative, is a layout designed to reduce impacts on wetlands in the leased area to the maximum extent practicable. The analysis as shown in the EA indicates that the proposed action, under the preferred alternative incorporating the appropriate mitigation measures presented, would not have significant impacts on the environment and would support a Finding of No Significant Impact and Finding of No Practicable Alternative.
A copy of the draft EA has been placed in the Grand Forks Public Library at 2110 Liberty Circle, Grand Forks, ND, and is available online at:
http://www.grandforks.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-131126-060.pdf
Written comments on the draft EA are invited and will be received for 30 days following the publication of this notice. Comments for consideration by the Air Force on this document should be provided in writing to:
Public Affairs Office
319th Air Base Wing
375 Steen Blvd.
Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND 58205
Or email
319ABW.PA@us.af.mil