HomeMy WebLinkAbout20222142.tiffDEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND
Howard N. Kosht, GS -15, DAF
Reply to: GBSD Project EIS
10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340
Fairfax, VA 22030
Dear Stakeholder
RECEIVED
JUL 06 2022
WELD COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
July 1, 2022
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (Title 42 United States Code
§ 4321); the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA (Title 40 Code of
Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508); and the Air Force Environmental Impact Analysis Process
(EIAP) as codified in 32 CFR Part 989, the Air Force has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for public review that analyzes the potential environmental consequences associated with
the proposed deployment of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile (ICBM) weapons system, called Sentinel, and decommissioning and disposal of the aging
Minuteman III ICBM weapons system. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management,
Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest
Service, and Wyoming Army National Guard are cooperating agencies for the EIS.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to replace all land -based Minuteman III missiles deployed
in the continental U.S. with the technologically advanced GBSD system. The Proposed Action is needed
to meet national security requirements and to comply with the John S. McCain National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Publ. L. 115-232 § 1663, 132 Stat. 2153), which directs the Air
Force to develop and implement a strategy "to accelerate the development, procurement, and fielding of
the ground based strategic deterrent program."
In addition to replacing all land -based Minuteman III ICBMs with the GBSD ICBMs, all launch
facilities, communication systems, infrastructure, and technologies would be modernized and replaced as
necessary to support the GBSD system. Decommissioning and disposal activities would include
destruction of all Minuteman III weapon systems and associated components to prevent their further use
for their originally intended purpose. While certain components and subsystems of the Minuteman III
have been upgraded, most of the fundamental infrastructure used today is the nearly 50 -year -old original
equipment. The Proposed Action would not include generating or disposing of nuclear material, and the
number of land -based nuclear missiles would remain unchanged. The nuclear warheads from the
Minuteman III system would be used for the GBSD system. Deployment of the GBSD system would
begin in the mid -2020s, extending the capabilities of the land -based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad through
at least 2075.
Both on- and off -base construction and operational activities would take place at Francis E.
Warren (F.E.) Air Force Base (AFB), WY, Malmstrom AFB, MT, and Minot AFB, ND, and throughout
the missile fields. Additional construction, maintenance, training, storage, testing, support,
decommissioning, and disposal actions would occur at Hill AFB, UT; the Utah Test and Training Range,
UT; Camp Guernsey, WY; and Camp Navajo, AZ. Deployment of the GBSD system would begin in 2023
at F.E. Warren AFB, and be implemented at Malmstrom AFB and Minot AFB over the next 15 years.
The proposed GBSD deployment activities would include the construction and renovation of
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approximately 1,569,000 square feet of on -base facilities, and the refurbishment of all 450 launch
facilities and 45 missile alert facilities, construction of 62 new communication towers on newly acquired
properties, the establishment of approximately 3,100 miles of new utility corridors, and the potential to
conduct utility work within the nearly 5,000 miles of existing utility easements throughout the missile
fields of F.E. Warren, Malmstrom, and Minot AFBs. During construction, a workforce hub would be
established in or near Great Falls and Lewistown, MT, Kimball, NE, and Minot, ND, housing up to 3,000
temporary workers and support personnel each, and 19 centralized construction laydown areas would be
established in or near Stoneham, CO; Augusta, Belt, Denton, Judith Gap, Lewistown, Stanford, Vaughn,
and Winifred, MT; Kimball and Sydney, NE; Balfour, Bowbells, Garrison, Mohall, Ruso, Stanley, and
Wabek, ND; and Albin, WY. While there would be no construction at Camp Navajo, the proposed GBSD
deployment activities would include use of the existing missile storage area during Minuteman III
decommissioning and disposal activities.
The EIS evaluates two alternatives to the Proposed Action, the Reduced Utility Corridors
Alternative and the No Action Alternative (as required by NEPA). The Reduced Utility Corridors
Alternative would replace all land -based Minuteman III ICBMs deployed in the continental United States
with GBSD ICBMs, as would the Proposed Action. And, while it includes most of the elements of the
Proposed Action, it also proposes establishing appreciably fewer miles of new utility corridors and
reutilizing marginally fewer miles of existing utility corridors. Under the No Action Alternative, the Air
Force would continue to maintain and operate the Minuteman III weapon system in its current
configuration, and the GBSD weapon system would not be deployed.
The public comment period for the GBSD EIS begins with publication of the Notice of
Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register on or about July 1, 2022. Advertisements will be published in
local newspapers notifying the public of the EIS comment period and the 7 regional in -person and 2
virtual public hearings. See the included flyer for additional information on the hearings and how to
obtain or where to review the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS and all materials that will be presented at the
public hearings are available for review on the project website at www.gbsdeis.com. On the website, you
will find information about the locations and registration procedures for all public hearings. The website
will become accessible the day the NOA is published.
To ensure a thorough review of the analysis in the Draft EIS, the Air Force is soliciting comments
from interested local, state, and federal agencies and organizations; Native American Tribes; and
members of the public. Comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted in a variety of ways to include
orally at the in -person and virtual public hearings or in writing at in -person public hearings, through the
project website at www.gbsdeis.com; via email to gbsdeis@tetratech.com; or by mail to: GBSD Project
EIS, 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340, Fairfax, VA, 22030. The Air Force requests that comments on the
Draft EIS be submitted within 45 days of the publication of the NOA to ensure they are considered by the
Air Force for the Final EIS. If you are unable to access the website or would like to request printed or
digital copies of materials, please send an email to gbsdeis@tetratech.com.
Sincerely
HOWARD N. KOSHT, GS -15, DAF
Executive Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, and
Requirements
Public Hearings and Providing Comments on the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Ground Based
Strategic Deterrent Deployment and Minuteman III Decommissioning and Disposal
The public is invited to review and comment on the Air Force's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
proposed Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) Deployment and Minuteman III Decommissioning and Disposal.
Where to Obtain the Draft EIS
The Draft EIS is available for review and download at www.gbsdeis.com. An electronic copy may be requested by calling
(307) 773-3400 or emailing gbsdeis@tetratech.com. It may also be reviewed at the at the following public libraries:
Fort Berthold Minot Public
Library Library
220 8th Ave E 516 2nd St Ave
New Town, ND SW Minot, ND
58763 58701
Public Hearing Information
Kimball Public
Library
208 S Walnut St.
Kimball, NE
69145
Laramie County
Library
2200 Pioneer Ave.
Cheyenne, WY
82001
Great Falls Public
Library
301 2nd Ave. N
Great Falls, MT
59401
Lewistown Public
Library
701 W Main St.
Lewistown, MT
59457
The Air Force is holding two virtual and seven regionally -based in -person public hearings to provide information about
the proposed project and to accept comments on the draft EIS. All members of the public are encouraged to attend as
your input will assist the Air Force in making more informed decisions. The public hearings will include (1) opening
remarks by Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC); (2) a pre-recorded presentation outlining the scope of the
proposed GBSD project and the findings of the Draft EIS; and (3) an opportunity for attendees to provide oral and/or
written comments. The presentation at in -person hearings will begin 30 minutes after the start time, formal public
testimony will begin approximately one hour later, and the hearing venue will close 3 hours after the start time. Oral
comments will be limited to 3 minutes for all public hearings. Comments of considerable length can be submitted in
writing through the project website, via email, or through the US mail (see Public Comment section below).
Regional In -Person Public Hearings
Jul 19, 2022 5:30-8:30pm CT Three Affiliated Tribes Pow Wow Grounds, New Town, ND
Jul 21, 2022 5:30-8:30pm CT Minot Municipal Auditorium (Old Armory Rm), 430 3rd Ave. SW, Minot, ND 58701
Jul 26, 2022 5:30-8:30pm MT Mansfield Ctr for Performing Arts (Missouri Rm), 2 Park Drive S, Great Falls, MT 59401
Jul 28, 2022 3:00-6:00pm MT Fergus County Fairgrounds, 153 Fairgrounds Road, Lewistown, MT 59457
Aug 2, 2022 5:30-8:30pm MT Kimball Jr/Sr High School, 901 S Nadine St, Kimball, NE, 69145
Aug 3, 2022 5:30-8:30pm MT Prairie High School, 42315 Wcr 133, New Raymer, Colorado 80742
Aug 4, 2022 5:30-8:30pm MT ANB Bank Leadership Center, 1400 E College Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82007
Virtual Public Hearings
Aug 8, 2022 5:30-8:30pm CT
Aug 9, 2022 5:30-8:30pm MT
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
at www.gbsdeis.com
Public Comments
• All public hearing materials are available at www.gbsdeis.com.
• Hearings may adjourn before 8:30, if all oral comments have been provided.
To request accommodation to access the print and audio presentation, ask for help
making a comment (per the Americans with Disabilities Act), or if you need assistance
attending via phone due to lack of internet availability, please call AFGSC Public
Affairs at (307) 773-3400 no later than August 1, 2022.
In addition to providing comments on the Draft EIS during
the public hearings, written comments can be submitted
through the project website at www.gbsdeis.com; via
email to gbsdeis@tetratech.com; or by US mail to: GBSD
EIS, 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340, Fairfax, VA, 22030.
Comments will be accepted at any time during the
environmental review process. However, oral
comments provided at the public hearings and
written comments received by August 15, 2022, will
be considered in the preparation of the Final EIS.
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