BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate potential environmental effects associated with the implementation of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, or GBSD, Test Program. The GBSD program would modernize the aging U.S. land-based intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman III system.
The Air Force proposes to modernize the land-based leg of the nuclear triad, recapitalizing its ICBM fleet while upgrading the weapon system technology, supporting infrastructure, and command and control functions. Test program-related actions would occur primarily at Hill Air Force Base, Utah and at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Such tests would include conducting missile launches from Vandenberg AFB with flights over the Pacific Ocean in the Western Test Range. Additional test support activities would occur at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. The environmental assessment also includes analysis of the proposed GBSD Formal Training Unit/Schoolhouse at Vandenberg AFB. The GBSD and Minuteman III test demonstrations are proposed to occur at U.S. Army Garrison–Kwajalein Atoll and within the Republic of the Marshall Islands territorial waters. The analysis of overseas environmental impacts is also included in the assessment. Test activities would comply with the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll environmental standards.
The Draft GBSD Test Program environmental assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact, or FONSI, are available at https://www.afgsc.af.mil/Sentinel/Environmental-Impact-Statement/ [Original link removed Oct 22, 2024. See Editor's Note] for public comment. Public comments on the Draft Test Program Environmental Assessment and Draft FONSI will be accepted through March 22, 2021 and can be provided in either of the following ways: (1) email comments by March 22, 2021 to [Link removed Oct 22, 2024. See Editor's Note]; (2) mail comments, postmarked no later than March 22, 2021, to: USASMDC, ATTN: SMDC-EN (D. Hasley), P.O. Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807. For more information visit: https://www.afgsc.af.mil/Sentinel-GBSD/ or contact Air Force Global Strike Command at AFGSC.PAWorkflow@us.af.
Editor’s Note: This article was on updated on Oct 22, 2024, at 4:10 pm CDT. The revisions that occurred were that any “.com” website links previously referenced or linked which previously hosted “Additional archival information related to the Sentinel Deployment EIS” were removed due to that commercial website domain no longer complying with Department of Defense Instruction 8170.01 “Online Information Management and Electronic Messaging”, section “3.20. Hyperlinks.” nor Air Force Instruction 35-101 “Public Affairs Operations”, chapter 5 “Command Information and Distribution.”
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