Test Area C-64 Range Environmental Assessment, Revision 1

Abstract

Abstract : 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.