The Air Force has released its draft environmental assessment of the proposed airspace boundary changes to the Mountain Home Range Complex for Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. The service wants to expand the lateral and vertical boundaries of the Paradise East and Paradise West portions of the complex, increasing the total training airspace from 7,501 square nautical miles to 9,680 square nautical miles. The draft EA finds that implementing this action “would not result in significant impacts to human health or the natural environment.” (Draft EA; caution, large file) The document states that the changes would allow for more realistic training scenarios for the airmen of Mountain Home’s 366th Fighter Wing, who fly F-15s and F-15Es. The public comment period on the draft EA began June 15 and concludes on Aug. 1. (For more, read Mountain Home’s release.)
Hurricane Hunters with the Air Force and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are struggling to keep up with a rising number of storms, but a government watchdog says both agencies need to refine their data-tracking efforts and improve interagency communication between its most senior leaders to develop a cohesive…