Luke Releases Draft EIS, Schedules Public Meetings

The 56th Range Management Office at Luke AFB, Ariz., has issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement for proposed actions to upgrade and improve training assets at the Barry M. Goldwater Range eastern section, including the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field. In the EIS, the Air Force lays out the 10 actions it believes it needs to take to make the range suitable for today’s air combat tactics. They include developing a sensor training area for air-to-ground training in an urban environment; installing a moving vehicle target for air-to-ground training; lowering the altitude for flight training over a portion of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge; converting a portion of the range into a helicopter gunnery range; and allowing additional ground-based training for Air Force combat search and rescue forces and special operations teams. The 56th RMO has scheduled three public meetings, July 27, 28, and 29, to receive public comments. (56th RMO release, including list of public libraries with copies of the draft EIS) (Draft EIS executive summary)