Joint Maneuver Test Range on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Final Environmental Assessment

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act ( 40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1508), Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 5090.1 C, and Air Force Instruction 32-7061, the Department of Navy has conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the probable environmental consequences for the development of the Joint Maneuver Test Range (JMTR) on Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) proposes to develop and enhance existing test capabilities for the mine roller system and related equipment at the Joint Maneuver Test Range (JMTR) on Auxiliary Field 4 on Eglin AFB. Auxiliary Field 4 is an abandoned air strip located halfway between Eglin AFB's runway and Test Area B-71 off Range Road 236. NSWC PCD proposes to modify the JMTR to simulate the terrains encountered in Southwest Asia. Mine roller system testing must be conducted according to procedures and requirements outlined in the Allied Vehicle Testing Publication (NATO, 1991). Based on these requirements and information received directly from warfighters who operate tactical vehicles and mine roller systems in Southwest Asia, 25 testing components have been identified and would be incorporated into the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT &E) activities at the JMTR on Auxiliary Field 4. The JMTR is a research and development (R&D) facility that tests and evaluates mine roller systems and related equipment performance in any and all variables that are commonly encountered by warfighters in Southwest Asia. Enhancement and development of the proposed 25 testing components at the JMTR to accurately simulate all aspects of those terrains would properly test these systems under rigorous conditions to ensure potential deficiencies are identified and resolved before they are deployed.