Range Environmental Assessment Overland Air Operations, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida

The Department of the Air Force has conducted a Range Environmental Assessment (REA) of the potential environmental consequences of Eglin overland air operations. That July 2014 REA is hereby incorporated by reference into this finding. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to allow quick and efficient processing of mission programs that request access to Eglin overland airspace during routine and crisis situations. The Proposed Action is needed to update/validate the current approval process for routine military users of Eglin overland airspace, and to provide a quick response to priority needs during war or other significant military involvement. Since the last NEPA analysis of Eglin overland air operations, which was conducted in 1998, Eglin overland air operations have changed as a result of engagement in wars, development of new technologies, and changes in associated Eglin AFB mission activities. By updating the environmental impact analysis for Eglin overland air operations to address mission and other changes that have occurred since the last analysis, the attached REA allows more streamlined and accurate environmental review/approval of overland air mission requests.