Environmental Assessment: Space Innovation and Development Center Schriever AFB, Colorado

This Final EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. The SIDC mission (formerly the Space Warfare Center [SWC] and Space Test and Evaluation Facility [STEF]) currently operates out of five separate facilities, including temporary facilities and a downtown facility. As a result of a mission change at the Joint National Integration Center on Schriever AFB, where the SIDC currently utilizes 75,000 square feet of space, Air Force officials determined that a new facility would be constructed for use by the SIDC. The Proposed Action is to construct a new SIDC outside of the Restricted Area near the corner of Enoch Road and Irwin Avenue. An alternative site location was considered and was assessed in the EA. The following paragraphs provide a brief discussion of the findings. Construction of the SIDC would have short-term, but not significant impacts on air quality. The proposed project conforms to the State Implementation Plan and is exempt from further conformity review. While the base could become a major source of criteria pollutants, they would remain below the thresholds for Prevention of Significant Deterioration review requirements. Topography and soils would be directly impacted from grading, excavation, and compaction by equipment during construction. About 10 acres of soil would be disturbed for construction and exposed to potential erosion by wind and water. Best management practices such as daily watering and revegetating the site after construction would reduce the risk of erosion. Impacts to soils and topography would not be significant. Construction of the SIDC would not disturb the unconfined surficial aquifer. Impacts to surface water from erosion or storm water runoff would not be significant. No long-term impacts to water resources were identified from water usage or storm water flow.