HIGH ENERGY LASER SYSTEMS TEST FACILITY (HELSTF) ENHANCED

3,29

MB

LASER AND RANGE OPERATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

149

stron

6348

ID

Department of Defense

2005

rok

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . es-1

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ac-1

1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED 1-1

1.1 Introduction.1-1

1.2 Background 1-1

1.3 Purpose and Need .1-3

1.4 Scope of this Document .1-3

1.5 Decision(s) To Be Made.1-4

1.6 Related Environmental Documentation1-4

2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES 2-1

2.1 No-Action Alternative (Continue Current Level of Testing and Capabilities) 2-2

2.1.1 Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser .2-6

2.1.2 Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser Test Bed2-6

2.1.3 Low-Power Chemical Laser2-7

2.1.4 Laser Device Demonstration 2-7

2.1.5 Pulsed Laser Vulnerability Test System.2-7

2.1.6 Beam Transfer Area .2-8

2.1.7 Effects Test Area 2-8

2.1.8 Hazard Test Area/Test Cell B .2-9

2.1.9 Vacuum Test System2-9

2.1.10 Sea-Lite Beam Director 2-9

2.1.11 Army Pointer Tracker2-9

2.1.12 Safety Systems.2-10

2.1.13 Chemistry Laboratory .2-10

2.1.14 Support Activities 2-11

2.2 Proposed Action .2-11

2.2.1 Possible Future Laser Technology/Systems Development and Testing2-11

2.2.2 Components of Test and Evaluation of Laser Technologies and Weapons Systems2-15

2.2.3 Target Launches in Support of Dynamic Testing2-17

2.2.4 Target Launch and Firing Points.2-18

2.2.5 Associated Rocket and Artillery Impact Areas2-20

2.2.6 Facility and System Improvements.2-20

3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT.3-1

3.1 Air Quality.3-2

3.2 Airspace .3-4

3.3 Biological Resources3-9

3.4 Cultural Resources.3-15

3.5 Hazardous Materials and Waste 3-16

3.6 Health and Safety.3-17

3.7 Infrastructure and Transportation .3-19

3.8 Water Resources3-21

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES.4-1

4.1 Air Quality.4-1

4.1.1 No-Action Alternative 4-1

4.1.2 Proposed Action .4-3

4.1.3 Cumulative Impacts 4-5

4.2 Airspace .4-5

4.2.1 No-Action Alternative 4-5

4.2.2 Proposed Action .4-6

4.2.3 Cumulative Impacts 4-6

4.3 Biological Resources4-7

4.3.1 No-Action Alternative 4-7

4.3.2 Proposed Action .4-8

4.3.3 Cumulative Impacts 4-10

4.4 Cultural Resources.4-11

4.4.1 No-Action Alternative 4-11

4.4.2 Proposed Action .4-12

4.4.3 Cumulative Impacts 4-14

4.5 Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste4-14

4.5.1 No-Action Alternative 4-14

4.5.2 Proposed Action .4-17

4.5.3 Cumulative Impacts 4-19

4.6 Health and Safety.4-19

4.6.1 No-Action Alternative 4-19

4.6.2 Proposed Action .4-20

4.6.3 Cumulative Impacts 4-22

4.7 Infrastructure and Transportation .4-22

4.7.1 No-Action Alternative 4-22

4.7.2 Proposed Action .4-22

4.7.3 Cumulative Impacts 4-25

4.8 Water Resources4-25

4.8.1 No-Action Alternative 4-25

4.8.2 Proposed Action .4-26

4.8.3 Cumulative Impacts 4-27

4.9 Cumulative Impacts4-27

4.10 Adverse Environmental Effects That Cannot Be Avoided 4-28

4.11 Conflicts with Federal, State, and Local Land Use Plans, Policies, and Controls for the Area

Concerned4-28

4.12 Energy Requirements and Conservation Potential.4-28

4.13 Irreversible or Irretrievable Commitment of Resources 4-28

4.14 Relationship Between Short-Term Use of the Human Environment and the Maintenance and

Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity.4-29

4.15 Natural or Depletable Resource Requirements and Conservation Potential4-29

4.16 Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice In Minority Populations and Low-Income

Populations (Executive Order 12898).4-29

4.17 Federal Actions To Address Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks And

Safety Risks (Executive Order 13045, as Amended By Executive Order 13229) .4-29

5.0 REFERENCES.5-1

6.0 LIST OF PREPARERS .6-1

7.0 AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS CONTACTED .7-1

APPENDICES

A DISTRIBUTION LIST

B CORRESPONDENCE

C RELATED NEPA DECISION DOCUMENTS

D COMMANDER’S GUIDANCE