Environmental Assessment Addressing the Survivable Airborne Operations Center E-4C Divestment, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
Early Public Notice- Review of a Proposed Activity Within the 100-Year Floodplain
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is inviting public input on any practicable alternatives for proposed activity within land adjoining the 100-year floodplain at Offutt Air Force Base (OAFB). The Proposed Action is development of facilities and infrastructure in support of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) E-4B Divestment. The proposed development would involve construction, demolition, and alterations of utilities and airfield infrastructure. The Proposed Action would address necessary upgrades required to introduce the E-4C airframe and support current and future capabilities of the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) mission. Left unchanged, the current E-4B infrastructure and facilities would be incapable of adapting to the newer E-4C airframe, resulting in an inefficient and ineffective NAOC mission at OAFB, necessary for critical DAF operations.
This notice is required by Executive Order (EO) 11988 Floodplains Management, and EO 11990 Protection of Wetlands. It has been prepared and made available to the public by the DAF in accordance with 32 CFR 989 and Air Force Manual 32-7003 for actions proposed within the 100-year floodplain and within wetlands. Although the proposed project area is not mapped within the 100-year floodplain due to existing flood protection infrastructure, portions of the immediate area, including the access roads and gate entry locations, lie within a floodplain and will be assessed in accordance with EO 11988. The project is also expected to impact wetlands associated with stormwater drainage ditches along the airfield and the southern boundary of the proposed project area. The DAF invites public comments on the proposal, including any practicable alternatives to constructing in the floodplain or wetland areas. The Proposed Action will be analyzed in a forthcoming Environmental Assessment (EA) and the public will have the opportunity to comment on the Draft EA when it is released.
The public comment period ends 30 days after the date of this notice. Comments may be submitted via email to Ms. Krista Hoffart, 55 CEP/CENP at krista.hoffart@us.af.mil, including “Offutt SAOC EA” in the subject line or via postal mail to: Ms. Krista Hoffart, 55 CES/CENP Attn: SAOC EA, 106 Peacekeeper Dr., Suite 2N3 Offutt Air Force Base, NE, 68113-4019.
Picture provided by the Department of Defense – Stock Photo of an E-4B.
