Kirtland AFB: a key war base for using space for the wars of empire around the globe

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment Addressing Air Force Research Laboratory Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Activities at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico

The United States Air Force (USAF), United States Space Force (USSF), Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB), and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) announce the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) addressing the continuation of research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities on Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico. The PEA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Department of Defense NEPA Implementing Procedures.

The PEA describes the AFRL proposal to evaluate potential environmental impacts associated with continuing to conduct RDT&E activities on Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. AFRL has been conducting RDT&E activities on Kirtland AFB since the 1960s, and there are many existing Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Analysis Process documents spanning the decades from 1970 to the present day. The Proposed Action consolidates all current and proposed future AFR RDT&E activities into one PEA, ensuring these activities can continue to occur on Kirtland AFB into the future.

Two units of AFRL conduct these activities, the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate (AFRL/RD) and AFRL Space Vehicle Directorate (AFRL/RV).

AFRL/RD develops directed energy weapons (including high energy lasers, high-power microwave, and high-power electromagnetic system prototypes) to counter, disable, and attack adversary sources. Equipment, components, and designs for warfighter weapons are created and tested in laboratories across Kirtland AFB before being tested outdoors at the High Energy Research and Technology Facility (HERTF/HERTF Canyon, Frustration Canyon, Starfire Optical Range/1-Mile and 2-Mile sites, and Outdoor Laser Propagation and Firing Area to evaluate the performance of the new technology. AFRL/RV ensures that the United States and its allies maintain space superiority by developing and transitioning technologies that provide space-based capabilities to the nation.

Equipment, components, and designs for space-based technologies are created in laboratories across Kirtland AFB and then tested outdoors at the Skywave Technology Laboratory, Improved Solar Observing Optical Network, and South Park Antenna Field.

The PEA evaluates potential impacts on the environment from the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. The PEA demonstrates that the Proposed Action would not significantly impact the environment and based on this analysis, the USAF has prepared and signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The Final PEA and FONSI are available on the Kirtland AFB website at http://www.kirtland.af.mil/Home/Environment.