Proposed Action of Year-Round Mortar and Artillery Live Fire Training on Eagle River Flats
A 105mm howitzer firing from Malemute Drop Zone on JBER. Photo credit: US Army/John Pennell
The U.S. Department of Defense and Department of the Air Force submitted a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act for the proposed action of year-round mortar and artillery live fire training on Eagle River Flats. The proposed action not only proposes to remove winter firing restrictions that have been in place for approximately 30 years, but also proposes expanding the bombing range into another 585 acres of Eagle River Flats.
We submitted comments on the Notice, advocating for “middle of the road” alternatives to be considered. Read our full comment below.
Interested stakeholders have long worked closely with the military to allow ongoing activities at ERF. Even during litigation in the early 2000s, the plaintiff organizations, including two of the groups submitting this letters, were able to work with the military to come to a settlement that allowed the Army to continue live-fire training at the Eagle River Flats Range. At that time, all parties recognized the need to balance the military need for live fire training with the protection of the valuable and unique environment at Eagle River Flats. Local people can, and do, work productively with the military. But cancelling all public meetings, failing to engage the pubic in the development of the proposed action given the long history here, and the failure to provide updated information about the results of ongoing monitoring and current conditions at Eagle River Flats makes such cooperation challenging.
Alaska Wildlife Alliance et al Joint Letter, Prepared by Trustees for Alaska
We also submitted a joint letter requesting an extension of the scoping period, below.
