Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan 2013
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INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN 2013 611th Air Support Group Alaska Installations U.S. AIR FORCE, 611th AIR SUPPORT GROUP, ALASKA 611th CIVIL ENGINEER SQUADRON, ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN 2013 611th Air Support Group, Alaska Installations This revised Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) meets requirements of the Sikes Act (16 USC 670a et seq.) as amended and as approved in previous plans in 2007, 2008, and 2009 by the 611th Air Support Group Commander, the Alaska Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game commissioner. Use and mission of the installations have not significantly changed since approval of the previous plans. The Short and Long Range Radar Sites and Eareckson Air Station INRMPs were approved for use in 2007; the King Salmon Airport INRMP was approved for use in 2008; and the Inactive Sites INRMP was approved for use in 2009. They will remain in use until replaced by the final version of this plan. The primary change in this revised INRMP is that of format to follow guidance provided in Air Force Instruction 32-7064. This INRMP also groups installations from the four previous plans into one document. Data specific to each installation and management goals, objectives, and projects have also been updated and included in this revision. Sikes Act Cooperating Agencies* ROBYN M. BURK, Colonel, USAF Commander 611th Air Support Group GEOFFREY HASKETT Regional Director, Region 7 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service *Above signatures are digital copies of originals, which are on file at the 611th Air Support Group. INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN 2013 611th Air Support Group, Alaska Installations U.S. AIR FORCE, 611th AIR SUPPORT GROUP, ALASKA 611th CIVIL ENGINEER SQUADRON, ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT Invited Collaborators Endorsement Both below agencies were afforded the opportunity to review and comment on this INRMP. James W. Balsiger Ph.D. Regional Administrator, Alaska Region NOAA Fisheries’ National Marine Fisheries Service* The Bureau of Land Management reviewed and provided comments on drafts of the INRMP, but the agency declined to formally sign the document. Appendix 2.5.2, Correspondence includes the letter to this effect. *The above signature is a digital copy of the original, which is on file at the 611th Air Support Group. INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN 2013 611th Air Support Group, Alaska Installations PREPARED BY Gene Stout and Associates Center for Ecological Management of Military Lands 4307 Crane Court Colorado State University Loveland, CO 80537 Fort Collins, CO 80523 611th AIR SUPPORT GROUP REVIEW 611 Air Support Group 9480 Pease Ave, Suite 123 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK 99506-2101 611th Civil Engineer Squadron 611th Air Support Squadron 10471 20th Street, Suite 302 10471 20th Street, Suite 265 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK 99506-2200 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK 99506-2200 Matthew Moran - Natural Resources Program Manager, Natural Resource Program Element, 611 CES/CEAN Keith Barnack - Remedial Project Manager (Eareckson Air Station, Cape Lisburne, Cape Newenham, Cape Romanzof, and Tin City), Environmental Restoration, 611 CES/CEAR James Fife – Chief, Asset Optimization, 611 CES/CEAO Vikki Gilmore – Realty Officer, 611 CES/CEAO Wade Gilpin – Environmental Compliance Manager, 611 CES/CEAN Nick C. Hilton - Deputy Program Manager, 611 ASUS/ARS Steve Hunt - Remedial Project Manager (Sparrevohn, Nikolski, Nome Tank Farm, Beaver Creek, Anvil Mountain, Bear Creek, and Driftwood Bay), Environmental Restoration, 611 CES/CEAR Robert Johnston - Remedial Project Manager (Oliktok, Indian Mountain, Tatalina, and Bethel) Laura Keiser – Realty Officer, 611 CES/CEAO Karlene B. Leeper - Cultural Resources Program Manager, Natural Resource Management Element, 611 CES/CEAN Steve Mattson - Chief, Environmental Restoration Section, 611 CES/CEAR Catherine Moody – Realty Officer, 611 CES/CEAO LtCol Robert Neiper – 611 ASUS/CC Charlie Peyton - Remedial Project Manager (Campion, Kalakaket, King Salmon, Naknek), Environmental Restoration, 611 CES/CEAR Yvonne Pierre 611 CES/CEAO – Realty Officer, 611 CES/CEAO Pat Roth - Remedial Project Manager (Cold Bay, Fort Yukon, Murphy Dome, Granite Mountain, North River, Port Heiden), Environmental Restoration, 611 CES/CEAR Lori Roy - Remedial Project Manager (Barter Island, Big Mountain, Bullen Point, Duncan Canal, Kotzebue, Lake Louise, Point Barrow, Pillar Mountain, Point Lay, Point Lonely, and Wainwright), Environmental Restoration Element, 611 CES/CEAR Maj David Troxell – Chief, Operations, 611 CES/CEOS Bryson Twidwell – Environmental Engineer, 611 CES/CEAN HEADQUARTERS, PACIFIC AIR FORCES REVIEW William Grannis - Natural Resource Program Manager, AFCEC/CFPE, 25 E Street, Suite F213, Hickam AFB, HI 96853-5412 PREFACE By working as a team, we can preserve both the natural diversity of military training areas and our opportunity to train the way we plan to fight, now and in the future.1 The primary change in this revised Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan is that of format to follow guidance provided in Air Force Instruction 32-7064 and the combination of four separate plans into a single plan. Data specific to 611th Air Support Group’s (611 ASG) 35 Alaska sites and management goals, objectives, and projects have also been updated and included in this revision. Missions of 611 ASG’s air stations and radar sites have changed over the decades... including defense against an invading nation in World War II, refueling aircraft and staging supplies during the Korean Conflict, ground- controlled aircraft intercept, operating Alaska’s DEW line and White Alice Communications System, intelligence-gathering during the Cold War, supporting civilian aircraft, defense communications, missile defense, and emergency divert airfields. Regardless of the mission, military and civilian services provided by the U.S. Air Force at 611 ASG sites are first rate today, just as they have been over the decades. 611 ASG airfield and radar sites include Alaska’s Arctic Coastal Plain, northwestern, southwestern and south- central coasts; the interior of Alaska; and the Aleutian chain of islands… all home of some of the most unique plant and wildlife species on the North American continent. This vast diversity of natural habitats is critical to our national environmental health and well-being. This Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan is the 611 ASG’s plan of action for the conservation of natural resources entrusted to the U.S. Air Force. The plan is intended for a finite period, but the philosophy behind it is for a much longer period of time. The U.S. Air Force will conserve its biological diversity and make sound decisions regarding the use of natural resources to support both the military mission and needs of the region and the nation. Lands at 611 ASG sites have been used to serve our national defense mission for over 60 years. This legacy is not taken lightly by those who use the facilities today. This Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan is dedicated to the next generation of Americans who will use these lands and their natural resources. 1 General Joseph W. Ralston, USAF, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (March 1996 - April 2000) and former Commander, Eleventh Air Force and the Alaskan Command (July 1992 - July 1994) Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary ……………………………………………………………………………… 1-1 1.1 Purpose of the INRMP ..................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.1 Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.2 INRMP Support of the Air Force Mission .......................................................... 1-1 1.2 Summary of Benefits of INRMP Implementation ............................................................. 1-2 1.3 Implementation of the INRMP ......................................................................................... 1-3 1.3.1 General Natural Resources Management Goals ................................................... 1-3 1.3.2 Effects of Implementation of INRMP Goals on Management Direction ............ 1-3 1.3.3 Significant Environmental Impacts of INRMP Implementation .......................... 1-3 2.0 General Information ................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.1 Scope .................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Function ............................................................................................................... 2-2 2.2 Authority .......................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.1 Sikes Act ............................................................................................................. 2-2 2.2.2 Department of Defense Authorities ..................................................................... 2-3 2.2.3 Air Force Authorities ........................................................................................... 2-4 2.2.4 Other Related Authorities ...................................................................................