Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study United States Army, Fort Wainwright United States Air Force, Eielson Air Force Base Fairbanks North Star Borough, Planning Department July 2006 Produced by ASCG Incorporated of Alaska Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study Fairbanks Joint Land Use Study This study was prepared under contract with Fairbanks North Star Borough with financial support from the Office of Economic Adjustment, Department of Defense. The content reflects the views of Fairbanks North Star Borough and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Economic Adjustment. Historical Hangar, Fort Wainwright Army Base Eielson Air Force Base i Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study Table of Contents 1.0 Study Purpose and Process................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Study Objectives ............................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Planning Area................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Participating Stakeholders.............................................................................................. 4 1.5 Public Participation........................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Issue Identification......................................................................................................... 6 2.0 Background Information .................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Chronology of Events .................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Economic Impacts of the Installations ......................................................................... 10 2.3 Military Mission and History....................................................................................... 13 2.4 Current and Future Military Operations....................................................................... 15 2.5 Regional Demographics and Growth Trends............................................................... 20 3.0 Technical Information ...................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Compatible Use Zones................................................................................................. 23 3.2 Analysis of Existing Land Uses ................................................................................... 35 3.3 Existing Noise/Land Use Policies................................................................................ 47 3.4 Analysis of Future Land Uses...................................................................................... 52 4.0 Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 54 4.1 Compatibility Tools ..................................................................................................... 54 4.2 Local Jurisdiction Recommendations .......................................................................... 57 4.3 Military Recommendations.......................................................................................... 60 ii Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study Figures Figure 1 Study Area Map ................................................................................................................ 3 Figure 2 FNSB Population Breakdown......................................................................................... 11 Figure 3 Fairbanks North Star Borough Historical Population Data 1960 – 2004........................ 21 Figure 4 Fairbanks North Star Borough Population Forecast 1990 – 2025 .................................. 22 Figure 5 Common Sounds and Noise Levels, A-Weighted........................................................... 24 Figure 6 Fort Wainwright Noise Zones......................................................................................... 28 Figure 7 Eielson Noise Zones........................................................................................................ 30 Figure 8 Eielson AFB Accident Potential Zones........................................................................... 33 Figure 9 Fort Wainwright Accident Potential Zones..................................................................... 34 Figure 10 Existing Land Use around Fort Wainwright ................................................................. 39 Figure 11 Existing Land Use around Eielson AFB ....................................................................... 41 Figure 12 Training Areas and Game Management Units.............................................................. 44 Figure 13 Number of Hunters that Reported Hunting in Tanana and Yukon Flats 1994-2004 ... 45 Figure 14 Number of Moose Reported Harvested in Tanana and Yukon Flats 1994-2004 .......... 46 Tables Table 1.1 JLUS Advisory Committee Members ............................................................................. 4 Table 2.1 2003-04 Military Personnel Statistics ........................................................................... 11 Table 2.2 2005 Payroll Amounts at Alaska Bases......................................................................... 12 Table 3.1 CZ and APZ Dimensions for Eielson and Wainwright Airfields.................................. 32 Table 3.2 Noise Levels and Land Use Compatibility.................................................................... 36 Table 3.3 Air Safety Compatibility Guidelines............................................................................. 37 Table 3.4 Fort Wainwright Existing Land Use Acreage within Noise Contours .......................... 38 Table 3.5 Eielson AFB Existing Land Use Acreage within Noise Contours ................................ 42 iii Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study Table 4.1 Compatibility Tools and Recommendations ................................................................. 67 Appendices Appendix A - Meeting/Interview Reports iv Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study Acronyms AAF Army Airfield ADF&G Alaska Department of Fish and Game ADNL Adjusted Day-Night Average Sound Level ADOT&PF Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities AFB Air Force Base AICUZ Air Installation Compatible Use Zone ANSA Airport Noise Sensitive Area ANSI American National Standards Institute APZ Accident Potential Zone ARRC Alaska Railroad Corporation BLM Bureau of Land Management BRAC Base Realignment and Closure BX Base Exchange CTS Combat Training Squadron CWF Civil Works Facility CZ Clear Zone dB Decibel DNL Day-Night Average Sound Level DoD Department of Defense EIS Environmental Impact Statement FNSB Fairbanks North Star Borough GMU Game Management Unit IENMP Installation Environnemental Noise Management Plan INRMP Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan JLUS Joint Land Use Study mm Millimeter MOU Memorandum of Understanding NAF Non-appropriated Fund NLR Noise Level Reduction PACAF Pacific Air Force PAO Public Affairs Office SAC Strategic Air Command SBCT Stryker Brigade Combat Team STC Sound Transmission Class USARAK United States Army Alaska USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service v Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study 1.0 Study Purpose and Process 1.1 Introduction The Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) is known for its vast open spaces, which provide an ideal setting for two local military installations, Fort Wainwright Army Post and Eielson Air Force Base (AFB). Air operations at both bases have increased since their founding in the 1940s, as has the population of the Fairbanks area. In 1950, the U.S. Census reported that 19,409 people, including about 1,000 military personnel, lived in the area that would become the FNSB in 1964. By 2000, area population had increased to 82,840 with about 24,000 military residents. Major reasons for the growth included a Cold War military buildup after World War II and construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline which began in the mid-1970s. Planners anticipate another growth spurt as the Alaska Gas Pipeline construction begins. Alaskans have watched in the last few years as civilian development adjacent to military bases has contributed to the closure of some bases and the realignment of others in the lower- 48 states. Land use conflicts near Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force base are generally limited at this time. New access across the Chena River may intensify development of land east of Fort Wainwright in the Secluded Acres area. Residents have voiced other concerns about restriction of civilian land uses (particularly hunting) on the nearby military ranges. There are also concerns regarding communication between the military and the public about current and future operations. Additionally, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) that threatened Eielson AFB in 2005 spotlighted the important role that both installations play in the Fairbanks area economy, and it renewed civilian support for the long-standing presence of the military bases in the community. In 1985, the Department of Defense (DoD) initiated the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) program to create a participatory, community-based framework