Environmental Assessment: Western Range Instrumentation Modernization Program Vandenberg Air Force Base, Santa Barbara County, and Pillar Point Air Force Station, San Mateo County California.

摘要

Pursuant to provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 United States Code 4321 et seq., implementing Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1500-1508, and 32 CFR Part 989, Environmental Impact Analysis Process, the United States Air Force (Air Force) conducted an assessment of the potential environmental consequences associated with the Western Range Instrumentation Modernization Program on Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), and Pillar Point Air Force Station (AFS), California. The 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB operates the Western Launch and Test Range (Western Range). The Western Range begins at the coastal boundaries of Vandenberg AFB and extends westward to the Marshall Islands, including sites in Hawaii. It provides for the safe and effective launch, testing and tracking of Department of Defense, civil, commercial, and international space lift vehicles, in addition to conducting ballistic missile, guided weapon, and aeronautical test and evaluation over the Pacific Ocean, west of Vandenberg AFB. Vandenberg AFB is headquarters to the 30th Space Wing, the Air Force Space Command unit that operates Vandenberg AFB and the Western Range. Vandenberg AFB operates as a missile test base and aerospace center, supporting west coast space launch activities for the Air Force, Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and commercial contractors. Vandenberg AFB is located on the south-central coast of California, approximately halfway between San Diego and San Francisco.