The United States Air Force (Air Force) is requesting that interested members of the public attend public hearings to learn about, and comment on, the Air Force’s Proposal for Airspace Optimization for Readiness at Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB), Idaho.

Your input is valuable and assists the Air Force in making better-informed decisions.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Air Force has prepared for public review a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed action of optimizing airspace available to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, for aircrew training to achieve and maintain proficiency at low altitudes in mountainous terrain with consistent low-altitude floors. Additionally, the Proposed Action evaluates lowering altitude floors across multiple Military Operations Areas (MOAs) for supersonic training.

The Air Force will host one virtual public hearing and three in-person hearings. The locations were chosen based on level of interest and lack of connectivity in certain areas to a virtual web-based hearing. At each of the hearings, the Air Force will offer a presentation about the Draft EIS and its proposed action and alternatives, followed by a formal public comment session. The proceedings of both the virtual and in-person hearings will be transcribed by a court reporter. Dates, times, and locations of the hearings are listed below. In-person hearings will be conducted in a manner consistent with Federal, state, county, tribal, and any other applicable guidelines for social distancing and best practices to ensure the safety of those in attendance.

To accommodate those who cannot or wish not to attend in-person hearings due to COVID-19 concerns, the Air Force will host a virtual public hearing. The following hyperlink will allow members of the public to see and hear the hearing presentation and listen to public comments: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/wzodjiro. For optimal viewing, please connect directly to the Internet (without VPN). Please also disable your pop-up blockers to view the content in its entirety.

The virtual public hearing can also be accessed by calling the following toll-free number: (888) 869-1189 and entering the conference ID: 5765023. Telephone access will also allow participants to hear the Air Force presentation and listen to public comments.

Those interested in offering verbal comments about the Draft EIS analysis at the virtual hearing must call the toll-free number. If you want to register to speak, simply press *1 (star-1) anytime after your initial telephone registration, and you will be included on the list of commenters. Instructions on how to register to make a public comment will also be given during the hearing.

You can preregister for telephone access any time before the hearing through Direct Event online registration: http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/5765023, or by calling Direct Event phone registration: (888) 869-1189 or (706) 643-5902. Otherwise, telephone access will be available 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of the virtual hearing by calling (866) 220-9128, Conference ID: 5765023. Participants will be able to register to make a public comment during the hearing until the formal comment session concludes and the hearing is officially adjourned.

To request a hardcopy of the virtual hearing presentation, or if you need to request accommodation to access the audio portion of the presentation, or need additional accommodation to make a telephone comment (per the Americans with Disabilities Act), please submit your request at the project website: https://www.mountainhomeafbairspaceeis.com, or contact Mountain Home AFB Public Affairs at: 366fw.mountainhomeafbeis@us.af.mil no later than one week prior to the hearing date.