Environmental Assessment of Installation Development at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware

Abstract : Dover AFB uses numerous approved plans to project installation development requirements. These plans propose demolition, construction, and infrastructure improvement activities intended to ensure that the installation can sustain its current and future national security operations and mission readiness status. These projects include installation development projects contained in the Dover AFB General Plan and the community of all existing Wing-approved development plans. Dover AFB seeks to improve the continuing installation development process by evaluating in a single EA all actions proposed in the Dover AFB Wing-approved community of plans for installation development, called the Installation Development EA (IDEA). The Proposed Action includes numerous projects, such as demolition of aging facilities, new facility construction, facility upgrades, facility repair and renovation utilities upgrades, community living upgrades, infrastructure upgrades, and recreational upgrades that would be completed or implemented during the next 5 years. The intent of this IDEA is to address the Proposed Action of implementing installation development actions as found in the community of all existing approved plans concerning continuing development on Dover AFB. The scope of the IDEA includes an evaluation of alternatives for the various projects and analysis of the cumulative effects on the natural and man-made environments. Through this IDEA, Dover AFB provides a constraints-based environmental impact analysis of installation development actions projected for the installation over the next 5 years. A constraints-based approach enables Dover AFB to evaluate environmental concerns that exist throughout the installation and those unique to specific areas of the installation.