Environmental Assessment: Convert Slow Routes 300 and 301 to Instrument Routes

Abstract : The purpose of the Proposed Action is to establish a single military training route (MTR): (1) for which Travis AFB C-17 aircrews can be the primary user for low-level navigation training; and (2) for which the Base can assume the originating and scheduling functions. This EA evaluates the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action. Under the No Action Alternative, Slow Routes (SR)s 300/301 would not be converted to Instrument Routes (IR). However, Travis AFB C-17 aircrews would continue to fly SRs 300/301 as many as 122 times per year, and C-130s from an Air National Guard unit would accomplish five annual operations on the SRs. Under the Proposed Action, Travis AFB would become the scheduling and coordinating agency for SRs 300/301, which would be converted to IRs. Travis AFB C-17 aircrews would fly the IRs as many as 300 times per year and the C-130s would continue to fly the routes about five times a year. Resources considered in the impact analysis were: airspace operations (to include aircraft safety and bird/wildlife aircraft strike hazard); noise; land use; air quality; biological resources; cultural resources; and environmental justice.