MDA Announces Availability of Environmental Impact Statement for Long Range Discrimination Radar

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in cooperation with the Department of the Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration, announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) Operations at Clear Air Force Station (CAFS), Alaska. The Final EIS, available at https://www.mda.mil/system/lrdr, evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with proposed changes in operational concept and other associated activities for the LRDR.

Operation of this radar with an expanded Special Use Area required MDA to prepare an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. As part of the NEPA process, the public was provided the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed actions, alternatives, and environmental analysis. The Final EIS incorporates and addresses substantive comments received during this public comment period, which ran from October 30, 2020 until December 21, 2020.

The LRDR will be a component of the layered Missile Defense System with the primary mission to provide continuous and precise tracking and discrimination of missile threats launched against the U.S. Discrimination is a critical capability of missile defense because it provides data needed to distinguish lethal missiles from debris and decoys. The LRDR will also assist with assessing incoming threats to more effectively and efficiently activate land-based systems to intercept such threats.

Media queries may be directed to Mark Wright at 571-231-8212, [email protected] or Ryan Keith at 256-631-6735, [email protected]. See https://www.mda.mil/system/lrdr for additional information.