Bold Eagle 80 Joint Readiness Exercise PDF Download

BOLD EAGLE 80 is the fifth annual large scale Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) coordinated USCINCRED sponsored exercise at Eglin AFB, FL, and is scheduled to be conducted 9 October through 7 November 1979. The EIS states that alternative exercise locations, off-set wars, and cancellation of the exercise are not deemed reasonable alternatives and were eliminated from detailed study. The exercise will include a nine day employment period of 20 through 28 October 1979. Exercise elements will include approximately 20,000 troops, 390 aircraft (and helicopters), 3600 self-propelled wheeled vehicles and 195 tracked vehicles. Environmental impacts will include approximately 5000 acres of terrain scarring, a portion of which may occur in areas disturbed by previous exercises. Continued annual track vehicle movement through existing tank passageways will tend to suppress revegetation and further diminish vegetative soil cover. Available stream sampling data fails to indicate receiving stream water quality is being degraded by erosion from past exercises. However, erosion control measures will be required in sensitive areas to preclude future water quality degradation. Endangered species may be temporarily disturbed. Numerous dove hunting sites, camping sites, and fishing ponds will be closed during 9 October through 21 November 1979 and deer hunting season will be delayed to 22 November 1979. The EIS identifies a measure which would aid in the mitigation of cumulative impact associated with terrain scarring. Areas subjected to extensive terrain scarring in BOLD EAGLE 78 and GALLANT EAGLE 79 could be selectively designated as ecosystem recovery areas and posted for avoidance by BOLD EAGLE 80.