AETC Presentation Video Purpose and Need GCEN proposes to utilize approximately 6 acres of land at or adjacent to University of Florida’s Research Engineering and Education Facility (REEF) at Eglin AFB. Currently, the University has a land lease with the U.S. Air Force for approximately 20 acres, with an adjoining parcel of 98 acres. Eglin AFB is currently making this parcel would be developed by a private developer under a future Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) program. The AETC is envisioned as a partnership facility between Federal and State governments, including the military at Eglin AFB, the private sector, and academia. The AETC would be developed as a facility attractive to hi-tech companies paying premium wages to skilled professionals. With military and private sector co-use of facilities and access to University of Florida resources, the AETC would create a synergistic environment benefiting current and future missions, research, development, and the communities at Eglin AFB. This report evaluates implementation of the Proposed Action at site locations at and adjacent to the UF-REEF, however, resource categories have been limited to the analysis include biological and cultural resources, air quality, water resources, geological resources. Location of the Proposed Action The Gulf Coast Energy Network (GCEN) is proposing to partner with the UF-REEF and other entities to develop programs at the AETC. The REEF is designed as an engineering education facility in cooperation with the University of Florida and Eglin AFB. The facility is focused on research that is compatible with and beneficial to the missions of Eglin AFB, offering graduate degrees in aerospace, mechanical, industrial, systems, electrical, and computer engineering. The UF-REEF provides a state-of-the-art facility to conduct technical research critical to the advancement of national defense and security capabilities. The UF-REEF provides cooperative educational benefits to the Eglin AFB community, including access to the resources of the University of Florida, Gainesville. Many Eglin AFB active military and civilian employees are enrolled in graduate studies at the UF-REEF. Since the establishment of the UF-REEF on Eglin AFB, Congress amended the Military Leasing Act, which is the authority for leasing military lands. The amended law establishes the EUL program. An EUL is a lease of land, natural infrastructure, or equipment for consideration equal to the asset’s fair market value. Authority for the EUL program includes Executive Order (EO) 13327, Federal Real Property Management, and Title 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 2667. EULs take advantage of underutilized assets to support unfunded Air Force requirements by generating value (e.g., cash or services) to address Air Force installations’ support-related requirements. EULs provide Air Force bases with increased ability to respond to mission shifts and realignments, such as with Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions. With the growing research and development missions at Eglin AFB, combined with the Secretary of the Air Force’s initiative to seek EUL opportunities, Eglin AFB has determined that further development of the UF-REEF facility into a comprehensive research campus (in partnership with the University of Florida) is in the interest of the base and surrounding community. Therefore, GCEN may propose to establish the AETC at the UF-REEF on Eglin AFB property under the EUL program. The existing UF-REEF and its research and educational foundation would serve as a strong educational partner for a comprehensive engineering research and development campus on the adjoining 98-acre parcel. Under the EUL scenario, all costs to develop the AETC including streets, utilities, sidewalks, fences, and other infrastructure would be paid for by GCEN and it’s private development partner(s). Benefits of the EUL would flow back to Eglin AFB in the form of rent or payments in-kind for use of the land in accordance with EUL guidelines. The Proposed Action would be implemented adjacent to the 98-acre parcel and collocated with the UF-REEF referenced as Site Alternative 1 (Figure 1-2). This parcel is bounded on the north by State Route 189 (Lewis Turner Boulevard) and on the east by Poquito Road in Okaloosa County. The site is on Eglin AFB, approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the Eglin AFB west gate. The proposed site is directly adjacent to and surrounding the current UF-REEF, an engineering educational and research facility created by a partnership between the University of Florida and Eglin AFB that serves the local technical community. Selection Evaluation Criteria The following goals are used as selection criteria in keeping with the objectives of the AETC project.
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