The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP)

Document Title: The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) Agency: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy Date: July 1, 1993 Notable: This is the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the HAARP program, a joint research effort between the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, University of Alaska, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Provenance: This document was released to the public on July 1, 1993. The Lead Agency is the U.S. Air Force, and the Cooperating Agency is the U.S. Navy. The document is available through The Black Vault, a website that archives and publishes declassified government documents. The Document: This FEIS consists of two volumes. Volume I represents a corrected version of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and Volume II presents the results of public comment on the DEIS. The FEIS describes the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a proposed ionospheric research facility in interior Alaska. The HAARP system, if constructed, would allow a significant advance in man's ability to investigate the upper atmosphere. The environmental analysis and impact study for this action focuses on the following resources and issues: land and minerals; vegetation and wetlands; mammals; birds; aquatics; hydrology and water quality; air quality; cultural resources; subsistence; bioeffects of radio frequency radiation; electromagnetic environment and radio frequency interference; atmosphere; threatened and endangered species; hazardous materials and wastes; and, irretrievable commitment of resources. The government proposes to construct the HAARP facility in Alaska. At the HAARP facility, research that cannot be accomplished within traditional ground-based laboratories would be conducted on the earth's upper atmosphere and within the ionosphere. The main element of the research facility would be a large radio wave transmitter. Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives: The HAARP facility would be used primarily for conducting pioneering studies of ionospheric properties. The program could lead to a better understanding of the ionosphere and enable researchers to develop methods for enhanced communications for both civilian and defense applications. Key concerns for the Gakona site include radio frequency interference, cost of construction, permafrost degradation and subsidence issues, impacts on migrating birds, and the availability of and access to gravel sources. Key concerns for the Clear site include land ownership and wetlands issues, disturbance of cultural resources, radio frequency interference, aesthetic impacts, and the near-term reclamation of the Gakona site. Context: The HAARP program is a joint research effort between the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, University of Alaska, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The program's purpose is to analyze the ionosphere and investigate the potential for developing ionospheric enhancement technology for radio communications and surveillance. Outro: This is the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the HAARP program, a joint research effort between the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, University of Alaska, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The document describes the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a proposed ionospheric research facility in interior Alaska. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For more information, visit storyflo.com and the canonical PDF is available at https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/haarp/ADA267641.pdf.