What did the declassified documents reveal?

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…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

Case · DAILY-049

The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP)

JUL 6 · 2026Narrated by daily-declassified-the-high-frequency-active-auroral-research-program-haarp5 minLast updated July 6, 2026

The short version

S. S. S. S. Navy, University of Alaska, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Provenance: This document was released to the public on July 1, 1993. S. S. Navy. The document is available through The Black Vault, a website that archives and publishes declassified government documents.

Date: JUL 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

↯ Dispatch — press play

0:004:43

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

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…

Questions about this case

What was The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) about?: S. S. S. S. Navy, University of Alaska, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Provenance: This document was released to the public on July 1, 1993. S. S. Navy. The document is available through The Black Vault, a website that archives and publishes declassified government documents.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

Questions about this case

Get the next declassified case in your inbox