Overview of the Idaho JLUS Program

Public Involvement

WHAT IS A JOINT LAND USE STUDY?

A Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) is a joint venture planning effort between the military and stakeholders in the surrounding area. Stakeholders for the Idaho JLUS include Elmore County, Owyhee County, Ada County, the cities of Mountain Home and Boise, the Shoshone and Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley Indian Reservations, the Bureau of Land Management and other local jurisdictions, agencies and interest groups. The JLUS program is funded through a grant from the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA).

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE JLUS?

The primary goal of a JLUS is to reduce the potential conflicts between military installations / use areas (such as training areas and ranges) and stakeholders while sustaining economic vitality, accommodating economic development, protecting public health and safety, and protecting current and future military missions. JLUS programs have three core objectives:

• Understanding. Increase communication between the military, local jurisdictions, and other stakeholders to promote a shared understanding of the strong economic and physical relationship between the installation and its neighbors.
• Collaboration. Promote collaborative planning in order to safeguard the military missions in the study areas from future incompatible development.
• Actions. Develop and implement strategies for reducing the impacts of incompatible activities on community and military operations through the development of tools (policies, programs and procedures) that will support compatibility in the future.

HOW WILL THE PROJECT BE DEVELOPED?

The Idaho JLUS will be completed in five phases, with each phase building upon the earlier phases.

• Phase 1: Data Collection
• Phase 2: Identification of Compatibility Issues
• Phase 3: Draft Compatibility Tools and Strategies
• Phase 4: Implementation Action Plan / Draft JLUS
• Phase 5: Final JLUS

HOW LONG WILL THE PROJECT TAKE?

The Idaho JLUS is expected to be completed by the Summer of 2010.

WHAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE IDAHO JLUS?

The Idaho JLUS will focus on the military installations, airfields, ranges and military-controlled airspace in southwestern Idaho. The Idaho JLUS is comprised of two study areas (described further on pages 2 and 3). One study area will cover Mountain Home Air Force Base (MHAFB) and the Mountain Home Range Complex (MHRC). The other study area will cover the Idaho National Guard at Gowen Field and the Orchard Training Area (OTA). The two study areas will address private and public lands near these military installations / use areas and the two Military Operations Areas (MOA) in southwestern Idaho. The JLUS will examine existing land use; growth trends and development potential; and existing regulations, plans and procedures. Using this background information and the ideas developed with the stakeholders during public forums and committee workshops (see page 5), the JLUS will develop recommendations and identify strategies to promote compatible land use planning around each installation and military use area.

What Areas Are Included in the Idaho JLUS?

 Mountain Home AFB / Range Complex

Mountain Home Air Force Base (MHAFB). MHAFB is located about 10 miles southwest of the City of Mountain Home in Elmore County. The base is home to the 366th Fighter Wing which flies the F-15 to provide the United States with deployable combat ready air power in support of global peacetime and wartime contingencies. A proactive JLUS should ensure the viability of the base in light of growing development pressures within southwest Idaho.

Mountain Home Range Complex (MHRC). MHRC is composed of airspace that includes Restricted Areas R-3202 and R-3204, Jarbidge Military Operating Area (MOA), Owyhee MOA, and Paradise West and East MOAs. Land facilities / use areas include several air-to-ground ranges, emitter sites, and no-drop target sites, and include the Saylor Creek and Juniper Butte Ranges. The Paradise West and East MOAs are located in Nevada and Oregon and are not included in the scope of the Idaho JLUS. Saylor Creek Range. Saylor Creek range is a 109,466 acre facility located in Owyhee County. Juniper Butte Range. Juniper Butte Range is a 12,112 acre facility also located in Owyhee County.

Gowen Field / Orchard Training Area

Idaho National Guard at Gowen Field and Orchard Training Area. Gowen Field is located on 576 acres adjacent to Boise Airport in Ada County. It is the home of the Idaho Air and Army National Guard as well as reserve units of the Army, Navy and Marines. The 124th Wing of the Idaho Air National Guard is the host unit, operating A-10 close air support aircraft. Gowen Field’s primary responsibility is providing quality training facilities for reserve and active-component military forces. The Orchard Training Area (OTA) is located to the south of Gowen Field. The OTA offers a state-of-the-art multipurpose range complex that provides support and facilities for the training of military personnel from all services. Portions of the OTA are located beneath R-3203.

WHO WILL GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE JLUS?

Each of the two study areas will be guided by two committees, comprised of city, county, Air Force, Idaho National Guard and other stakeholders.

JLUS Policy Committee (JPC). The JPC consists of officials from participating jurisdictions, military installation leadership, Native American Tribal Governments, representatives from other interested and affected agencies and the State of Idaho. The JPC is responsible for the overall direction of the JLUS, approval of the budget, preparation and approval of the study design, approval of policy recommendations, approval of draft and final written reports, and will monitor the implementation of the adopted policies.

JLUS Technical Working Group (TWG). The TWG is responsible for identifying and studying technical issues. Membership includes area planners, military base planners, business and development community representatives, natural resource protection organizations, and other subject matter experts as needed to help assist in the development and evaluation of implementation strategies and tools. Items discussed by the TWG will be brought before the JPC for consideration and action.

WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT?

The public is encouraged to be involved in the development of the JLUS and provide input to the process by contacting the representatives of the JLUS Policy Committee with their issues and recommendations, by attending the public forums / open houses, and using the interactive JLUS website.

Public Forums / Open Houses

• Public Forum #1. Introduction and description of the JLUS project; discuss compatibility issues, and identify issues and concerns.
• Public Forum #2. Overview of existing conditions, land use and development trends, and discuss existing compatibility tools.
• Public Forum #3. Present draft compatibility factors, planning tools and strategies.
• Public Forum #4. Public hearing format to present the Draft JLUS and receive public comment.

Your involvement in the development of the JLUS was vital to ensure everyone's concerns and ideas are heard and considered.

Thank you to all who participated in the completion of this document. 

To Learn More...

Looking for a report, a map, general information on JLUS development? Available JLUS materials can be found by clicking on the “Resources / Links" button.