The 2015 Pinal Airpark Master Plan provides forecasts for aviation operations, which are
identified in Table 5‐1.
Table 5-1 Pinal Airpark Demand Forecast, 2018, 2023 and 2033
Aviation Operations
General Aviation
2018
2023
2033
2,754 5,193 22,129
Military Operations* 34,619 38,028 38,028
Total Operations 37,374 43,220 60,157
Source: Pinal Airpark Master Plan, September 2015
*Note: Includes SBAH helicopter operations
As the table shows, the airpark has forecasted significant growth in general aviation
operations over the next 15 years. To support this, Pinal County has considered
extending the existing runway, which could impact the operations at SBAH.
Similarly, AZARNG has identified the need for facility updates at SBAH in the coming
years. The site development plan for the SBAH identifies 351,678 gross square feet of
additional facilities. Since SBAH has significant space constraints, a number of older
structures are recommended for demolition to accommodate for newer, more modern
facilities. No time frame has been identified for these projects.
As SBAH and Pinal Airpark grow or plans for changes to their respective operations in the
future, it will be important for the AZARNG and the Pinal Airpark officials to communicate
and coordinate to avoid any potential conflicts and associated impacts. Currently both
organizations engage in some cross communication, but it is not formalized.
5.3
Cultural Resources (CR)
Cultural resources are objects, places, and practices that are especially representative of,
and/or meaningful to, a specific group of people, their worldview, belief system, or way
of life. Cultural resources include pre‐contact period and historic‐period artifacts,
archaeological sites, buildings, structures, districts, and landscapes, as well as
historic‐period records and photographs. ‘Historic properties’ are cultural resources that
are listed or eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are
protected under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and other federal and
state laws.
Under the NHPA and associated implementing regulations, federal entities must consider
the effects of their projects on historic properties and take appropriate actions to
mitigate negative impacts. The most common mitigation strategy is to avoid the
immediate area in which historic properties are found, which can limit the amount of
land that is available for development, but typically in negligible ways. In some cases, the
Background Report
5-23