The National Environmental Policy Act

Background

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 was enacted to address concerns about federal actions and their effects on the environment.  NEPA’s main objectives are as follows:

• Ensure analysis of proposed federal programs, projects, and actions before decision-making
• Inform the public of proposed federal activities that might affect environmental quality
• Encourage and facilitate public involvement in the decision-making process

What is an EIS?

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the most detailed analysis prescribed by the regulations implementing NEPA.

An EIS is a detailed public document describing:

• A proposed action
• All alternative actions that were considered
• Environmental impacts of implementing the proposed action and reasonable alternatives

Steps in the EIS Process

• Notice of Intent published
• Public scoping period
• Preparation of Draft EIS
• Notice of Availability (NOA) for Draft EIS published
• Draft EIS comment period and public hearing
• Preparation of Final EIS
• NOA for Final EIS published
• Waiting period (30 days)
• Record of Decision

Public Scoping

What is Public Scoping?

• An early and open process, conducted in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for identifying issues and alternatives to be addressed in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and determining who is interested in the proposed action.
• Begins with publication of a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register stating an agency’s intent to prepare an EIS.
• During public scoping, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) provides information about a proposed action and alternatives being considered, corresponds with local and federal stakeholders, conducts public outreach, and requests comments.

The DAF initially issued an NOI on April 20, 2021, to prepare an EIS for Infrastructure Upgrades at Andersen AFB, Guam. Following the initial scoping period conducted in 2021, the DAF placed the EIS on a strategic pause to further consider the scope of the EIS, including the requirements of evolving strategic initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region and how the Proposed Action could best support these initiatives. As a result of the strategic pause, the DAF revised the scope of the Proposed Action to include the beddown of up to 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15 fighter aircraft and associated mission support. The DAF has now reissued an NOI to prepare an EIS for the proposed F-15 Beddown and Infrastructure Upgrades at Andersen AFB, Guam. The DAF is the lead agency for the EIS, and the Department of the Navy is a cooperating agency.

What Role Does the Public Have During Public Scoping?

During public scoping, government agencies, stakeholders, and the public are invited to:

• Identify issues and concerns, and provide new information, data, and suggestions
• Request information
• Participate in public outreach opportunities
• Submit comments, relevant information, and questions

What Happens After Public Scoping?

After the public scoping period has ended, the DAF will:

• Incorporate public input into the proposal and develop the Draft EIS, which is expected to be completed in mid-2024
• Make the Draft EIS available to the public for review for a minimum of 45 days
• Incorporate applicable input on the Draft EIS into the development of the Final EIS, which is anticipated in early to mid-2025; a Record of Decision could be signed no sooner than 30 days after the Final EIS is released

Proposed Action Overview

Project Background

• Department of the Air Force (DAF) and Department of Defense (DoD) strategies and initiatives have documented that the Indo-Pacific region has become increasingly important to regional and U.S. security.
• With a focus on the Indo-Pacific region, DAF and DoD strategies and initiatives continuously evolve in response to the geopolitical climate, and seek to promote an agile defense posture, protection of the nation, and defense of U.S. interests within the region.
• Conducting an F-15 beddown and improving operationally relevant infrastructure within the Indo-Pacific would modernize and strengthen DoD's presence in the region, as well as improve logistics and maintenance capabilities, and would allow the DAF and DoD to maintain agile defense capabilities.

Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action

• Provide critical infrastructure that enhances U.S. posture west of the International Date Line. Additionally, the purpose of the Proposed Action is to beddown and operate Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) fighter aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB) to support training requirements.
• Need: Enhance DAF capability to support U.S. and partner nation forces within the Indo-Pacific region and strengthen the U.S.'s ability to respond regionally and worldwide, through construction of infrastructure upgrades and increased support of fighter aircraft, in alignment with evolving DAF and DoD strategies and initiatives for the region.

Alternatives Consideration

• The DAF reviewed requirements for strategic capabilities within the Indo-Pacific region and identified Andersen AFB for enhanced capabilities, including beddown of up to 12 RSAF F-15 aircraft and upgrade of operationally relevant infrastructure, dismissing five other potential alternative locations within the Pacific Air Forces area of responsibility from consideration. Once Andersen AFB was identified for enhanced strategic capabilities, the DAF considered multiple locations on Andersen AFB for construction of infrastructure upgrades, and considered renovation or replacement of existing infrastructure. Only the Proposed Action was determined to meet the selection standards for infrastructure upgrades. The Draft EIS also analyzes a No Action Alternative, in addition to the Proposed Action.

Proposed Action: F-15 Beddown

Key Elements to the F-15 Beddown include:

Approximately 80 acres of paved surfaces; 16 acres of stormwater management infrastructure; and 96 acres that would be cleared, graded, revegetated, and maintained.

• Beddown of up to 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15 fighter aircraft with anticipated arrival in 2029
• F-15 aircraft operations (i.e., flight operations that include a takeoff and landing) from Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), to include hosting periodic, temporary aircraft in support of the training mission requirements for the up to 12 F-15s
  • Each training event would additionally include up to 12 F-15s (i.e., total of 24 F-15s per training event), 1 tanker/refueling aircraft (e.g., KC-135s, KC-46s, A-330s), and 1 early warning aircraft (e.g., G-550).
  • Training events with these additional aircraft would begin in 2030, after the F-15 beddown action is complete, and would occur for four weeks per event, twice per year.
  • No new airspace is proposed and no changes to the manner in which the existing airspace is used would occur.
• Increase in 240 personnel at the installation, concurrent with the 2029 beddown, to conform to squadron mission requirements. During each four-week training event, which would occur twice per year, an additional approximately 200 personnel would be required for the duration of the event.

Impacts Analysis

The following topics will be analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS):

Biological Resources

• Threatened and endangered species
• Wildlife and vegetation
• Wetlands and floodplains

Cultural Resources

• Archaeological resources (prehistoric and historic)
• Historic and architectural resources

Water Resources

• Water quality (surface water and stormwater)
• Groundwater aquifers

Social Resources

• Land use, including coastal zone management
• Socioeconomics and environmental justice
• Health and safety

Other Considerations

• Geology and soils
• Infrastructure and utilities
• Noise
• Air quality
• Transportation
• Hazardous materials and waste
• Recreation

Potential Impact Review

The Department of the Air Force will conduct cultural and natural resources surveys in the areas proposed for upgrades and consult with appropriate resource agencies to determine the potential for significant impacts on those resources. Additional analysis will be provided in the Draft EIS.

Submit Comments

Comments, questions, and relevant information are welcomed on the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) proposed F-15 Beddown and Infrastructure Upgrades at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam. The DAF also welcomes comments under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800) regarding the identification of or effects on historic properties, and requests to become a consulting party in the Section 106 process. Please submit comments in English using one of the following methods:

• Postal Mail: 36th Civil Engineer Squadron
  ATTN: CEV (AAFB F-15 and Infrastructure EIS)
  Unit 14007
  APO, AP 96543-4007
• Project Website: www.aafbinfraandf15eis.com/provide-comments

Scoping materials are available on the project website for browsing or download. Requests for printed scoping materials can also be made to the addresses above. For printed material requests, the standard U.S. Postal Service shipping timeline will apply. Please consider the environment before requesting printed material.

To ensure the DAF has sufficient time to consider public input, please submit comments by January 15, 2024.

Thank you for your participation in the public scoping period for the F-15 Beddown and Infrastructure Upgrades at Andersen AFB!