PUBLIC HEARING FOR DRAFT EIS AIR COMBAT COMMAND F-35A WING BEDDOWN - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PUBLIC HEARING FOR DRAFT EIS AIR COMBAT COMMAND F-35A WING BEDDOWN AT TYNDALL AFB FLORIDA AND MQ-9 WING BEDDOWN AT TYNDALL AFB OR VANDENBERG AFB CALIFORNIA HEARING BEGINS AT 5:30 PM PACIFIC PLEASE STAND BY Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC) Toll-free Call-in: (833) 360-0875 Conference ID: 6088652 Webpage: www.F-35WingandMQ9WingEIS.com July 15, 2020 I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 1

Thank You for Participating in this Public Hearing • The slides used during the Draft EIS Public Hearings are on the project webpage: www.F-35WingandMQ-9WingEIS.com • The Hearings are scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 PM on July 14 and 15, 2020. • You are encouraged to download this set of slides to follow along during the Public Hearing. • Our toll free telephone is available starting at 5:00 PM of the day of the hearing, so that those who want to comment may register to speak during this hearing. • Take note of this toll free telephone: 833-360-0875, conference ID: 6088652 (July 15 Vandenberg AFB hearing). • Audio may not be in sync if you are using more than one device. I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 2

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS F-35A WING BEDDOWN AT TYNDALL AFB AND MQ-9 WING BEDDOWN AT TYNDALL AFB OR VANDENBERG AFB DRAFT EIS This public hearing is being conducted remotely to protect the health of all participants.  Lt. Col. Andrew Norton, AF Military Judge, Hearing Officer  Mr. Bruce Dittmyre, ACC Fighter Basing Chief  Mr. Gerald Evans, ACC Basing Division Ms. Cynthia Pettit , AFCEC NEPA Division   Mr. Nolan Swick, AFCEC NEPA Division Project Webpage: www.F-35WingandMQ-9WingEIS.com I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 3

Public Hearing Locations for the F-35A Wing Beddown Proposed Action and MQ-9 Wing Beddown Alternatives I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 4

Public Hearing Agenda PART 1: Air Force Formal Presentation  Description of the Proposed Action and Alternatives  Draft EIS Review Process  Summary of Anticipated Environmental Consequences from EIS Chapter 4  Break for 10 minutes PART 2: Formal Public Comments on the Draft EIS  Statements for the Record  All Comments are Transcribed by a Court Reporter Your Substantive Comments and Clarifying Questions help the USAF make an Informed Decision I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 5

How Your Substantive Comments and Clarifying Questions Help Your Substantive Comments and Clarifying Questions are specific to this Draft EIS Analysis:  Comments may challenge the Draft EIS as being factually or analytically correct.  Comments may identify impacts not analyzed.  Comments may identify reasonable alternatives not included in the Draft EIS.  Comments may identify feasible mitigations not considered by the USAF.  Comments may offer differences in interpretations of information, such as interpretations of significance or technical conclusions.  Clarifying Questions may be about the EIS Process or the Proposed Actions or Alternatives  Your substantive comments and clarifying questions, written or verbal, received during the public comment period will be given full and equal consideration in the preparation of the Final EIS.  The public comment period on this Draft EIS began with the publication of the Notice of Availability (NOA) on June 19, 2020, and will close on August 3, 2020.  To be considered in the Final EIS, comments must be postmarked by August 3, 2020. I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 6

Public Hearing Format You were invited in the Notice of Availability, in the newspaper announcements, and during the beginning of this hearing to use the Call-in number 833-360-0875, conference ID: 2639037 to register to make a public comment on the Draft EIS. • When you register to speak, the telephone operator will include you as a speaker. • Before you are invited to speak, an operator will let you know that you are next. • When called on to speak, please clearly state and spell your name and any affiliation. All oral comments will be transcribed and included in the EIS • Please limit comments to the allotted time (3 minutes). • You will be notified that you have 30 seconds remaining. • You will be notified that you have used up your allotted time. We will close the hearing before 8:30 p.m Central upon verifying that all who desire to speak have been heard and there are no more registered speakers . I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 7

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)  Applies to all federal agencies  Evaluates the potential environmental consequences of federal actions  Evaluates the Proposed Action and reasonable alternatives, including the No Action Alternative  In this EIS:  One Proposed Action is to beddown or locate an F-35A Wing at Tyndall AFB.  The second Proposed Action is to beddown an MQ-9 Wing at either Tyndall AFB or Vandenberg AFB. I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 8

NEPA Specifies the EIS Process This EIS has been prepared in compliance with: • The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 United States Code 4331 et seq.); • The regulations of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality that implement NEPA procedures (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500–1508); and • The USAF Environmental Impact Analysis Process as promulgated at 32 CFR 989.  After your input during this public comment period, a Final EIS will be completed.  There will then be a 30-day waiting period before a Record of Decision (ROD) can be signed. I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 9

This EIS Timeline Shows Where We are in the EIS Process I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 10

Libraries With Draft EIS Copies Tyndall AFB Vandenberg AFB 1. Lompoc Main Library 1. Bay County Public Library 501 E. North Avenue 898 W. 11th Street Panama City, FL Lompoc, CA 2. Panama City Beach Public Library 2. Santa Maria Public Library 421 South McClelland Street, 12500 Hutchison Blvd Santa Maria, CA Panama City Beach, FL I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 11

Purpose and Need for the Proposed MQ-9 Beddown Action MQ-9 Wing at Tyndall AFB or Vandenberg AFB • Achieve multiple RPA operational requirements • Needs diversified training location • Needs to enhance recruiting and development of high quality RPA aircrews and maintainers, and develop successful RPA leaders I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 12

Description of the Proposed MQ-9 Action and Alternatives  MQ-9 Wing Beddown at Tyndall AFB: 24 MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft − New facilities − Personnel and dependents − Flight Operations  MQ-9 Wing Beddown at Vandenberg AFB: 24 MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft − New and renovated facilities − Personnel and dependents − Flight Operations  No Action Alternative (Required by NEPA) − No MQ-9 Wing beddown at Tyndall AFB or Vandenberg AFB − No Action Alternative at Tyndall AFB is the affected environment existing during base reconstruction − No Action at Vandenberg AFB is the affected environment without any MQ-9 mission I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 13

Proposed MQ-9 Facilities at Vandenberg AFB I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e (EIS Figure 2.3-4) 14

Proposed MQ-9 Personnel  The MQ-9 Wing at Vandenberg AFB would have: − 1,900 personnel − Nearly 2,600 dependents, including 950 school-aged children I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 15

Proposed MQ-9 Operations at Vandenberg AFB  Personnel conduct proficiency training in flight operations and maintenance with 24 assigned aircraft.  MQ-9s would annually fly 5,700 flight operations at the airfield.  Multiple pilots and sensor operators fly the MQ-9 during a typical 12-hour mission.  Pilots and sensor operators also fly remote combat missions from the selected base. (EIS Figure 2.3-5) I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 16

Environmental Resource Areas Addressed in the EIS  Airspace Management and Air  Biological Resources Traffic Control (ATC)  Cultural Resources  Noise  Land Use and Recreation  Health and Safety  Infrastructure  Air Quality  Transportation  Hazardous Materials and Waste  Socioeconomics  Soils and Geologic Resources  Environmental Justice and Protection of Children  Water Resources I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 17

Summary of Anticipated MQ-9 Environmental Consequences at Tyndall AFB or Vandenberg AFB No Action MQ-9 Wing Alternatives Alternative Vandenberg Environmental Resource Tyndall AFB AFB Either Base Airspace Management: EIS Section 4.2.1.1; 4.2.2.1 Acoustic Environment (Noise): Section 4.2.1.2; 4.2.2.2 Health and Safety: Section 4.2.1.3; 4.2.2.3 Air Quality: Section 4.2.1.4; 4.2.2.4 Hazardous Materials and Waste: Section 4.2.1.5; 4.2.2.5 Soils and Geologic Resources: Section 4.2.1.6; 4.2.2.6 Water Resources: Section 4.2.1.7; 4.2.2.7 Biological Resources: Section 4.2.1.8; 4.2.2.8 Cultural Resources: Section 4.2.1.9; 4.2.2.9 Land Use and Recreation: Section 4.2.1.10; 4.2.2.10 Infrastructure: Section 4.2.1.11; 4.2.2.11 Transportation: Section 4.2.1.12; 4.2.2.12 Socioeconomics: Section 4.2.1.13; 4.2.2.13 Environmental Justice: Section 4.2.1.14; 4.2.2.14 I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 28