The U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) initially issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) on April 20, 2021, to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Infrastructure Upgrades at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam. Following the initial scoping period conducted in April to May 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 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 (RSAF) F-15 fighter aircraft and associated mission support. The DAF is now conducting an additional public scoping period for the revised proposal to beddown up to 12 RSAF F-15 fighter aircraft and construct infrastructure upgrades at Andersen AFB, Guam. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to 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 RSAF fighter aircraft at Andersen AFB to support training requirements. The Proposed Action is needed to 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. Increasing and improving airfield and munitions infrastructure would address capability gaps and allow for greater efficiencies and agility in the way ground operations are conducted. The DAF anticipates publication of a revised NOI in the Federal Register on or around December 15, 2023, which will start the additional 30-day public scoping period.
Under this proposal, the DAF is considering the beddown and mission support of up to 12 RSAF F-15 fighter aircraft, and the construction of infrastructure upgrades adjacent to the northwest corner of the airfield and within the munitions storage area at Andersen AFB. Construction of upgrades would take place over approximately 3 to 7 years and would include airfield pavements, an aircraft hangar, maintenance and utilities buildings, fuel systems, fencing and utilities, roadways and parking, stormwater management infrastructure, and earth-covered magazines. Approximately 209 total acres would be disturbed during construction, which would either be developed sites or maintained vegetation once construction is complete. The proposed infrastructure has multiple uses and could support both the F-15 beddown and other DAF, service component, and partner nation aircraft or missions operating from Andersen AFB now or in the future. 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 other locations on Andersen AFB for construction of infrastructure upgrades; however, only the Proposed Action locations were determined to meet the criteria for the infrastructure upgrades.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS). Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the DAF will prepare an EIS, which will assess the potential environmental consequences of the beddown and mission support of up to 12 RSAF F-15 fighter aircraft, and construction of proposed infrastructure upgrades at Andersen AFB. The DAF is the lead agency for the EIS, and the U.S. Navy is a cooperating agency. The DAF 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. Consultation will be incorporated into preparation of the Draft EIS and will include, but not be limited to, consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Additional analysis will be provided in the Draft EIS, which is anticipated mid-2024. The Final EIS and a decision on the Proposed Action are expected in early to mid-2025.
PUBLIC SCOPING. The DAF encourages interested local, territorial, and federal elected officials and agencies, as well as interested members of the public and others, to participate in this public scoping process to learn about changes that have occurred since the original scoping period ended in 2021, and assist the DAF in identifying issues to evaluate in the EIS. The project website at www.AAFBInfraandF15EIS.com provides posters, an informational brochure, other materials, and a capability for the public to provide public scoping comments. Requests for printed scoping materials may also be made to the addresses below. For printed material requests, the standard U.S. Postal Service shipping timeline will apply. Please consider the environment before requesting printed material.
PUBLIC COMMENT. The DAF welcomes comments, suggestions, and relevant information on the proposal, to include potential alternatives and the forthcoming analyses. Please submit comments in English by visiting www.AAFBInfraandF15EIS.com, or sending via postal mail to 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, ATTN: CEV (AAFB F-15 and Infrastructure EIS), Unit 14007, APO, AP 96543-4007. The DAF also welcomes comments under the Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 800) regarding the identification of or effects on historic properties, or regarding requests to become a consulting party in the Section 106 process.
The Air Force National Environmental Policy Act Center is under the Air Force Civil Engineer Center's Environmental Directorate and offers expertise in the management and oversight of NEPA projects and in the implementation of new and streamlined approaches to support compliance with NEPA. The NEPA Center, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas at AFCEC, offers a full range of services to provide technical, execution, oversight and program support for NEPA projects for installations, major commands, air staff and other clients in support of Air Force mission proposals. The NEPA division was instrumental in the framework for complying the EIS for infrastructure upgrades at Andersen AFB, Guam.
To ensure the DAF has sufficient time to consider public input in the Draft EIS and the Section 106 process, please submit comments within 30 days of publication of the NOI in the Federal Register, which is anticipated to occur on or around December 15, 2023. Please visit the project website for additional information.
www.AAFBInfraandF15EIS.com