Air Force holds public hearings for F-35A basing

  • Published
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  The Air Force will host local hearings in Layton, Ogden and West Wendover, Nev., May 1-3 to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the analysis and findings of the Draft F-35A Operational Basing Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS).

The Draft EIS evaluates the potential effects of basing the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter at Hill AFB and at five other alternative locations in the U.S., which include: Jacksonville Air Guard Station, Fla.; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., Shaw AFB, S.C., and Burlington AGS, Vt.

The Draft EIS names Hill and Burlington AGS as the two preferred locations for the initial basing of this new fighter. Should F-35s be based at Hill, they would be operated by the 388th (active duty) and the 419th (Reserve) Fighter Wings here.

"Decisions regarding the proposal will be made after the environmental impact analysis is complete," said Col. Scott Long, 388th Fighter Wing commander. "These hearings offer our community members an opportunity to learn more about the Draft EIS findings and to make comments on the record, if they would like, about those findings. We look forward to a great turnout at the hearings and appreciate what our community has to say."

Hill AFB's public hearings will be 5-8 p.m. at the following locations:

· May 1 Northridge High School, 2430 N. Hill Field Road, Layton, Utah
· May 2 Ogden High School, 2828 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, Utah
· May 3 West Wendover Branch Library, 590 Camper Road, Wendover, Nev.

Each evening's hearing will start with an informal open house from 5-6 p.m., where community members will have an opportunity to talk with Air Force representatives about the basing proposal and the Draft EIS. The formal hearing will begin at 6 p.m., with each member of the public given three minutes to make oral comments about the Draft EIS.

The Air Force is also accepting written comments on the Draft EIS through June 1. Written comments can be submitted at the hearings or by submitting them to: HQ ACC/A7PS, 129 Andrews Street, Suite 337, Langley Air Force Base, VA 23665-2769, ATTN: Mr. Nick Germanos.

The Draft EIS is available for viewing at www.accplanning.org or a hard copy can be obtained by calling Mr. Germanos at (757) 764-9334.