NAS Lemoore is among several locations considered to relocate a squadron of F-15 Eagle II aircraft and a squadron of F-35A aircraft by the National Guard Bureau and the Department of the Air Force.
The Guard hosts a public meeting where members of the public can learn about the proposal, speak to representatives, and provide written comments, concerns, or input.
The alternative locations offered at NAS Lemoore are as follows:
• The 104th Fighter Wing at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, Westfield, Massachusetts
• The 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno, California
• The 159th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, Belle Chasse, Louisiana
The Environmental Impact Assessment will assess the potential environmental consequences of each alternative in support of the operational facilities. The aircraft would replace the older fighter aircraft (F-15C/D) at selected locations.
Public outreach briefings are a forum for the National Guard Bureau to gather public comment and answer questions regarding the proposal, alternatives, and environmental resources to investigate for potential impacts.
All members of the public are invited to attend the in-person and virtual meetings to be held in August.
The in-person meeting will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10 at the LTA Portuguese Hall located at 470 Champion St. in Lemoore. This meeting will be an open house style briefing with members of the project team available to the public for questions. There will be briefing stations available to view rather than a formal presentation, officials said.
The virtual meeting will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 25. You can read more about how to join the meeting on the website www.ANGF15EX-F35A-EIS.com.
According to officials, the meeting will begin with a presentation of the proposal, which will include an environmental impact statement, followed by a question and answer session with members of the project team.
Public comments must be submitted in writing by September 2, to be taken into account in the preparation of the draft environmental impact statement. Comments received after the close of the public comment period will be considered, but may not be specifically addressed in the draft.
Comments can be submitted:
• In person at one of the public meetings
• By US mail, addressed to: EIS Project Manager, National Guard Bureau, NGB/A4AM, Shepperd Hall, 3501 Fetchet Ave., Joint Base Andrews MD 20762-5157
The Guard will use the feedback obtained during these meetings to refine the study to focus on important issues, as well as to eliminate issues that are not significant from further study. In addition, the Guard will carry out a detailed analysis of the potential impacts of the proposal after the public meeting. The full analysis will be presented in the draft environmental report, which will be available for public review and comment in summer 2023.
For more information on the proposed relocation of the aircraft, you can visit the project website at www.ANGF15EX-F35A-EIS.com.
