NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

  • Published
  • By National Environmental Policy Act, the Department of the Air Force (DAF)
  • National Environmental Policy Act, the Department of the Air Force (DAF)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  

PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyzes the potential environmental consequences associated with the proposal to beddown up to 12 F-15 aircraft of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and to construct infrastructure upgrades at Andersen AFB. The DAF is the lead agency for the EIS, and the Department of the Navy is a cooperating agency.

The Proposed Action includes construction of new infrastructure upgrades adjacent to the northwest corner of the existing airfield and within the munitions storage area at Andersen AFB. Construction of upgrades would begin in 2025, take place over approximately 3 to 7 years, and 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 and would either be developed or maintained vegetation once construction is complete. The Proposed Action also includes the beddown of up to 12 RSAF F-15 fighter aircraft, which would include F-15 airfield operations, aircraft operations by supporting aircraft, and personnel to support the F-15 squadron’s mission requirements. The F-15 beddown is anticipated to begin in 2029 and would not be wholly dependent upon completion of the infrastructure upgrade construction.

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 the infrastructure upgrades and considered renovation or replacement of existing infrastructure; however, only the Proposed Action locations were determined to meet the criteria for the infrastructure upgrades.

FINAL EIS. The Final EIS analyzes and presents the potential environmental consequences associated with the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. The DAF conducted cultural and natural resources surveys in the areas proposed for upgrades and consulted with the appropriate resource agencies to determine the potential for significant impacts on those resources and corresponding mitigation measures, as needed. It is not expected that the Proposed Action would result in significant impacts on other topics analyzed in the Final EIS.

The Final EIS is available for download at www.AAFBInfraAndF15EIS.com and may also be viewed at the following libraries: Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library, 254 Martyr Street, Hagåtña, GU 96910; and University of Guam Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Government Documents, Tan Siu Lin Building, UOG Station, 303 University Drive, Mangilao, GU 96923.

Project informational materials are available on the project website and as hardcopies at the libraries listed above. Specific material requests 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.

30-DAY WAITING PERIOD AND RECORD OF DECISION. This notice coincides with a Notice of Availability for the Final EIS published in the Federal Register. The 30-day post-filling waiting period will end on May 27, 2025, after which DAF will make its decision regarding the Proposed Action. The DAF decision will be announced in a signed Record of Decision that will also be published in the Federal Register.

Additional information about the Final EIS is available online at www.AAFBInfraAndF15EIS.com; by phone at (671) 366-2228; via email by contacting 36wg.pa2@us.af.mil; or by postal mail at Andersen AFB, 36 WG/PA COMREL, Unit 14003, APO AP 96543-4003.
www.AAFBInfraAndF15EIS.com