The U.S. Air Force is conducting public scoping for proposed infrastructure upgrades at Andersen Air Force Base, the 36th Wing announced today.
The proposed projects 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. Project sites are adjacent to the northwest corner of the airfield and within the munitions storage area at AAFB.
Approximately 204 total acres would be disturbed during construction, which would either be developed sites or maintained vegetation once construction is complete.
The Air Force said no other short- or long-term notable impacts are currently anticipated.
Expected to take place over approximately seven years, the proposed projects are designed to enhance AAFB's capability to support permanent and rotational forces within the Indo-Pacific and "strengthen the U.S.’s ability to respond regionally and worldwide, in alignment with evolving Air Force and Department of Defense initiatives for the region," according to the Air Force.
The Air Force said it considered other locations in AAFB for construction of infrastructure upgrades; however, only the identified locations were determined to meet the criteria for the projects. The Air Force said it will prepare an environmental impact statement, which will assess the potential environmental consequences of the proposed infrastructure upgrades at AAFB.
The Air Force also said it 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.
A consultation will be incorporated into the preparation of the draft EIS and will include consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
During construction, the Air Force anticipates an increased demand on the construction workforce and an increase in local spending.
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Additional analysis will be provided in the draft EIS, which is anticipated in late 2021 or early 2022. The final EIS and a decision on the proposed action are expected in mid to late 2022. The Air Force encourages interested local, territorial, and federal elected officials and agencies, as well as interested members of the public and others, to participate in public scoping for the proposal and assist the Air Force in identifying issues to evaluate in the EIS.
Scoping materials are also available in print at the Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library (254 Martyr Street, Hagåtña, Guam).
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. Comments may be sent to AAFBInfrastructure.EIS@us.af.mil, or via postal mail to 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, ATTN: CEV (AAFB Infrastructure EIS), Unit 14007, APO, AP 96543-4007. The Air Force also welcomes comments under 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 deadline for comment submission is May 30.
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