By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The draft environmental impact statement for the proposed F-15 beddown and infrastructure upgrades at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam is now available, the Department of the Air Force said, announcing the start of the public comment period.
The Air Force is proposing the beddown of up to a dozen Singapore Air Force F-15 fighter jets, which forms part of a 2019 agreement with the Asian ally to establish a permanent training detachment at Andersen Air Force Base.
The Singapore squadron will include mission support and entail an increase in annual airfield operations and support personnel at the proposed detachment, Air Force officials said.
The proposed action includes the 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 three to seven years, and include airfield pavements, an aircraft hangar, maintenance and utility 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 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 the completion of the infrastructure upgrades.
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.
The draft EIS analyzes and presents the potential environmental consequences of the proposed action and the no-action alternative.
The DAF said it conducted cultural and natural resources surveys in the areas proposed for upgrades. It is consulting 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 draft EIS.
The DAF welcomes comments under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800) regarding the identification of or effects on historic properties.
The final EIS and a record of decision on the proposed action are expected in spring 2025.
The draft 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.. The DAF is holding two public meetings to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about the proposal and provide input.
The public meetings will be held in an “open house” format for the duration of each meeting, and all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend. Written and verbal comments will be accepted at the meetings; your input is valuable and assists the DAF in making more informed decisions.
Meetings will be held on July 17, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Dededo Senior Center; on July 18, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Yigo Senior Center.
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.
Comments may be emailed to toafcec.aafb.infrasandf-15eis@us.af.mil; or via postal mail to HQ AFCEC/CIE, ATTN: Mr. David Martin, Bldg. 171, 2261 Hughes Ave., Ste. 155, JBSA Lackland AFB, TX 78236-9853. The deadline for comment submission is July 29.
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