[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 136 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41770-41771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17889]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare An Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for Proposed Conversion to the F-15 Aircraft for the 
144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard At Fresno-Yosemite 
International Airport, Fresno, CA

AGENCY: National Guard Bureau, Asset Management Division, Plans and 
Requirements Branch, Air National Guard Readiness Center.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Air Force policy and 
procedures (32 CFR part 989), the National Guard Bureau is issuing this 
notice to advise the public of its intent to prepare an EIS to evaluate 
the potential environmental impacts that could result from the proposed 
conversion to the F-15 aircraft at the 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW) 
installation at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport.
    As a result of the Combat Air Forces fighter reduction (CAF REDUX), 
the 144 FW at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport in Fresno, 
California is proposing to convert from F-16 Falcon primary assigned 
aircraft (PAA) and operations to F-15 Eagle PAA and operations. 144 FW 
personnel would be re-trained to maintain, operate, and provide air 
sovereignty alert capabilities for the airspace over California and its 
population centers. Alternative locations at military flying 
installations within the State of California were considered but 
dimissed due to a lack of minimum airfield requirements and existing 
facilities that could be modified at minimal cost. F-15 flying 
operations at the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport would remain at 
similar levels to the current F-16 operations or increase slightly, 
depending on the alternative selected. The EIS will also evaluate the 
potential impacts of converting the 144 FW's 3 F-16 alert aircraft 
based on March Air Reserve Base (ARB) in Riverside, CA to 3 F-15 
aircraft.
    The EIS will evaluate two action alternatives as well as the no-
action alternative. The two action alternatives analyzed will be a 
conversion from 18 F-16 PAA to 18 F-15 PAA; or conversion to 24 F-15 
PAA. The National Guard Bureau will conduct scoping meetings to solicit 
public input concerning the proposal. The scoping process will help 
identify issues to be addressed in the environmental analysis. Comments 
will be accepted at any time during the environmental impact analysis 
process. However, to ensure the Air Force has sufficient time to 
consider public input in the preparation of the Draft EIS, comments 
should be submitted to the address below by August 19, 2011. Notices 
will be posted and published in the Fresno Bee and the Riverside Press 
Enterprise. A scoping meeting will be held in the ballroom at the 
Piccadilly Inn--Airport, 5115 E. McKinley Avenue, Fresno, CA, on 2 
August 2011; and a second scoping meeting will be held at the TownGate 
Community Center, 13100 Arbor Park Lane, Moreno Valley, CA on 4 August 
2011, from 6-9 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct any written comments or

[[Page 41771]]

requests for information to Robert Dogan, NGB/A7AM, at Shepperd Hall, 
3501 Fetchet Avenue, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, 20762-5157; (301) 
836-8859 (phone/fax). Due to area code adjustments, this number is 
scheduled to change on or about 19 July 2011 to (240) 612-8859. Please 
use this number if the first one is not functioning.

Bao-Anh Trinh,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-17889 Filed 7-14-11; 8:45 am]
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