[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86884-86885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27166]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Department of the Air Force F-15 Beddown and Infrastructure Upgrades at 
Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: On April 20, 2021, the Department of the Air Force (DAF), and 
the U.S. Navy acting as a cooperating agency, issued a Notice of Intent 
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Infrastructure 
Upgrades at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam. The DAF and U.S. Navy 
are now reissuing this Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the 
proposed F-15 Beddown and Infrastructure Upgrades at Andersen AFB, 
Guam. In addition to the originally proposed infrastructure upgrades, 
the EIS will assess the potential social, economic, and environmental 
impacts associated with supporting the beddown of 12

[[Page 86885]]

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter aircraft and 
constructing proposed infrastructure upgrades at Andersen AFB. The 
beddown of 12 RSAF F-15 fighter aircraft is in addition to what was 
previously proposed.

DATES: A public scoping period of 30 days, to update the public on 
changes to the DAF's proposal that have occurred since the original 
scoping period ended on May 30, 2021, will take place starting from the 
date of this NOI publication in the Federal Register. Comments will be 
accepted at any time during the environmental impact analysis process; 
however, to ensure the DAF has sufficient time to consider public 
scoping comments during preparation of the Draft EIS, please submit 
comments within the 30-day scoping period. The Draft EIS is anticipated 
mid-2024. The Final EIS and a decision on the Proposed Action are 
expected in early to mid-2025.

ADDRESSES: For EIS inquires or requests for printed or digital copies 
of scoping materials, please contact Mr. David Martin, phone: (210) 
925-4266 or [email protected], or postal address provided 
below. The project website (www.AAFBInfraandF15EIS.com) provides 
additional information on the EIS and can be used to submit scoping 
comments. Scoping comments may also be submitted via postal mail to 
36th Civil Engineer Squadron, ATTN: CEV (AAFB F-15 and Infrastructure 
EIS), Unit 14007, APO, AP 96543-4007. For printed material requests, 
the standard U.S. Postal Service shipping timeline will apply. Please 
consider the environment before requesting printed material.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DAF is proposing to beddown and support 
the mission of 12 RSAF F-15 fighter aircraft, and construct 
infrastructure upgrades at Andersen AFB, Guam. Following the initial 
scoping period conducted in April to May 2021 (86 FR 20487, April 20, 
2021), the DAF placed the EIS on a strategic pause to further consider 
the scope of the EIS, including the requirements of evolving strategic 
initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region and how the Proposed Action 
could best support these initiatives. As a result of the strategic 
pause, the DAF revised the scope of the Proposed Action to include the 
beddown of 12 RSAF F-15 fighter aircraft and associated mission 
support. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide critical 
infrastructure that enhances U.S. posture west of the International 
Date Line. Additionally, the purpose of the Proposed Action is to 
beddown and operate Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter aircraft at 
Andersen AFB to support training requirements. The Proposed Action is 
needed to enhance DAF capability to support U.S. and partner nation 
forces within the Indo-Pacific region and strengthen the U.S.'s ability 
to respond regionally and worldwide, through construction of 
infrastructure upgrades and increased support of fighter aircraft, in 
alignment with evolving DAF and DoD strategies and initiatives for the 
region. Increasing and improving airfield and munitions infrastructure 
would address capability gaps and allow for greater efficiencies and 
agility in the way ground operations are conducted. The DAF is the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) lead agency, and the U.S. Navy 
is a cooperating agency for this EIS process.
    Under this proposal, the DAF is considering the beddown and mission 
support of 12 RSAF F-15 fighter aircraft, increase in annual airfield 
operations, increase in personnel to support the mission, and new 
infrastructure upgrades adjacent to the northwest corner of the 
airfield and within the munitions storage area at Andersen AFB. 
Construction would take place over approximately 3 to 7 years and 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. Approximately 209 total acres would be disturbed during 
construction, which would be either developed sites or maintained 
vegetation once construction is complete. The proposed infrastructure 
has multiple uses and could support both the RSAF F-15 beddown and 
other DAF, service component, and partner nation aircraft or missions 
operating from Andersen AFB now or in the future. The DAF reviewed 
requirements for strategic capabilities within the Indo-Pacific region 
and identified Andersen AFB for enhanced capabilities, including 
beddown of 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 
construction of infrastructure upgrades; however, only the Proposed 
Action locations were determined to meet the criteria for the 
infrastructure upgrades. The No Action Alternative will also be 
addressed in the EIS.
    Additional review and consultation which will be incorporated into 
the preparation of the Draft EIS will include, but are not necessarily 
limited to, consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act 
and consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act. The DAF 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. The Draft EIS will present the analysis of the 
potential effects of the Proposed Action and alternatives, which may 
include effects on historic properties, sensitive species or habitat, 
socioeconomics, and the noise environment among other currently unknown 
potential effects. Any required permits or authorizations will be 
determined through the EIS analysis process and presented in the Draft 
EIS.
    Scoping and Agency Coordination: To effectively define the full 
range of issues to be evaluated in the EIS, the DAF is soliciting 
comments from interested local, territorial, and federal elected 
officials and agencies, as well as interested members of the public and 
other stakeholders. Comments are requested on potential alternatives 
and impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies, 
or analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the 
human environment. Concurrent with the publication of this Notice of 
Intent, public scoping notices will be announced locally. Public 
scoping updates will be accomplished via the project website at 
www.AAFBInfraandF15EIS.com. The website provides posters, an 
informational brochure, and other scoping materials, and the capability 
for the public to provide public scoping comments.

Tommy W. Lee,
Acting Air Force Federal Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-27166 Filed 12-14-23; 8:45 am]
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