NEPA Process and EIS Schedule

The National Environmental Policy Act

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) and the National Guard Bureau (NGB) has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of its proposal to replace legacy aircraft (F-15C/D) with new generation aircraft (F-15EX or F-35A) at select fighter wings.

The NGB requested the public's input throughout the development of the EIS. The Final EIS is currently available for review on the Documents page and at local libraries.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

The DAF and NGB are co-lead agencies responsible for the scope and content of the EIS.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a cooperating agency because two of the fighter wing locations are at civil airports, Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF) and Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), and the scope of the Proposed Action and alternatives involve activities for which the FAA has jurisdiction by law and special expertise. The purpose and need of the FAA’s action is to ensure the components of the Proposed Action subject to FAA approval do not derogate aviation safety and meet FAA airport design standards at BAF and FAT.

The Department of the Navy (Navy) is a cooperating agency for the EIS because the Navy is the land-holding command at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) New Orleans and has subject matter requirements and relevant expertise.