Air Force begins Environmental Impact Statement for Tyndall, and Vanderberg Air Force Bases
Panama City, Florida – Tyndall Air Force Base is still under consideration to house a F-35A Wing, and a MQ-9 Wing, according to a notice filed late last month by the United States Air Force.
According to the noticed filed with the Federal register:
“The United States Air Force (USAF) is issuing this notice of intent to advise the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential environmental consequences associated with two independent proposed actions: (1) The beddown of an F-35A Operational Wing at Tyndall AFB, FL. and (2) The beddown of an MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Operational Wing at either Tyndall AFB, Florida (FL) or Vandenberg AFB, California (CA).”
The Air Force has released a Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Timeline for the proposed actions. According to the timeline, the Notice of Availability for the Final EIS is expected in the Winter of 2020.
The U. S. Air Force (USAF) proposes to beddown F-35A operational aircraft at Tyndall AFB, FL, as part of the Combat Air Forces that defend the sovereign airspace of the U.S., as well as deploy worldwide, meeting national defense requirements. Tyndall AFB is uniquely positioned to locate the three squadron F-35A Wing due to the base’s access to excellent training airspace and the base’s modernization and restoration following the direct hit from Hurricane Michael on 10 October, 2018.
Tyndall AFB was struck by category 5 hurricane wind speeds in excess of 156 miles per hour with the result that every facility sustained from some damage to total destruction. The Air Force temporarily relocated the Tyndall-based F-22 fighter aircraft to Eglin AFB, and has proposed to permanently relocate them to Joint Base Langley-Eustis. The potential reassignment of the F-22 missions from Tyndall AFB, combined with the multi-year restoration of the base, allows the Air Force to optimize its 5th generation fighter fleets.
F-35A Lightning II
According to the EIS documents shown and presented to the public recently by the USAF for the F-35A Wing Beddown at Tyndall Air Force Base, The Proposed Action is to beddown three F-35A Operational Squadrons each with 24 Primary Aerospace Vehicles Authorized and two Backup Aircraft Inventory F-35A aircraft at the base. F-35A aircraft operations and maintenance would be located in the “fighter campus” area of the Tyndall AFB flight line district. A mixture Proposed F-35A Wing Facilities of restored facilities and new construction on Tyndall AFB would support the three-squadron F-35A Wing. An Alternative is to add a fourth squadron of 5th generation fighter aircraft at Tyndall AFB. The No Action Alternative would consist of not bedding down F-35A aircaft at Tyndall AFB. If the proposed Beddown of the F-35A wing occurs, Tyndall Air Force Base could add approximately 1,856 USAF new personnel plus 64 contractor personnel would be needed for the mission at the base. An estimated 2,507 dependents, including 921 school-aged children would accompany USAF personnel.
According to the EIS documents shown and presented to the public recently by the USAF for the MQ-9 Wing Beddown at Tyndall Air Force Base, the number of base personnel would be increased to fulfill MQ-9 mission requirements, with approximately 1,900 USAF new personnel would be needed for the mission. An estimated 2,600 dependents, including 950 school aged children, would accompany USAF personnel. Flight operations for MQ-9 proficiency training would occur at Tyndall Air Force Base, and in existing airspace and ranges over the Gulf of Mexico, south Florida, and southern Georgia at previous used active Air force ranges. The USAF needs to address MQ-9 operational requirements by providing diversity of operations by not having all of the MQ-9 assets at one location, training in varied airspace and ranges, as well as over water, and by increasing
leadership opportunities.
MQ-9 aircraft in flight.
Tyndall Air Force Base Environmental Impact Statement document
The environmental impact documents, which will likely be completed by the end of 2020, are set to address potential environmental consequences resulting from the establishment of the wing at either location.
The Environmental Resource Areas Under Consideration for Each Alternative Include:
- Airspace Management and Air Traffic Control
- Acoustic Environment (Noise)
- Air Quality
- Water Resources/Wetlands
- Geology/Soils
- Biological Resources
- Cultural Resources (Including Native American Concerns)
- Land Use
- Health and Safety
- Hazardous Materials and Waste Management
- Infrastructure and Traffic
- Socioeconomics (also known as social economics)
- Environmental Justice
The Air Force reported that it intends to solicit written comments from interested local, state, and federal agencies and elected officials, Native American tribes, and interested members of the public.
Anyone who would like to submit comments needs to do so by December 24th, 2019.
They can be submitted online at the F-35A Wing and MQ-9 Wing Beddowns EIS Website
Or by mailing:
F-35A/MQ-9 EIS Project Manager
AFCEC/CZN
2261 Hughes Avenue, Suite 155
JBSA Lackland TX 78236-9853
To learn more about Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposals for F-35A Wing Beddown at Tyndall AFB, Florida and MQ-9 Wing Beddown at Tyndall AFB, Florida or Vandenberg AFB, California, and to participate in the EIS, visit the EIS web site online for the proposed aircraft beddowns:
