F-35 draft EIS released

The Air Force released the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed operational basing of F-35s, kicking off a series of public hearings. Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the preferred alternative for the active duty operational location and Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt., is the preferred alternative for the Air National Guard. The other active and Air National Guard alternatives under consideration are Jacksonville AGS, Fla.; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; and Shaw AFB/McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C. "The Air Force is analyzing the impacts of basing three squadrons of 24 aircraft each at the active duty location and one squadron of 24 aircraft at the Air National Guard location," said Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations. A final decision is expected in the fall of 2012. (Source: AFNS, 04/13/12) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center.