Breaking News - Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation

F-35 Environmental Report Released

May. 21st, 2010
Joyce Lobeck

The community has another opportunity to voice its support or concerns about plans to base some of the squadrons for the nation's newest fighter jet at Marine Crops Air Station Yuma with an open house next month. The latest draft of various plans to base the Marine Corps' Joint Strike Fighter at the air station is now available for the public to review and comment. The environmental impact statement, a comprehensive survey on the jet's environmental impacts, outlines six possible plans for basing of the new aircraft on the West Coast. The F-35B, with short take off and vertical landing capability, is being developed to replace the current Marine fleet of combat jets, including Yuma's AV-8B Harriers. Other versions of the F-35 are being developed for the Air Force and Navy. If selected, the preferred plan in the EIS would place five operational F-35B squadrons and one operational, test and evaluation squadron at MCAS Yuma, with another six operational squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. Public comments will be accepted until July 6, after which the final EIS will be prepared for a decision by the secretary of the Navy expected to be made in December. An open house in Yuma concerning the draft EIS will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. June 17 at Gila Vista Junior High School, 2245 S. Arizona Ave. Military officials will be on hand at different information displays to describe the environmental analysis process, purpose, need and proposed action, alternatives and impacts. There will be no formal presentation, but members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the F-35 and to voice their questions, concerns and comments. "Please come out, whether you're for or against it," said Julie Engel, president and CEO of Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp. "We want to hear from people ... their support and their concerns." Those who can't attend the open house can submit their comments to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 93132, attention to the JSF West Coast EIS project manager. Of they can fill out a digital comment form on the project's public website at www.usmcJSFwest.com. The draft EIS also can be downloaded from that website. Engel said people are also invited to participate in the Facebook page at Yuma F-35. For more information and articles about the project, visit the GYED website at www.greateryuma.org. A scoping meeting was held in Yuma last year to gather questions and comments from the community on the proposed basing options. That input helped Department of the Navy planners determine what needed to be addressed in the EIS. Despite delays and budget overages within the F-35 program, the Marine Corps is marching forward to prepare to reach an initial operating capability of 29 planes by December 2012, according to a statement released by Headquarters Marine Corps on March 18. Ten of those planes would make up the first operational squadron, Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 332, which could be based at MCAS Yuma once the secretary of the Navy decides on the final basing plans. On April 2, the Marine Corps activated a new squadron to train future F-35 pilots and maintainers beginning this fall. Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 stood up as part of the Joint Integrated Training Center at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, according to Headquarters Marine Corps. The Air Force will receive the F-35A variant, which will provide conventional takeoff and landing capabilities. The Navy will receive the F-35C, designed for carrier launches and duty at sea. However, the production and basing of Navy and Air Force planes is separate and doesn't affect the F-35B, say Marine Corps officials. --- The environmental impact statement is now available for public comment and review for the basing of the Marine Corps Joint Strike Fighter F-35 on the West Coast. Comments are due by July 6. To comment: • Attend an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. June 17 at Gila Vista Junior High School, 2245 S. Arizona Ave. • Send a comment card to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 93132, attention to the JSF West Coast EIS project manager. • Fill out the digital comment form on the project's public website at www.usmcJSFwest.com.

Joyce Lobeck
Sun Staff Writer
The Sun
May. 21st, 2010

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