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| Library > Operation Snowbird Environmental Assessment |
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OSB Environmental Assessment
Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing Operation Snowbird, is located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the base host unit. In the summer of 2010, the Air Force determined that an Environmental Assessment was needed due to an expansion of OSB operations in the plan which governs the OSB mission. The EA will look at OSB operations' effects on noise, public safety, air quality, cultural resources, biological resources, hazardous matter and waste management, socio-economics, environmental justice and air space. The contract for the EA was awarded to Gulf South Research Corporation.
The 355th Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, Air National Guard, and the Air Force strive to be good neighbors to the communities in which their Airmen live, work and raise families. We will continue to be as open and transparent with the public within legal guidelines, military regulations and chains of command. This website and the 355th FW Public Affairs office is the main point of contact.
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Two public scoping meetings will be conducted on Sept. 27-28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., marking the beginning of the public comment period. The purpose of these meetings is to educate the public on what to expect from the National Environmental Policy Act process and gather public comments that will be used to assist the Air Force in properly defining the scope of the EA.
The first meeting will be held at Sheraton Four Points, 1900 East Speedway, Tucson, Ariz. ; and the second meeting will be held at Empire High School, 10701 East Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Tucson Ariz.
A third public scoping meeting for Operation Snowbird is scheduled for Oct. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Randolph North Golf Course Copper Room at 600 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz
The meeting will include Air Force Representatives and subject matter experts on topics regarding the OSB EA.
A notice on the public scoping meetings was placed in a local newspaper by GSRC and sent via a news release by the 355th FW Public Affairs office on Sept. 12.
Members of the public, federal and state agencies, and organizations who have an interest in the proposed action are encouraged to participate.
Following the public scoping meetings, the information provided will be located on this website under "Virtual Open House."
Participants may provide comments at the meetings or during the 30-day comment period to the 355th FW Public Affairs office. Comments are used as a part of the public scoping report made by GSRC. Site visits and data collection can occur prior and after public scoping meetings.
All comments will be considered and responsed to. Responses to comment can be found in the comment matrix of the draft EA. Comments with similar trends may be grouped together in the comment matrix.
The last day to submit a comment regarding the scope of the analysis is Nov. 15. A 30-day comment period will follow the release of the draft EA.
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After the public comment period, GSRC will review the comments and complete its analysis of all data collected to prepare a draft EA report.
A notice on the release of the draft EA and public comment period will be placed in local newspapers by GSRC and sent via a news release by the 355th FW Public Affairs office.
Comments must be submitted through the 355th FW Public Affairs office. All comments will be considered for final OSB EA.
Specific timelines and dates will be provided when determined.
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Following revisions to the draft EA, GSRC will submit the final EA report for approval. Responses provided during previous comment periods will be included in a comment-resolution section of the final EA so the public can see how their comments were responded to; including if revisions were made.
A notice on the release of the final EA will be placed in local newspapers by GSRC and sent via a news release by the 355th FW Public Affairs office.
The final OSB EA will be available on this website following approval for release by Air Force officials.
A determination will be made in the final OSB EA for a "finding of no significant impact" or "potentially significant impact."
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Those wishing to submit a comment are asked to fill out the digital OSB EA Comment Submittal Form. If mailing please print the form. If emailing please attach form or cut-and-paste in the email.
Comments mailed should be sent to the following address:
ATTN: OSB EA COMMENT SUBMITTAL
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
3180 S. First Street
Davis-Monthan AFB, Az 85707
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UPDATE MARCH 15, 2012
The draft environmental assessment of Operation Snowbird is slated for release in early June 2012, and will be available for public review during a 30 day comment period. The NEPA EA process does not require further public meetings, and no further public meetings are planned. The extended scoping period, which incorporated an additional scoping meeting has delayed release of the Draft EA document until June 2012. The Air Force is considering public comments received during the scoping process and reevaluating the operation and a new EA baseline. |
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The 162nd Fighter Wing Operation Snowbird detachment's mission, is to provide support for U.S. military flying units and allied partners deployed for training. Southern Arizona provides optimal weather conditions and ample ranges that mirror the environment found downrange. OSB hosts an average of 10-12 units per year with 2 -12 aircraft per visit for an average of two weeks. Every visiting pilot is informed of and complies with all base traffic patterns and noise abatement procedures, mitigating noise impact on the surrounding communities. |
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355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
Comm (520) 228-3406
DSN 228-3406
Flight Operation Concerns (520) 228-5091
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Public Scoping Meeting 