DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) has issued a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register announcing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluating the potential environmental consequences of the 492nd Special Operations Wing (492nd SOW) Beddown at Davis-Monthan (DM) Air Force Base (AFB).

The 492nd SOW, located at Hurlburt Field, Florida, is being transformed into an Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Power Projection Wing (PPW) that is proposed to be relocated to DM AFB. AFSOC’s PPW will include the 492nd SOW, 492nd Theater Air Operations Squadron, 6th Special Operations Squadron, 6th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, an unnamed MC-130J Special Operations Squadron, an unnamed MC-130J Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 319th Special Operations Squadron, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, and the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron. Air Combat Command will establish a geographically separated Intelligence Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB under the 361st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group.

Although not part of the Proposed Action Alternative, changes resulting from the planned and eventual Phase 2 of the A-10 aircraft retirement from DM AFB is considered in the analysis. The Proposed Action does not include creating new airspace or modifying existing airspace.

A copy of the Draft EIS is posted on the project website at www.492sow-beddown-eis.com.

The DAF will host two public hearings to allow members of the public to learn about the project and provide formal public comments. Written comments can be submitted via mail or electronically via the public website at www.492sow-beddown-eis.com at any time during the public comment period for consideration in the Final EIS.

Public hearings will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (local time) as follows:

• Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Tucson Convention Center, Meeting Room 200, 260 S. Church Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701. Parking is free and participants are encouraged to use Parking Lot B.

• Tuesday, November 19, 2024, virtual via Zoom Webinar

Subject matter experts will be available for interviews 30 minutes prior to the start of the in-person public hearing. Media desiring an interview should coordinate in advance with the 355th Wing Public Affairs office.

To register to attend the virtual public hearing, visit www.492sow-beddown-eis.com.  Links and instructions will be distributed after registering and prior to the virtual public hearing. The virtual hearing can be accessed by phone at 1-888-788-0099, Webinar ID: 849-0730-1782, Passcode: 189625.

Public comments can be submitted through December 9, 2024, for consideration in the Final EIS:

• Via the public website at www.492sow-beddown-eis.com
• By mail to: Mr. Nicolas Post, U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center, AFCEC/CIEE, 13397 Lakefront Drive; Suite 100, Earth City, MO 63045

Inquiries can be directed to:

• 355th Wing Public Affairs; (520) 228-3406; 355WGPA@us.af.mil

For more information, visit www.492sow-beddown-eis.com