Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Initial Operational Test and Evaluation
Abstract
The attached environmental assessment/overseas environmental assessment (EA/OEA) analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with implementation of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) program. Support aircraft operations and effects are addressed as part of the baseline activities. The Proposed Action would entail basing 20 F-35 aircraft (6 F-35As [U.S. Air Force], 6 F-35Bs [U.S. Marine Corps], 6 F-35Cs [U.S. Navy], and 2 F-35Bs [UK]) at existing facilities at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), and conducting flights in the R-2508 Complex; Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) China Lake, California; NAWCWD Point Mugu Ranges, California; Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), Nevada; Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR), Utah; White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico; National Training Center (NTC) Fort Irwin, California; and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma Ranges, Arizona and California. The Proposed Action also includes several deployment demonstrations that would occur at several locations. Aspects of socioeconomics, airspace, land use, aesthetics, transportation, utilities, hazardous materials management, geology and soils, water resources, and cultural resources would not be affected by proposed activities. Air emissions from Proposed Action activities would be de minimis and would not be regionally significant. Noise levels at the Edwards AFB airfield would increase due to F-35 take-offs and landings during IOT&E. This increase in noise levels would not exceed the significance threshold established by the Federal Aviation Administration. This EA/OEA analyzes the potential environmental impacts from proposed activities on air quality, noise, and biological resources. The Air Force has determined that the impacts to these resources would not be significant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA509797
Entities
People
- C. M. Brown
- Carl Rykaczewski
- Nora Castellanos
Organizations
- Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment