Welcome to the United States Air Force F-35A Training Basing Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Website.

The Air Force proposes to establish a Pilot Training Center for the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft at one or more existing Air Force or Air National Guard installations within the continental United States. The F-35A is a fifth-generation conventional take-off, multiple-role fighter with an emphasis on air-to-ground missions. The aircraft was designed to replace and supplement the F-16 and A-10 aircraft as well as complement the F-22.

The basing alternatives for an F-35A Pilot Training Center include Boise Air Terminal Air Guard Station, Idaho; Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico; Luke AFB, Arizona; and Tucson International Airport Air Guard Station, Arizona. On July 29, 2010 the Air Force announced its Preferred Alternative for the Pilot Training Center as 72 F-35A training aircraft at Luke AFB, Arizona. However, no decisions regarding the proposal will be made until after the environmental impact analysis process is complete.

This Environmental Impact Statement evaluates the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. The Proposed Action evaluates the establishment of the F-35A Pilot Training Center by basing F-35A aircraft at one or more of the basing alternatives listed above. Each basing alternative was evaluated for up to six increments of 24 F-35A training aircraft. Environmental consequences of the needed construction, personnel changes, and flight operations at the main airfield, auxiliary airfields, military ranges, and in the military airspace are described in the EIS.

The No Action Alternative for this EIS means that an F-35A training basing would not take place at any of the basing alternatives. No F-35A personnel changes or construction would be performed and no F-35A training activities would be conducted. The No Action Alternative constitutes the baseline conditions at each basing alternative.

This website provides information about the EIS, schedule, and public involvement opportunities. Your involvement and feedback are essential in assisting us to identify key environmental issues potentially affected by the Air Force's F-35A Training Basing proposal.

A copy of the Draft EIS released on January 20, 2012 is provided on the EIS Documents page. The public will have 45 days in which to comment on the EIS. Public Hearings will be held in February 2012 in order for the Air Force to hear the public's concerns and comments on the Proposed Action and the analysis contained within the Draft EIS. Schedules, locations, and other materials for these Public Hearings are provided on the Public Involvement Materials page. The schedule for the entire Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) and expected completion of the EIS is provided on the Schedule page.