Public Involvement

Public involvement is an integral part of the Environmental Impact Analysis Process, which requires full disclosure of potential environmental impacts to the public and encourages public involvement. The public has an important role in providing input during this process to help the National Guard Bureau make more informed decisions about implementing this proposal. The first opportunity for public involvement is the process called “public scoping.”

The scoping period for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) began with publication of the “Notice of Intent” in the Federal Register on July 19, 2022, and ended on September 2, 2022. Although comments were due by September 2 to be considered in development of the Draft EIS, comments received after September 2 will still be reviewed and considered throughout the process.

The public participates in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process during the following key stages:

  • Public Scoping Period: The public helps to identify the scope of analysis, environmental resource areas, and potential alternatives to be analyzed in the EIS. Input received during the public scoping period is considered in the development of the Draft EIS.

The National Guard Bureau will consider all substantive comments in development of the Draft EIS.

  • Draft EIS Public Review and Comment Period: After public scoping is complete, the next opportunity for public comment will be when the Draft EIS is available for review, which is anticipated to be in fall 2023. During the Draft EIS public review and comment period, the public reviews, evaluates, and comments on the environmental impact analysis presented in the Draft EIS. Input received during this period is considered in the development of the Final EIS.

 

Public Scoping Meetings

Public scoping meetings were held virtually and in-person at each alternative location on the dates below.


In-person Public Scoping Meetings

The in-person public scoping meetings have concluded. The National Guard Bureau hosted in-person open-house style public meetings to provide information to interested parties. Attendees were able to meet project representatives and ask questions. A fact sheet and meeting posters are available on the Documents page for viewing. The in-person public scoping meetings were held on Aug. 9, 2022, in Fresno, California; Aug. 10 in Lemoore, California; Aug. 16 in Belle Chasse, Louisiana; and Aug. 18 in Westfield, Massachusetts.

Virtual Public Scoping Meetings

The virtual public meetings have concluded. Click on each meeting below to access the recording. 

The National Guard Bureau hosted three virtual scoping meetings. Each meeting focused on a specific alternative location for the proposed beddown, as indicated below.

Virtual Scoping Meeting:
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana
Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022
Click here to access the recording.

Virtual Scoping Meeting:
Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022
Click here to access the recording.

Virtual Scoping Meeting:
Fresno Air National Guard Base and Naval Air Station Lemoore, California
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022
Click here to access the recording.

How to Submit Written Scoping Comments

The National Guard Bureau requests and welcomes your scoping comments. Comments were due by September 2, 2022, to be considered in development of the Draft EIS, but comments received after September 2 will still be reviewed and considered throughout the process. Comments can be submitted by one of the following methods:

The EIS Timeline. We are currently in the Preparation of Draft EIS phase, summer 2023.