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 the public's participation in development of the environmental analysis document. 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,” which was held in summer 2022.

• Public Scoping Period: During a 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 next opportunity for public involvement is during the public review and comment period for the Draft EIS, which is from February 16, 2024 to April 5, 2024.

• Draft EIS Public Review and Comment Period: 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 Meetings

PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE HELD VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON AT EACH ALTERNATIVE LOCATION ON THE DATES BELOW. 

Virtual Public Meetings (March 5-7, 2024) 

These meetings began with a presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session with project team members, and a formal hearing to receive public comments on the Draft EIS.

The virtual public meetings have concluded. Please see below for links to the recordings. 

BELLE CHASSE, LOUISIANA for the 159th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. CST 
Click here to view the recording.

WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS for the 104th Fighter Wing at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. EST 
Click here to view the recording. 

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA for the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Yosemite International Airport 
Thursday, March 7, 2024, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. PST 
Click here to view the recording.

In-Person Public Meetings (March 14-21, 2024) 

The in-person meetings have concluded. A fact sheet and meeting posters are available on the Documents page for viewing. The in-person public meetings were held on March 14, 2024, in Fresno, California; March 19, 2024, in Westfield, Massachusetts; and March 21, 2024, in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.