Madison Alder Marsha Rummel announced a listening session about the proposal to locate F35s at Madison’s Truax Air National Guard Base on her website.
Information below is directly from Alder Rummel’s website.
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Wednesday February 28
Alders hold Listening Session on Environmental Impact of F-35s
7-8:30p East Madison Community Center 8 Straubel Court
Last week I reported on the public scoping meeting the National Guard Bureau is planning for March 8. They will host two sessions: 2-4p and 5-8p at the Crowne Plaza Madison Hotel 4402 E Washington to gather public input for the Environmental Impact Statement for the beddown of 18 F-35A aircraft at Truax Field. Truax Field, home of the 115th Fighter Wing is one of two preferred alternatives for the new fighter jets, pending results of the EIS. The NGB will hold an open house using a one-on-one format. Send written comments to Ms. Christel Johnson, NGB/A4AM, Sheppard Hall, 3501 Fetchet Avenue, Joint Base Andrews MD 20762-5157 or via the project website at http://www.ANGF35EIS.com .
Alders surrounding Truax received an invitation from the National Guard Bureau to provide oral or written comments by the end of the month. Last week I asked east and north side alders to co-host a listening session with me. We found a date and would like to get your feedback in a community meeting format to inform our written comments and a Council resolution. Alders Palm, Kemble, Baldeh, Ahrens, DeMarb, Zellers and I are planning to attend. If you can’t attend, I would like to hear from you.
My goal is to gather questions and concerns and present them on March 8 to get answers from the NGB, then submit a letter with a summary of what I have learned with my recommendation.
In addition to noise at ear shattering levels that affects most residents of the east side, noise and air pollution that disproportionately affects people of color who live in proximity to the field and under flight paths, potential groundwater contamination from jet fuel, solvents, petroleum products and other chemicals used on the site that impacts Starkweather Creek, there is the potential risk of crashes. While training may be the bulk of their flights and crashes rare (the last one was 2011), the fighter jets are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, smart bombs, air-to-surface missiles, etc. We have a right to know what weapons will be on board and if nuclear materials will be stored at and transported to Truax Field. We also have a right to know if there been a comprehensive test of soil contamination of the site that would affect employees. We need to learn about proposed flight paths and projected decibel levels. Will the F-35As use afterburners which contribute to the sonic boom? The economic benefits to Madison are unevenly distributed. At best we retain existing military jobs with some improvements at the site. Will the EIS look at how $94M-$128M per aircraft could be spent on other needs like education, healthcare, or infrastructure improvements? Or how the war on terrorism economy contributes to the growing inequality between working people and the wealthiest people at home and how endless military engagements around the globe kill and wreak havoc on families and communities. How do we build a sustainable, just and humane security system?
All federal agencies are required to take a look at potential environmental impacts of proposed actions per the National Environmental Policy Act https://www.epa.gov/nepa/what-national-environmental-policy-act and make a ruling about social, economic and environmental impacts.
The Air Force has its own NEPA protocols
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=cec76a30311d778de544f0fc63b53e89&mc=true&node=pt32.6.989&rgn=div5 that address air quality, pollution protection, noise and environmental justice.
