This Final EIS, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, responds to public and agency review and comments on the Draft EIS. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is being developed to replace and supplement Air Force legacy fighter aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II. Federal law and United States Air Force (Air Force) policy require implementation of an FDE program and WS training of all new aircraft. To meet these requirements for the F-35, the Air Force proposes to base 12 F-35 aircraft at Nellis AFB for the FDE program and an additional 24 F-35 for WS training. As a phased program reliant on manufacturing progress and other elements of F-35 deployment, the first F-35 would arrive in 2012 and the last in 2020. This proposal involves construction, demolition, or modification of base facilities and implementation of flight activities for the FDE program and WS within the NTTR. The Draft EIS analyzed the potential environmental consequences of the proposed beddown at Nellis AFB and the no-action alternative. Under the no-action alternative, the FDE program and WS would not be implemented at Nellis AFB. None of the associated construction or personnel changes would occur. The findings indicate that the proposed F-35 beddown would not adversely impact airspace and aircraft operations, safety, recreation, socioeconomics, environmental justice and protection of children, soils, water, biological resources, cultural resources, or hazardous materials and waste. Emissions of CO and NOx would exceed de minimus, but these would not result in adverse impacts or affect Clark County's attainment goals based on State Implementation Plans for the pollutants. The proposed beddown would increase noise levels around Nellis AFB based on analyses using currently available data on the F-35.


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