U.S. AIR FORCE ISSUES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE Published July 3, 2023 452 AMW MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. -- Media Release FOR RELEASE BY JULY 3, 2023 AND ANYTIME AFTER AIR FORCE TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) FOR THE PROPOSED KC‑46A MAIN OPERATING BASE 5 (MOB 5) BEDDOWN MARCH ARB, CALIFORNIA The U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) is holding a public hearing to invite public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the KC-46A Main Operating Base 5 (MOB 5) Beddown. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the DAF has prepared the environmental study in the form of a Draft EIS, which is currently available for public review and comment. The hearing venue will open at 5:00 P.M. The hearing will start with a DAF presentation and an opportunity for public testimony in the form of verbal comments before a hearing officer and a court reporter. Written comments will also be accepted. The KC-46A MOB 5 mission includes the basing of 12 KC‑46A aircraft and will require facility, infrastructure, and personnel to support the beddown. The beddown will occur at a DAF installation within the continental United States (CONUS) where the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) leads a global refueling mission. The purpose of the MOB 5 mission is to provide a fully capable, combat operational KC-46A aerial refueling squadron or squadrons to accomplish aerial refueling and related missions. The DAF has identified March Air Reserve Base (ARB) as the preferred alternative with Grissom ARB and Tinker Air Force Base (AFB) as reasonable alternatives. Along with the No Action Alternative, all three bases have been equally evaluated as alternatives in the Draft EIS. The KC-46A aircraft would recapitalize the KC-135 tanker fleet and would continue supporting the mission of providing worldwide refueling, cargo, and aeromedical evacuation support. With more refueling capacity, improved efficiency, and increased capabilities for cargo and aeromedical evacuation, the KC‑46A will provide aerial refueling support to the DAF, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as allied nation coalition force aircraft. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Draft EIS analyzes the potential environmental consequences associated with basing the KC‑46A tanker at each alternative location. A No Action Alternative (not basing the MOB 5 mission at any installation) has also been examined. No location will be selected for the MOB 5 mission until after the Final EIS is complete. More information can be obtained from the project website at www.kc-46a-mob5.com. The DAF is soliciting comments on the Draft EIS from interested members of the public as well as interested federal, state, and local agencies, tribes and others. Public input is vital in supporting the DAF in making informed decisions, and no action will be taken until after a Final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) are published. The DAF will hold public hearings to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about the proposal and to provide input. The public hearing venue will open at 5:00 P.M. At 5:30 P.M., the DAF will give a brief presentation, followed by an opportunity for the public to provide verbal comments beginning at 6:15 P.M. The hearing venue will close at 8:00 P.M. All members of the public are invited. Written comments will be accepted and all public comments are encouraged. Public input supports the DAF in making more informed decisions. The date, time and location for the public hearing are listed below: Date and Time of Public Hearing Location of Public Hearing Tuesday July 18, 2023; 5:00 to 8:00 PM March ARB, March Field Air Museum 22550 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518 During the presentation, the DAF will describe the proposed action and alternatives, the purpose and reasoning behind the proposed KC-46A MOB 5 beddown, the NEPA process, and summarize the Draft EIS findings. The public comment period will then begin on June 30, 2023; oral public comments will be transcribed by a court reporter at the public hearing. The Draft EIS is available for download from the following website: https://www.kc-46a-mob5.com/index.aspx and may be reviewed in hardcopy format at the following libraries: MARCH ARB Moreno Valley Public Library, Iris Plaza Branch, 16170 Perris Blvd., Suite C3, Moreno Valley, CA 92551 Perris Branch Library, 163 E San Jacinto Avenue, Perris, CA 92570 Comments on the Draft EIS can be submitted electronically at www.kc-46a-mob5.com/, orally or in writing at public hearings, or by providing written comments to the contact information listed below. As a convenience for those sending comments by mail, a comment form is available on the website to help expedite your submission. Although comments will be accepted throughout the Draft EIS review period, to ensure consideration in the Final EIS, public input must be received by August 14, 2023. People wishing to mail comments or obtain further information should send them to the following address: KC-46A MOB 5 EIS 13397 Lakefront Drive, Suite 100 Earth City, MO 63045 ###