JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- The U.S. Air Force invites you to review the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and attend the Public Hearing for the proposed Tinian Divert Infrastructure Improvements.
Tinian Divert background information: In September 2016, the U.S. Air Force (Air Force) completed the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for Divert Activities and Exercises (2016 Divert EIS). The 2016 Divert EIS evaluated the proposal to construct facilities and infrastructure at the Saipan and/or Tinian airports to support cargo, tanker, and similar aircraft and associated support personnel for divert operations, periodic exercises, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The Record of Decision (ROD) was signed on
December 7, 2016 and announced the Air Force decision to select the Modified Tinian Alternative (Final EIS, Section 2.7) North Option (Final EIS, Section 2.5.2), as a future Divert location. After the ROD was signed, the Air Force conducted further evaluation of fuel transfer methods and associated infrastructure on Tinian, including the feasibility of different alternatives that were not considered in the 2016 Divert EIS.
Proposed actions and alternatives considered: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the Air Force has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for public review that analyzes the potential environmental consequences associated with the proposal to construct a fuel pipeline from the Tinian seaport to Tinian International Airport, to include associated infrastructure at the Tinian seaport. The proposed pipeline would eliminate the need for bulk fuel storage tanks at the Tinian seaport and the need for fuel tanker trucks to transport fuel from the seaport to the airport, both analyzed in the 2016 Divert EIS. The Air Force is considering two alternatives for the pipeline route, a West route and an East route. The Air Force has identified the East route as the Preferred Alternative for the pipeline. The Draft SEIS also analyzes the Air Force proposal to improve certain existing roads between the Tinian seaport and airport that would be used to support Divert activities.
Obtain and review the draft SEIS: The Draft SEIS is available for download at www.PACAFDivertMarianasEIS.com and may also be viewed at the following document repositories:
Saipan: Saipan Mayor’s Office, Joeten Kiyu Public Library
Tinian: Tinian Mayor’s Office, Tinian Public Library
Public Hearing - All are welcome: The Air Force requests comments from local and federal agencies, political stakeholders, and interested members of the public. The Air Force is holding a public hearing to provide the public with the opportunity to learn more about the proposal and provide input. The public hearing venue will open at 5 p.m. and begin with an “open house” style format and poster stations. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the Air Force will give a brief presentation about the proposal. Formal public testimony will begin at approximately 6 p.m. The hearing venue will close at 8 p.m. All members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend. Written and verbal comments will be accepted at the hearing; your input is valuable and assists the Air Force in making more informed decisions. A Chamorro/Carolinian interpreter will be available at the hearing to assist with translation of meeting materials and written comments. Hearing information is provided below:
Date: June 6, 2019 from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Tinian Elementary Cafeteria.
Public Comment: Comments on the Draft SEIS can be submitted in English electronically at www.PACAFDivertMarianasEIS.com; verbally or in writing at the public hearing; or through the U.S. Postal Service at the address below. For further information, please contact:
Ms. Julianne Turko, AFCEC/CZN
Attn: Tinian Divert SEIS
2261 Hughes Ave, Suite 155
JBSA Lackland, TX 78236-9853
The Air Force also welcomes comments under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 Code of Federal Regulations 800) regarding the identification of or effects on historic properties. If you have comments or would like to become a consulting party in the Section 106 process, please visit the project website or contact Ms. Julianne Turko, AFCEC/CZN at the address above.
To ensure the Air Force has sufficient time to consider public input in the Draft SEIS and the Section 106 process, please submit comments by July 1, 2019.