Final Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment Joint Strile Fighter System Development and Demonstration Developmental Test Program

Abstract : This Environmental Assessment (EA)/Overseas EA (OEA) identifies and evaluates the potential effects from conducting the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Development Test (DT)Program, the Proposed Action. Proposed DT activities of the three F-35 aircraft variants will be conducted over a six to seven year period at Department of Defense facilities and ranges uniquely equipped with assets and experienced expertise to support tests and evaluations of military strike aircraft weapon systems. The EA/OEA evaluates two alternatives in addition to the No Action Alternative: Alternative One- Conducting the full spectrum of the JSF DT Program at an East Coast Primary Test Location [Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River and Virginia Capes Operating Area of the Atlantic Warning Area], a West Coast Primary Test Location [Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), to include using the airspace and ranges of Naval Air Weapons Center, Weapons Division China Lake; Naval Air Weapons Center, Weapons Point Mugu; White Sands Missile Range; and Nevada Test and Training Range, Nellis AFB] and Other Ancillary Test Locations [Eglin AFB Air Armament Center; Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (LM Aero)]; and Alternative Two- Conducting the full spectrum of the JSF DT Program at the proposed test locations reflected in Alternative One, but splitting proposed hover tests of the Short Takeoff Vertical Landing variant of the F-35 between NAS Patuxent River and LM Aero. No significant impacts or harm to the environmental resources analyzed in detail (air quality, noise, biological/natural resources socioeconomics, and coastal zone resources) in this EA/OEA are expected from implementing the Proposed Action under either alternative.