The purpose of the proposed action is to develop facilities to support the West Coast basing of the Navy's new F/A-18E/F aircraft. Development of the larger, longer-range F/A-18E/F aircraft was necessary to provide an airframe capable of accommodating new weapons and weapon systems. It is necessary that these aircraft be based on the West Coast to provide a balance in the force structure and to be near the West Coast stationed aircraft carriers on which the aircraft deploy. The proposed action includes siting 164 F/A-18E/F aircraft, locating associated military personnel and family members, and providing associated training functions at the receiving installation. In addition to the increased staffing and equipment levels, the proposed action would increase Navy activity and flight operations at the receiving installation. Specific facilities will be required to support the training operations and associated personnel. The two installations considered for the West Coast base are Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore and Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro. NAS Lemoore is the preferred alternative evaluated in this environmental impact statement (EIS). This EIS evaluates the potential impacts to the human and natural environment that may result from development of facilities to support Navy basing of aircraft and personnel at a naval air station on the West Coast. This EIS has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) implementing regulations Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500-1508, and the Navy's NEPA implementing regulations OPNAVINST (Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction) 5090. 1B.

Technical appendices. Written and oral comments received during the EIS scoping process are summarized below for the three proposed alternative sites. Oral comments were received at the three scoping meetings held in the City of Lemoore on April 28, 1997, the City of El Centro on April 29, 1997, and the City of Camarillo of April 30, 1997. The scoping process ended May 23, 1997. A Summary of the issues identified through the scoping process is provided below. NAS Lemoore (Location of scoping meeting: City of Lemoore) Some of the comment letters were expressing support for or opposition to the proposed action at NAS Lermoore. Specific areas of concern related to the environmental impact statement included biological resources, land use and airspace, noise, public health and safety, and the general NEPA processes. NAF El Centro (Location of scoping meeting: City of El Centro) Some of the comment letters expressed support for or opposition to the proposed action at NAF El Centro. Specific areas of concern related to the environmental impact statement included biological resources and noise.