The DAF bases this decision in part on the evaluations presented in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Beddown of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Pilot Training Center (PTC) at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas or Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. The DAF considered the information, analyses, and public comments received and contained in the FEIS, along with other relevant matters.

The Record of Decision (ROD), signed on March 11, 2023, is issued in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) at Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 1505.2 (Record of decision in cases requiring environmental impact statements). The DAF considered all the alternatives, information, and analyses, and objections submitted by States, Tribal, and local governments, and other public commenters for consideration by the DAF in developing the FEIS. The signed ROD is available here.

The DAF released the Draft EIS (available here) for comment from September 2 through October 17, 2022. During the 45-day review and commenting period, the DAF held two in-person public hearings (one near Ebbing ANGB, AR, and one near Selfridge ANGB, MI) and one virtual public hearing on the Draft EIS. Volume II, Appendix A, Public and Agency Involvement, Section A.1.2, provides details on substantive comments received during the commenting period and public hearings, as well as DAF responses to those comments.

The official notice of availability for the Final EIS (available here) appeared in the Federal Register on February 3, 2023. After the 30-day mandatory Final EIS waiting period as required by 32 CFR § 989.21(a)(2) the DAF then documented its decision regarding alternative implementation in the aforementioned ROD. The DAF will notify the public of ROD availability as required by 32 CFR § 989.21(b) in both the Federal Register and local newspapers as publication dates allow.