MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, Calif. -- The U.S. Marine Corps has completed an environmental review for the proposed establishment and modification of permanent Special Use Airspace (SUA) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) based on the Final Environmental Assessment (EA). The Marine Corps’ proposal will now advance to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will conduct its independent rulemaking process.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide permanently charted SUA above and adjacent to the Combat Center to enhance aviation safety while supporting advanced, combined arms training critical to preparing Marines for current and future operational requirements. If established, permanently charted SUA would improve predictability and deconfliction for both military and civilian aviators operating in the region.
The Final EA and FONSI reflect a comprehensive environmental analysis conducted in coordination with the FAA. This process provided opportunities for public and agency engagement, and all substantive comments received were considered as part of the final analysis. The Final EA evaluated potential environmental impacts across a range of resource areas, including noise, airspace management, aviation emissions and air quality, biological and cultural resources, land use and recreation, and socioeconomics and children’s health and safety risks. The analysis concluded that the Proposed Action would not result in significant impacts to the human environment.
If implemented, the proposed airspace changes would not change the public’s recreational access to the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area. The area would continue to operate in alignment with its current shared-use model. Emergency response activities, including medical evacuation, would continue to be accommodated under established procedures that prioritize immediate access and coordination.
The Final EA and Marine Corps FONSI, and other information on the Marine Corps’ airspace proposal are available for public review at www.29palms.marines.mil/airspace/.
The issuance of the Marine Corps FONSI concludes the Marine Corps’ environmental review process. For more information:
Website: www.29palms.marines.mil/airspace/
Email: SMBPLMSJOHNSONVALLEY@usmc.mil
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