The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is our national charter for making informed decisions based upon potential environmental consequences. NEPA requires all federal agencies to take a good-faith, hard look at potential environmental consequences of a proposal before making a decision.

The Air National Guard is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on the potential impacts associated with the modification, expansion, and utilization of the Evers Military Operations Area (MOA) over portions of Virginia and West Virginia to accommodate the training requirements of the 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard. The Proposed Action and No Action Alternatives are evaluated in the EA, which finds that neither the Proposed Action nor the No Action Alternative would significantly impact the environment and supports the Draft Finding of No Significant Impact.  To most useful comments are requested by June 10, 2020.

Written comments should be sent to National Guard Bureau, Attn: Ramón E. Ortiz, 3501 Fetchet Avenue, Joint Base Andrews MD 20762-5157 or emailed to usaf.jbanafw.ngb-a4.mbx.a4a-nepa-comments@mail.mil.

In support of the District of Columbia Air National Guard's 113th Wing, the Air Force and the National Guard Bureau (NGB) are proposing to expand, modify and establish air-to-air training airspace areas over northern Virginia and West Virginia. The proposed project will initially expand the lateral footprint of the Evers MOA as it currently exists from 450 square nautical miles to 3,500 square nautical miles, to include an Evers North, Central and South MOA. In addition, the airspace expansion proposes the creation of a three Air Traffic Control Assigned Areas (ATCAA) from FL180- FL230 MSL (overlaying the same lateral boundaries as the Evers North, Central and South MOA).

The purpose of the proposed modification of the Evers Military Operating Area (MOA) is to provide properly-configured and located military airspace, which will provide efficient, realistic mission-oriented training with adequate size, and within reasonably close proximity, to support advanced 21st century air-to-air tactical fighters and evolving training requirements of the DCANG.

Several factors that have driven the proposed action include travel distance and time required to access existing training airspace area, the availability and scheduling of current configuration and vertical limits in order to effectively meet the needs of the evolving missions and technological advancements of the F-16.

The Evers MOA EA is currently out for Public Comment. Please submit your comments by June 10, 2020.