Realignment and Introduction of F/A-18 Aircraft, Eastern United States

For the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic Division, E & E conducted an EIS for the realignment of F/A-18 Aircraft from Naval Air Station (NAS) Cecil Field to other East Coast installations.  Air quality and conformity ranked as significant concerns.  We developed project-specific aircraft emission analysis techniques that were used to prepare a Clean Air Act General Conformity analysis and determination.  We worked with base personnel, attorneys, and Department of Defense (DoD) NEPA Planning and Headquarters staff to determine aircraft emission rates for ozone precursors during various modes of operation.  To accommodate the emission increases, we assisted in negotiations with State of Virginia air quality planners to incorporate emission allotments in the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the project area.  The major focus in the development of the SIP emission budget was the certification of emission offsets that would allow the aircraft to move into the area.