U.S. Navy NEPA Project Website > Current Projects > Aircraft Home Basing/Ship Homeporting > F35C

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?
- The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires federal agencies to analyze the reasonably foreseeable environmental effects of major federal actions prior to making a decision.
- This requirement allows for more informed decision-making.
What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
- An Environmental Impact Statement is a detailed statement complying with section 102 of NEPA that must be prepared prior to taking major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
What is the Proposed Action?
- The F-35C Transition EIS will be analyzing any potential environmental impacts from the Navy’s Proposed Action, which involves the transition of seven existing FA-18E/F squadrons at one of the Navy’s Master Jet Bases (Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California or NAS Oceana, Virginia) to F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) squadrons by home basing 70 new F-35C aircraft (10 aircraft per squadron) over approximately a 10-year period.
- The Proposed Action includes building renovations, demolitions, or construction of support facilities; the scope of this work depends on the selected alternative.
What is the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)?
- The JSF is the newest fighter aircraft for the Department of War. The JSF program was authorized by Congress to provide a family of strike fighter aircraft to fill many unique DOW mission requirements within the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. The JSF is produced in three types or variations: 1) U.S. Air Force F-35A, a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft; 2) U.S. Marine Corps F-35B, a short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft; and 3) Navy F-35C, an aircraft carrier variant.
What is the F-35C aircraft?
- The F-35C aircraft is the next generation strike fighter for the Navy. The F-35C airframe design and capabilities provide the Navy with enhanced war-fighting capabilities while achieving efficiencies in operations and support. It is a highly advanced, single-engine, single-seat, supersonic, multi-role strike fighter aircraft that can operate from conventional runways and aircraft carriers and includes stealth features that makes it difficult to detect on radar.
What environmental resources will be evaluated in the EIS?
- The Navy requests public input on impacts that we need to consider in the EIS. The Navy will consider public input during the 30-day scoping period to determine if certain resources require analysis in the EIS.
What agencies are you working with?
- As part of the Navy’s other statutory and regulatory responsibilities, in conjunction with but separate from NEPA, the Navy plans to consult with the following:
  - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  - Environmental Protection Agency
  - State environmental agencies and state historic preservation offices in Virginia and California
Why is the Navy having a scoping period? What’s this about?
- We are seeking public comment on alternatives or impacts and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposed agency action.
What am I commenting on during scoping?
- We are seeking comments on the scope of the EIS itself. Public input helps us define the scope of the EIS, focusing on potential environmental impacts, alternatives to consider, and relevant information needed for a thorough environmental analysis.
Do I have to provide my name to make a scoping comment? What are you going to do with my information?
- We encourage you to provide your name and contact information when submitting comments. This information is used to keep you informed of updates throughout the development of the EIS. Your information also helps us understand the stakeholders most interested in the Navy’s proposed action. If you provide your name and contact information, it is used by the Navy project team for this project only and is not retained in any database. However, you are not required to provide your name to leave a comment.
- Your information is not shared and is used by the Navy team for this project only.
Will you send me the answer to my comments?
- You will not receive a notification or personal response concerning your comment.
- After the close of the scoping comment period, the Navy will consider all substantive comments received during the public scoping period. Substantive comments will inform the Navy’s development of the Draft EIS.
- The comments will help determine alternatives or impacts and relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the Proposed Action.
Do we get a vote?
- The public plays a vital role in ensuring the Navy has taken the relevant considerations into account before reaching a decision, but ultimately the decision is made by the Secretary of the Navy.
How long do I have to comment during scoping?
- You have 30 days, starting December 5, 2025, and ending January 4, 2026.
- Comments are accepted online via the project website at https://www.nepa.navy.mil/F35C until 11:59 p.m. PT on January 4, 2026.
- Comments submitted by U.S. Mail must be postmarked by January 4, 2026.
What is the EIS process/timeline?
- Key components of the EIS process include scoping, Draft EIS, public comment, and Final EIS, leading to a Record of Decision (ROD) within the 2-year statutory deadline (anticipated Fall 2027).