Marines Publish Notice of Intent for Twentynine Palms Propos

[Wayne_Nosala]

The Department of the Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study alternatives for meeting Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) sustained, combined arms, live-fire and maneuver training requirements. The proposed action is to request the withdrawal of federal public lands, acquire state and privately owned lands, and to seek the establishment of Special Use Airspace with the effect of expanding the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, California.

For the complete Federal Register announcement go to: http://www.pfjv.org/


Helen Baker
http://www.pfjv.org

[Woodglue]

Here are the Meeting Dates as pulled from one of Wayne's above links:

DATES: All written, oral, or telephonic comments regarding the scope of
issues that the Department of the Navy should consider during EIS
preparation must be received before January 31, 2009. Three public
scoping meetings have been scheduled and the meeting locations are as
follows:
1. December 3, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Twentynine Palms, CA;
2. December 4, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Victorville, CA;
3. December 5, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ontario, CA.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or requests for inclusion on the EIS
mailing list may be submitted to Project Manager (Attn: Mr. Joseph
Ross), Box 788104, Bldg 1554, Rm 138, MAGTFTC/MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms,
CA 92278-8104. Public meeting locations are as follows:
1. Twentynine Palms Junior High School, Hay's Gym, 5798 Utah Trail,
Twentynine Palms, CA;
2. Hilton Garden Inn Victorville, 12603 Mariposa Road, Victorville,
CA;
3. Convention Center, 2000 E. Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Manager (Attn: Mr. Joseph
Ross), Box 788104, Bldg 1554, Rm 138, MAGTFTC/MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms,
CA 92278-8104; phone: 760-830-3764; e-mail: SMBPLMSWEBPAO@usmc.mil.

[Glamisbound]

That base has been there for how many years??? A long, long time no doubt. Now all the sudden it's not big enough to fit their needs I support the military almost carte blanche, but I'd like to see some more justification for wanting to take all this land.

[Wayne_Nosala]

That base has been there for how many years??? A long, long time no doubt. Now all the sudden it's not big enough to fit their needs I support the military almost carte blanche, but I'd like to see some more justification for wanting to take all this land.

It has been explained to us they have exceeded the capacity of the current base
to train for desert warfare. There are new weapons to test and larger troop maneuvers
that supposedly require more lands

We are not opposing the base expansion, PFJV has been working with base officials
to find alternate solutions like moving the base eastward. Patton has already used
the eastern side of the base back in WW2 days. The lands have already been disturbed.

An eastward expansion also sit well with local residents and businesses that do not
want live fire maneuvers and loss of revenue from tourism in their area.

Please visit http://www.pfjv.org/ We need donations

Wayne Nosala

[Woodglue]

Wayne,
Is the base opposed to an Eastern Expansion? If so, why?

[Sandcock]

Wayne, have you inquired about any environmental mitigation? It may be the underlying factor for the this action.

[Sandcock]

It appears that the Marine Corps is going to downsize. Not sure how this may affect the current situation. Anyone know what the current status is, e.g. are the Marines still persuing the land?

[DMJY]

A long, long time no doubt. Now all the sudden it's not big enough to fit their needs I support the military almost carte blanche, but I'd like to see some more justification for wanting to take all this land.