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Local Residents Voice Thoughts on Potential Tanker Basing

  • Published
  • By Tim Flack
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS, N.D. --  About 100 area residents attended an open house meeting April 18 to let the Air Force know what they thought about the possibility of Grand Forks Air Force Base hosting a future KC-46A tanker mission.

The meeting is part of the Environmental Impact Statement that the Air Force will complete under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Air Force will analyze potential environmental impacts, to include: Airspace Operations, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Human Resources and Community Infrastructure.

Similar meetings were held at the other three candidate bases, to include Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; McConnell AFB, Kan.; and Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. All four bases are candidates to host the MOB1 - or Main Operating Base 1.

The KC-46A aircraft will replace a portion of the aging KC-135 aircraft which have been the Air Force's primary refueling aircraft for more than 50 years. With more refueling capacity and enhanced capabilities, improved efficiency and increased capabilities for cargo and aeromedical evacuation, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, as well as allied nation coalition force aircraft, according to Air Force officials.

Officials stressed comments from the public on the potential basing are very important to the process.

For more information about the KC-46A beddown or to submit any comments, please visit www.KC-46A-beddown.com. The submission deadline is May 17, 2013.