Notice2026-10185

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Basing KC-46A Pegasus Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Macomb County, Michigan

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
May 21, 2026

Issuing agencies

Defense DepartmentAir Force Department

Abstract

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts associated with facility improvements and construction necessary to support basing a KC-46A Pegasus (KC-46) Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANGB) in Macomb County, Michigan. The proposed action would consist of a squadron of up to eight (8) KC-46 aircraft proposed to replace the current fleet of eight KC-135T Stratotanker (KC-135) aircraft. The EIS will also consider Alternative 1, which consists of basing up to 12 KC-46 aircraft and the No Action Alternative.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29944-29945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10185]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for Basing KC-46A Pegasus Squadron at Selfridge Air National 
Guard Base, Macomb County, Michigan

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice 
of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts 
associated with facility improvements and construction necessary to 
support basing a KC-46A Pegasus (KC-46) Squadron at Selfridge Air 
National Guard Base (SANGB) in Macomb County, Michigan. The proposed 
action would consist of a squadron of up to eight (8) KC-46 aircraft 
proposed to replace the current fleet of eight KC-135T Stratotanker 
(KC-135) aircraft. The EIS will also consider Alternative 1, which 
consists of basing up to 12 KC-46 aircraft and the No Action 
Alternative.

DATES: A public scoping period of 30 days will take place starting from 
the date of this NOI publication in the Federal Register. Substantive 
comments are requested on alternatives, impacts, relevant information, 
studies, or analyses with respect to the proposed action. Comments 
should be submitted in writing to the website or address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section and will be accepted at any time during the EIS 
process; however, to ensure the DAF has sufficient time to consider 
public input, please submit within the 30-day scoping period. The Final 
EIS is anticipated in Spring 2027.

ADDRESSES: The project website, <a href="http://www.selfridgekc46eis.com">www.selfridgekc46eis.com</a>, provides 
information on the EIS and the scoping process and can be used to 
submit scoping comments online. Scoping comments may also be submitted 
by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f01080d610c0c0e7b0961010a1f0e0c0002020a011b1c003d280f3a3c612e2961222623"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="78363f3a563b3b394c3e56363d28393b3735353d362c2b370a1f380d0b56191e56151114">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, including ``Selfridge 
KC-46 EIS'' in the subject line, or by mail to the NEPA Project 
Manager, Ms. Kristi Kucharek, P.O. Box 31645, Knoxville, TN 37930-1645. 
EIS inquiries and requests for digital or print copies of scoping 
materials are available upon request at the email or mailing address 
provided. For printed material requests, the standard U.S. Postal 
Service shipping timeline will apply. Members of the public who are 
interested in additional information about the project are encouraged 
to visit the project website.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For inquiries regarding accommodations 
under the Americans with Disabilities Act or questions regarding the 
Proposed Action, scoping, and EIS development please contact Ms. Kristi 
Kucharek, NEPA Project Manager at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8cc2cbcea2cfcfcdb8caa2c2c9dccdcfc3c1c1c9c2d8dfc3feebccf9ffa2edeaa2e1e5e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1f51585d315c5c5e2b5931515a4f5e5c5052525a514b4c506d785f6a6c317e7931727673">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> 
or by phone at (240) 612-9471.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DAF is the lead agency on the Proposed 
Action. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide the DAF with a 
modernized, more capable, and mission-effective aerial refueling 
squadron at the 127 Wing (WG) at SANGB in Macomb County, Michigan by 
transitioning from a KC-135 mission to KC-46 mission.

[[Page 29945]]

The need for this action is driven by the strategic imperative to align 
the 127 WG's mission with the National Defense Strategy while 
addressing the operational and logistical obsolescence of its aging KC-
135 Stratotanker fleet. The EIS will assess the potential environmental 
consequences of the proposed beddown, operation, and associated 
infrastructure construction supporting one squadron of KC-46 aircraft 
at SANGB. Resource areas proposed for analysis include airspace, noise, 
air quality, biological and natural resources, cultural resources, 
water resources, geological resources, land use/noise compatible land 
use, socioeconomics, hazardous materials/waste, infrastructure and 
utilities, transportation and aircraft parking, community services, and 
aesthetics. Potential significant impacts include those related to 
aircraft noise, air quality, and land use. DAF has determined that the 
proposed action has the potential to be located within a floodplain. 
This NOI serves as early notice to responsible state and federal 
agencies per Executive Order (E.O.) 11988, ``Floodplain Management.'' 
The DAF will obtain any permits or other authorizations required for 
the Proposed Action. The DAF will consult with and obtain the comments 
of federally recognized Native American Tribes and Federal agencies 
which have jurisdiction by law or special expertise related to the 
environmental analysis. The scoping process will be used to involve the 
agencies and the public early in the planning and development of the 
EIS to assist in identifying issues and information to be addressed in 
the analysis. To effectively define the full range of issues to be 
evaluated, DAF and NGB will determine the scope of the analysis in part 
by considering the substantive comments received regarding potential 
alternatives, information and analyses from interested local, State, 
and Federal agencies, Tribes, members of the public, and others.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq. and Department of Defense 
National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures.)

Crystle C. Poge,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-10185 Filed 5-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3911-44-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on May 21, 2026.

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