Get Involved & Schedule
Public involvement is of primary importance in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires full disclosure of potential environmental impacts to the public. The Environmental Assessment (EA) process provides multiple opportunities for public involvement. The public has an important role in providing input during this process to help the United States Marine Corps and Federal Aviation Administration make a more informed decision about implementing this proposal.
The first opportunity for public involvement for this EA was for the review of the Description of the Proposed Action
and Alternatives (DOPAA) describing the proposed action (the first two chapters of the Draft EA). A Notice of Intent to
Prepare an EA and Notice of Availability of the DOPAA was made available for public comment. The DOPAA public comment
period ran from March 6, 2019, to April 7, 2019. During review of the DOPAA, Federal agencies, American Indian Tribes,
state agencies, local governments, non-governmental organizations, stakeholders, and the general public had the
opportunity to identify the issues to be addressed in the Draft EA. Comments provided on the DOPAA were considered in
preparation of the Draft EA.
Draft EA
The Marine Corps released the Draft EA for a 45-day public review period from August 1 to September 15, 2025. A detailed
summary of public comments, revisions made to the Final EA in response to comments, and responses to comments are
provided in Appendix C of the Final EA. All comments provided on the Draft EA were considered in preparation of the
Final EA.
Final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
The Marine Corps and FAA prepared a Final EA to thoroughly evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with
the Proposed Action. The Marine Corps considered comments received on the Draft EA and ensured the final decision
considered the public’s perspective. Based on the analysis in the Final EA, the Marine Corps has issued a FONSI. This
finding concludes the Marine Corps’ environmental review process and allows the proposal to move forward to the FAA for
its final determination.
In March 2026, the Marine Corps and FAA published a Final EA and the Marine Corps FONSI. The Final EA and Marine Corps
FONSI are available for review on this website and in the following local libraries:
- San Bernardino County Library Administrative Offices
- Twentynine Palms Branch Library (county library)
- Yucca Valley Branch Library (county library)
- Barstow Branch Library (county library)
- Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Library
- Palm Springs Public Library
- Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building
- Victorville City Library
- Joshua Tree Library
- Lucerne Valley Janice Horst Branch Library
- Needles Branch Library
- Ovitt Family Community Library
- Lake Havasu City Branch Library
For More Information.
For more information on public participation in the NEPA process, please consult
the following publication:
A Citizens Guide to NEPA: Having Your Voice Heard