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Subject:
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Letter of Concern and Comment Letter from the San Bernardino County Airports Advisory Commission Regarding the Public Draft Environmental Assessment for Permanent Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modifications at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms
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REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 9, 2025
FROM
BRETT J. GODOWN, Director, Department of Airports
SUBJECT
Title
Letter of Concern and Comment Letter from the San Bernardino County Airports Advisory Commission Regarding the Public Draft Environmental Assessment for Permanent Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modifications at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Receive and file the San Bernardino County Airports Advisory Commission letter of concern and comment letter on the Public Draft Environmental Assessment for Permanent Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modifications at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.
2. Accept and approve the recommendation of the San Bernardino County Airports Advisory Commission to submit a San Bernardino County Airports Advisory Commission comment letter to the United States Marine Corps on the Public Draft Environmental Assessment for Permanent Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modifications at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.
3. Direct the Director of Airports to submit the San Bernardino County Airports Advisory Commission comment letter on the Public Draft Environmental Assessment for Permanent Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modifications at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California to the United States Marine Corps by the public comment due date of September 15, 2025.
(Presenter: Brett Godown, Director, 387-8810)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced and Sustainable County
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as this action is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On August 1, 2025, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) issued the Public Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Permanent Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modifications at Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California (Combat Center). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a cooperating agency for development of this Draft EA due to its expertise and regulatory authority over the National Airspace System. The FAA may adopt the Draft EA prepared by the USMC.
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Draft EA assesses the potential environmental consequences resulting from the proposed establishment of new permanent Special Use Airspace (SUA) and modifications to existing SUA at the Combat Center. The proposed establishment of new permanent SUA and the modifications to existing SUA above and adjacent to the Combat Center will potentially affect the operations and accessibility through the increased airspace complexity and less direct routing of several San Bernardino County airports including Twentynine Palms, Barstow-Daggett, Apple Valley by restricting airspace critical to regional transportation, emergency response, and economic development.
On August 21, 2025, the San Bernardino County Airports Advisory Commission (Advisory Commission) considered the Draft EA at its Airports Commission meeting. After considering this item, the Advisory Commission voted in favor of recommending that the Board of Supervisors (Board) approve the submittal of an Advisory Commission comment letter on the Draft EA to the USMC.
Pursuant to County Code sections 12.1604(a) and 12.1607(c), this item forwards the Advisory Commission's letter of concern and comment letter for the Board's consideration and approval.
The Draft EA is available for public review and comment from August 1, 2025, to September 15, 2025. The public's comments on the Draft EA and feedback from applicable agencies will be considered in the development of the Final EA. The Final EA will include a detailed summary of public comments, revisions made to the Draft EA in response to comments, and responses to comments.
If this item is approved, the Director of Airports will submit the Airports Commission comment letter on the Draft EA to the USMC by the public comment due date of September 15, 2025.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 29, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Garrett Baker, Administrative Analyst, 387-3077) on August 25, 2025.