Infrastructure project to proceed at Andersen AFB despite shelved plan for Singapore Air Force basing on Guam

Northwest Field, Andersen Air Force Base. Photo by Mar-Vic Cagurangan/Pacific Island Times

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

The Department of Air Force will push ahead with the construction of new infrastructure at Andersen Air Force Base despite the decision to call off the plan to establish a permanent training detachment for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

In a notice published in the Federal Register today, Tommy W. Lee, the Air Force’s liaison officer, announced the official release of the department’s July 16 record of decision for the Andersen project, which was initially intended to accommodate the RSAF squadron.

On Aug. 8—three weeks after Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Michael Saunders signed the record of decision—Singapore’s Ministry of Defense announced the “mutually agreed” scrapping of the plan, following a review of the RSAF’s training needs.”

The record of decision confirmed that the Department of the Air Force “will not implement or carry forward the beddown of up to 12 RSAF F-15 aircraft nor associated aircraft airfield operations,” therefore, “no periodic temporary increases in associated support personnel will be required at Andersen AFB.”

According to the notice in the Federal Register, the department's decision "was based on matters discussed in the final environmental impact statement, input from the public and regulatory agencies and other relevant factors."

The study cited the construction activities' immediate and long-term impact on Guam's cultural resources and endangered species, and the noise pollution from the fighter aircraft.

Just the same, the department has decided to build a new aircraft parking apron, associated buildings and utilities on the northwest side of the existing runway at Andersen Air Force Base.

“The proposed action includes construction of new infrastructure upgrades adjacent to the northwest corner of the existing airfield and within the munitions storage area at Andersen AFB,” the document states.

“Construction includes approximately 20 acres of new airfield pavements on the northwest side of the North Ramp and includes new fuel infrastructure, including new fuel lines that tie into the existing fuel transfer system; utilities vault and new utilities lines; security fencing, roadways, parking, walkways and stormwater management infrastructure.”

Construction work is scheduled to begin this year and will run for three to seven years.

According to the final environmental impact statement, additional personnel would be required for maintenance of the North Ramp infrastructure.

Project planners estimated that up to five personnel, presumably from the local civilian community, would be hired to assist with facility and jet fuel system maintenance.

“Once construction is complete, the expanded North Ramp will be used for aircraft parking, storage, maintenance, refueling, loading, and unloading consistent with existing installation operations,” Saunders stated in the decision.

The initially proposed construction of three earth-covered magazines within the munitions storage area has been scrapped, along with the pavements, stormwater management infrastructure, in-ground utility lines, and temporary infrastructure to support construction.

"These actions are not further discussed in this ROD, except to the extent (final environmental impact statement) analyses may be used in support of potential future related activities," reads the decision.

Saunders said the department "has carefully considered the potential environmental consequences of the proposed action and alternatives analyzed in the FEIS, along with public and stakeholder comments."

"The DAF also considered factors related to national defense, including mission support, infrastructure, weather, capacity, environmental criteria, cost and military plans," the decision states.

The scrapped plan for the RSAF's permanent basing on Guam was proposed through a U.S.-Singapore agreement signed in December 2019, which aimed at providing critical infrastructure that enhances the U.S. posture and addressing capability gaps in the Indo-Pacific.

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