Minot first for more B-52s

Air Force: Minot AFB preferred location for 2nd B-52 squadron

By ELOISE OGDEN, Regional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE - The Air Force's intentions were announced earlier but now it's official that it plans to create a second B-52 squadron at Minot Air Force Base.

North Dakota's congressional delegation was notified personally in a meeting Wednesday with the top two leaders of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz.

As required by law, Air Combat Command must complete an environmental impact analysis at Minot AFB, required under the National Environmental Policy Act. The final decision on the squadron will not be made until the analysis is completed.

Earlier this year Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, and Rep. Earl Pomeroy announced the news of the Air Force's intentions for a second B-52 squadron, adding as many as 1,090 military members to the base. The new squadron will join the 5th Bomb Wing's existing 23rd Bomb Squadron.

Barksdale AFB, the only other B-52 base, has two B-52 squadrons. The addition of a second squadron at Minot AFB brings to a total of four B-52 squadrons in the U.S.

"Our efforts to preserve Minot's bomber force have really paid off. And while we knew this news was coming, this official announcement is still a sweet victory for the men and women of Minot Air Force Base. They are the best of the best," the delegation said in a joint statement released Thursday.

"Another bridge has been crossed, another hurdle has been overcome, and once again, Minot Air Force Base has come out on top," they said.

The Air Force announced that it plans to add the second squadron at Minot AFB as part of plans to put a stronger emphasis on nuclear mission training for B-52 units. The number of combat-ready aircraft at Minot will increase from 12 to 22.

"Minot AFB is the preferred location for a fourth operational B-52 squadron to meet Department of Defense requirements for a full rapid response commitment to the nation's strategic mission," said Maj. Elizabeth Ortiz, chief of Public Affairs at Minot AFB.

.

Next step

Ortiz said the next step is to initiate the environmental impact analysis process, which is slated to begin in the near future and will analyze the potential environmental consequences of standing up an additional B-52 squadron at Minot AFB.

The National Environmental Policy Act, which requires the completion of an environmental impact analysis, is the umbrella law requiring all federal agencies give appropriate consideration to all potential environmental impacts of a proposed action, Ortiz said.

"ACC's Programs Division (Installations and Mission Support Directorate), along with personnel here and contracted environmental scientists, will evaluate the effects of basing the squadron here in order to prevent, mitigate or eliminate damage to the environment," Ortiz said.

Throughout the course of the environmental impact analysis, she said several resource areas will be addressed including natural and cultural resources, personnel fluctuations, man-made infrastructure, training environments and mission requirements.

"Pending a favorable environmental impact analysis, the B-52 squadron would stand up at Minot AFB by late 2009 to early 2010," Ortiz said.

The first people for the new squadron of B-52s at Minot AFB are projected to arrive in October 2009, but the big changes would come in 2010, base officials said in June.

"Overall, Minot AFB's ability to support U.S. Strategic Command was a key factor in its selection as the preferred location," Ortiz said. "A fourth operational B-52 squadron will strengthen ACC's conventional and nuclear force presentation to combatant commanders, allowing for a predictable and sustainable rotation of the Global Deterrence Force between the Air Force's two B-52 wings," Ortiz said.

The official announcement this week marks the culmination of a long fight by the North Dakota congressional delegation to convince the Pentagon not to slash America's B-52 force from 76 to 56 aircraft.

Earlier this year, Air Force Gen. John Corley, commander of Air Combat Command, agreed with the delegation's position. Corley reversed the Pentagon's intentions and stated unequivocally that the military has a vital need for a B-52 fleet of at least 76 bombers.

In April, the Air Force confirmed to the congressional delegation its plans to bring the additional squadron and airmen to the Minot base. The reorganization will increase the total number of operational squadrons in the nation's B-52 fleet to four.

.

Boosting Minot economy

The congressional delegation said the additional mission in Minot will have a major impact on the entire Minot community. The new squadron is projected to add as much as $75 million a year into Minot's economy.

In its most recent economic impact report released earlier this year, Minot AFB had a total annual economic impact estimate of $371 million. The total base personnel was listed as 11,159 people, including 4,553 military members.

At the public meeting in Minot in June, Conrad said the Air Force's decision to bring a second squadron of B-52s to the base also secures the bomber mission at the base for the long-term.

"Our bomber fleet is a vital national asset. It has played a critical role in military missions around the world. We are thrilled that our efforts to convince the Air Force to maintain our B-52 fleet are paying off and look forward to welcoming the members of this new squadron to Minot," the delegation said in the joint statement.

At a meeting Wednesday with Donley and Schwartz, North Dakota's congressional delegation urged the Air Force leaders to house the new nuclear command at Minot AFB, saying the Minot base is a logical choice for the new nuclear headquarters. The new nuclear command will oversee all nuclear assets

Minot AFB is the only base with two nuclear wings B-52 bombers with the 5th Bomb Wing led by Col. Joel Westa and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles with the 91st Missile Wing led by Col. Chris Ayres.