The 20th Fighter Wing embraces the goal of protecting the environment and our natural resources within their area of responsibility including Shaw AFB, Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, and Wateree Recreation Area.

This commitment goes beyond my expectation for compliance with all environmental laws and regulations. It underscores the importance of employing a comprehensive framework for systematically managing our work center activities in a manner that continually advances our environmental stewardship. The Environmental Management System (EMS) Cross-Functional Team (CFT), chaired by the 20 MSG/DD, and guided by the Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Council, provides this essential structure.

The CFT represents organizations of the 20th Fighter Wing and Shaw tenants through Unit Environmental Coordinators (UEC) who are appointed by their commanders. UECs are a vital conduit through which the CFT identifies the environmental, as well as human, impacts of our work center processes. In addition to setting objectives for continual improvement, the CFT also establishes and achieves targets for pollution prevention and reduction. In short, UECs directly support my "Compliance" and "Community" priorities.

Successful implementation of the EMS program is a shared obligation at every level and for every mission or activity across Shaw. I ask everyone to stand with me and commit to protecting the environment and our natural resources in your daily work and to support the initiatives of the CFT when called upon.

I applaud your continued support leading to our success in protecting the environment. Our commitment to environmental protection is the right thing to do, and it is critical for the long-term sustainment of the base.

- Col. Lawrence Sullivan, former 20th Fighter Wing commander

2020 Shaw AFB commitment to environmental protection
 

A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) have been prepared by the Department of the Air Force (DAF) to analyze the impacts of providing dedicated contract adversary air (ADAIR) sorties for Combat Air Forces training at Shaw Air Force Base (AFB), South Carolina.

The Proposed Action includes contracting an estimated 12 contractor aircraft to fly approximately 3,500 annual sorties from Shaw AFB to support the 20th Fighter Wing and other units at Shaw AFB. The Proposed Action would require an estimated 78 contracted maintainers and 15 contracted pilots who would maintain and operate the contract ADAIR aircraft. Aircraft would depart from Shaw AFB, transit to existing military special use airspace, perform ADAIR training, transit back, and land at Shaw AFB. Special use airspace includes military operations areas and Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace overlying portions of South Carolina and Georgia, and offshore warning areas over the Atlantic Ocean. Operations and maintenance activities would be consolidated in existing facilities at Shaw AFB; no facility construction, demolition, or renovation activities are included in the Proposed Action.

The Draft EA and proposed FONSI are available electronically here. Printed copies are also available at the following public libraries:

• Sumter County Library, 111 North Harvin Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150
• Augusta County Library – Headquarters, 823 Telfair Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901
• Florence County Public Library, 509 S. Dargan Street, Florence, South Carolina 29506

Please provide comments on the Draft EA and proposed FONSI by Nov. 27, 2023 to:

Mr. Bryan Jobe, NEPA Program Manager
20 CES/CEIEA
428 Chapin Street
Shaw AFB, SC 29152

or by email to bryan.jobe@us.af.mil. Please note that in accordance with Privacy Act provisions, the DAF will not publish personal information of commenters, such as home addresses, e-mail addresses, or phone numbers.

The 12,500 acre Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, located 20 minutes from Shaw, provides a unique training environment with forest that allows pilots to track hidden targets. Additionally, Airmen and military members have the opportunity to practice survival and navigation training, which prepares them for real-world encounters.

Shaw AFB takes the responsibility of protecting the environment which allows us to train for the combat mission extremely serious.

In doing so, we have pledged a commitment to restoring native species to Poinsett, including the Longleaf Pine, ensuring the health of the environmental ecosystem and re-establishing the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker to South Carolina.

The Shaw Restoration Advisory Board is the cornerstone of a proactive community involvement program to promote communication between the community and the Air Force regarding environmental cleanup at the base. The mission of the Shaw RAB is to establish and maintain open and interactive dialogue between the US Air Force, state regulatory agencies and the local community concerning the Environmental Restoration Program at Shaw Air Force Base. Meetings are held biannually and open to the public.

For more information, please contact the 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office at (803) 895-2019 or via e-mail at 20fwpublicaffairs@us.af.mil