Skip to content
Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin
Skip to content
  • Home
  • F-35 FAQs
    • F-35 FAQs
    • Facts and Fictions
    • Noise
  • PFAS
  • Events
  • Action
  • All Posts
    • Action
    • Events
    • Supporter Statements
    • News
    • Opinion & Comments
    • Resources
    • Video and Audio
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • Donate

 

  • Sign the letter: Eken Park Resists the F-35 Jets & Military Industrial Complex

    If you’d like to learn more,or sign on in support… please be in touch with Eken Park Resistance at ekenparkresistance@gmail.com     Link to —>  Eken Park Resistance Letter Dear Community Leaders, In April, our neighborhood learned that we face a bleak future––one that will disproportionately impact those of us who are people of color, low income, and children, and leave our homes “incompatible for residential use.” F-35 Joint Strike Fighters will soon rip through the place we live and love: Eken Park…. also… How F-35s galvanized neighbors in Eken Park by OONA MACKESEY-GREEN in tone Madison, Flight Path Part 1  

  • Safe Skies Clean Water follow up to meeting with Governor Evers’ staff

    On July 8, representatives of Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin met with Gov. Evers’ Chief of Staff to discuss the environmental justice issues and impacts on residents living near the Truax base. Below is the text of our follow-up letter, also sent to other community leaders. PDF of letter Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin safeskiescleanwaterwi.org 508 Elmside Boulevard Madison, WI 53704 July 10, 2020 Maggie Gau, Chief of Staff Office of Governor Tony Evers 115 East Capitol Drive, #1 Madison, WI 53702 Subject: Follow-up to July 8, 2020 Meeting with Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin Dear Maggie: Thank you for meeting with us from Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin on July 8th to discuss the environmental impacts of the Air National Guard at Truax Field in Madison. We represent the thousands of Wisconsin residents who have been exposed to the PFAS contamination caused by the ANG, endure the noise and pollution of current fighter jet training, and oppose the irresponsible and racist proposal to bring a squadron of F-35 nuclear-equipped fighter jets to Madison. Due to pandemic, a Zoom call was the best we could expect, but as Eugenia said during the meeting, it is disappointing that you and Governor Evers have not met face to face with the low-income and families of color that are forced to live adjacent to Truax. We were pleased to hear about Governor Ever’s commitment to clean air and water in Wisconsin and the selection of Adjutant General Paul Knapp based on his dedication to cleaning up the PFAS contamination at the base. We are asking that Governor Evers and Adjutant General Knapp demonstrate their commitment to a clean environment by taking the following steps: 1. Provide Transparency on PFAS Cleanup – High levels of PFAS contamination from Truax Field continue to discharge into Starkweather Creek, Lake Monona, and our groundwater, exposing residents who eat fish or swim in the polluted waters. Fortunately Madison’s Municipal Well 15 has been shut down and warning signs posted along the creek, but the contamination grows and spreads each day. We and the public deserve to hear details and timelines for Dane County and the ANG’s efforts to investigate and clean up this PFAS contamination. We ask that Governor Evers direct DNR and WANG staff to provide us with an ongoing line of communication on these details, and to allow us to participate in your monthly meetings with DNR staff to discuss the status of PFAS cleanup efforts. 2. Delay Construction at Truax Field – This fall, the ANG plans to begin construction to accommodate the proposed squadron of F-35 fighter jets. We ask that Governor Evers and Adjutant General Knapp demonstrate their commitment to cleanup efforts by delaying all F-35 related construction until the ANG has completed a full investigation of its PFAS contamination and provided an approved cleanup plan. Additionally, the DNR should withhold any stormwater or wastewater approvals for construction at Truax Field until a thorough site investigation and proper treatment and disposal plan for contaminated soil and water are completed. 3. Evaluate a New Mission for Truax Field – This spring the Air Force ignored local opposition and promoted environmental racism by selecting the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field to receive a squadron of F-35 fighter jets costing $1.5 billion. If we want the 115th Fighter Wing to be an asset to our community, we should find a new mission other than training fighter jet pilots that is appropriate and compatible for our urban area. We need a mission that doesn’t place its environmental and economic costs on the shoulders of those with low incomes or people of color forced to live adjacent to the base, or on the thousands of people who live on the east and north sides of Madison. We ask that Governor Evers and Adjutant General Knapp begin the process of finding a new mission for the 115th Fighter Wing. The Air Force’s decision to deploy a squadron of F-35A fighter jets at Truax Field was controversial, as thousands of Madison residents registered their opposition. Of the 6,419 comments submitted on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for five potential sites, 89% were submitted regarding Truax. Numerous local organizations, including our Common Council and School Board, opposed the beddown. The EIS concluded that Truax was one of two sites where “there will be disproportionate impacts to low income and minority populations, as well as children.” Interestingly, the other site with disproportionate impacts, Montgomery, Alabama, was the second site chosen by the Air Force for the new jets. The EIS stated that Truax Field would experience the greatest environmental impacts of all sites, even though the statement did not even consider noise and safety impacts on the surrounding urban area and the 60,000 people living within three miles of the base. By selecting Truax Field, the Air Force showed exceedingly poor and irresponsible judgement. Its decision ignored the values of Madison residents and our plans for a sustainable and livable city for ourselves and our children. The selection of Truax required the Air Force to ignore environmental justice and promote environmental racism. The Air Force ignored the current PFAS contamination of our groundwater, Starkweather Creek and Lake Monona by the ANG at Truax, and exposure of area residents to PFAS in our drinking water and fish. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recent police killing of an unarmed, defenseless Black man in Minneapolis further accentuated a range of concerns regarding the recklessness and racism of the proposed selection of Truax for the F-35 squadron. We were unprepared to defend ourselves against the new virus, so why are we spending $1.5 billion on a squadron of fighter jets? If we are committed to combating racism in Madison and Wisconsin, why will we continue exposing Black and other minority families of color living adjacent to Truax Field to the pollution and violence of these jets? Since we cannot trust the Air Force to consider impacts on Madison and Wisconsin residents, we are turning …more

  • Faith Leaders Oppose F-35 Fighter Jets, Wisconsin State Journal 7-29-2020

    A full-page ad appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal today – July 29, 2020 – speaking against the F-35 fighter jets for reasons of social and environmental justice, and world peace. It’s signed by a long list of clergy and other faith leaders who call the proposed deployment “morally offensive”. Wisconsin State Journal Ad, Faith Leaders Oppose F-35 Fighter Jets,29july20 (PDF of scan) Text of letter: We, the undersigned faith leaders, wish to publicly raise our voices in opposition to the basing of an F-35A Joint Strike Fighter Force in the Madison community. For a number of reasons, we find this deployment morally offensive and feel compelled to speak out against it. First, the F-35 is not just the most expensive weapons system in the history of our planet. It is also a critical component of our country’s new nuclear strategy. This plane is sometimes called the most dangerous weapon in the nuclear arsenal of the United States because it is designed to carry the B61-12 guided nuclear bomb, a bomb small enough to be considered “usable” in the minds of some war planners. Starting with Barack Obama and continuing with Donald Trump, the horrifying idea of a “winnable” nuclear war has been revived as official policy and the F-35 is at the heart of this nightmare notion. Defense analyst Pierre Sprey has pointed out that the F-35 was mentioned eight times in the Nuclear Posture Review released by President Trump and the Department of Defense in 2018. (See Nuclear Posture Review, Office of the Secretary of Defense, February 2018) The Air Force has assured us that the jets coming to Madison will not be equipped with nuclear weapons. Pierre Sprey, who helped design two previous jet fighters, said that, while no F-35s are currently equipped for nuclear bombs, all of them could be in the future. One year ago, Sprey addressed the state legislature in Vermont, where residents were also assured that their airbase would have no nuclear mission. The F-35 “will be the first weapons system deployed with this whole new emphasis placed on small nuclear weapons,” he told the legislators. “The F-35 is the opening wedge for the small nuclear warhead and the supposed ability to fight a small nuclear war, and that will be coming here.” (See Public Testimony by Pierre Sprey, Vermont Senate Government Committee Hearing, May 7, 2018 and Vermont Senate Resolution 5 adopted by Vermont Senate, May 23, 2018.) We find the F-35 to be a morally offensive weapon system not just because it threatens the planet and its people but also because it claims funds desperately needed to address urgent human and environmental needs. As Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis of the Poor People’s Campaign and Stephen Miles of Win Without War wrote recently, “funneling trillions of dollars into institutions designed to violently protect the status quo – be they police or military – does not make ourselves, our loved ones, or our communities safer. As cities and states face budget crises, education and healthcare find themselves on the chopping block while police budgets are protected and even increased. This makes us less, not more secure. “As demands to demilitarize the police and redistribute funds to programs of social uplift gain traction across the country,” they continued, “we call to similarly reimagine our approach to national security. To create real security, we must slash the Pentagon budget, dismantle the war economy, and invest instead in meeting everyone’s basic human needs.” We also oppose this project because it will have a disproportionately negative impact on low- income people, people of color, and children, groups whose well-being is one of the highest priorities of our faith communities. The Air Force itself made this clear in its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  It admitted F-35s will bring more air and noise pollution to parts of the north and east sides of Madison which are home to significant populations of poor people and people of color. Low-income residents and people of color have long fished in Starkweather Creek and Lake Monona, some for subsistence. Their children play in the creek, now one of the most polluted bodies of water in Wisconsin. Their health is at risk because the creek, the groundwater (and some of our drinking water) has been contaminated with Per and Polyfluoroalky substances (PFAS) and other toxins related to Truax Field. We are also concerned about the noise the F-35s will bring. There has been much debate about the severity of this noise, but two things are clear: the noise from the current F-16s is nearly intolerable now for those who live under the flight path. The noise from the F-35s is likely to be considerably worse. There is a growing body of evidence, including that cited by the Air Force EIS reports for Vermont and Madison, that the negative impact of noise on children is far greater than on other people. Heightened noise interruptions for children – in school, on the playground or at home – can lead to delayed speech development, reduced attention, and impaired concentration. It can also cause long-term memory problems and decreased math and reading comprehension. (See Dr. Elizabeth Neary, pediatrician, “If We Care About Children, We Should Oppose F-35s in Madison, guest column, Capital Times, October 31, 2019; Public Health Madison & Dane County, Noise Exposure: Health Effects & Equity, flyer, September, 2019; and Anne Tigan, RN, Letter to School Board & Brief Bibliography, September 22, 2019). There are approximately a dozen K-12 schools and 15 childcare centers in the vicinity of Truax Field, where the sound will be the greatest. According to a 2018 neighborhood study by the City of Madison, kids in the Truax area are struggling even before they start school, with only 48 percent considered “kindergarten ready.” (See Neighborhood Indicators Project, City of Madison Planning Division, 2018 Edition.)  One of the schools destined to suffer the worst noise impacts is Hawthorne Elementary, where most children are low-income and of color. In a city struggling …more

  • Tenney-Lapham Resolution in Opposition to F-35s

    TLNA Resolution opposing F35s (PDF) Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association Resolution in Opposition to the Operational Beddown of F-35 Fighter Jets The Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association (TLNA) opposes the Operational Beddown of F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field Air National Guard Base. One of TLNA’s central concerns is the impact of high-decibel noise on the surrounding community. The Air Force’s Environmental Impact Statement, issued February 19, 2020, concludes that over 2,200 residents of the area stretching from Commercial Avenue north to Highway 19 would experience 65 decibel-level noise, while around 300 residents of the Carpenter-Ridgeway neighborhood would experience sound levels between 70-75 decibels.  According to the Federal Aviation Administration, 65 decibels and above is “not compatible” with residential or school use.  The Center for Disease Prevention and Control has found exposure to loud noise to contribute to health conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hypertension, while the World Health Organization has linked high-decibel noise exposure in children to poorer reading comprehension, standardized test scores, and long-term memory.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has also concluded that such high noise levels can cause preterm labor and growth restriction in babies. This high-decibel noise will have significant disproportionate impacts on the low-income and minority population that reside in the surrounding areas. In addition to the dangers from noise exposure, TLNA is also concerned about the impact on our community’s drinking water of the bedding-down of the F-35s.  Materials used in the operation of the aircraft contain PFAS, a chemical linked to development problems, thyroid disease, cancer, and weakened childhood immunity. Groundwater pollution from PFAS is already a problem in Madison because of the F-16 jets. (In May 2019, the chemical was found in ten of nineteen tested municipal wells, resulting in the well closest to the airport (Well 15) being shut down.) The construction required to expand Truax Field and the operation of the jets pose a significant risk of further groundwater contamination, not just to the immediate surrounding area, but to Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood as well as the entire city of Madison. Whatever economic benefits are said to accrue from the bedding-down of the F-35 fighter jets, they pale in comparison with the harm that will certainly be done to the health and livelihoods of our friends and neighbors. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association opposes the basing of a squadron of F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field because it is contrary to our neighborhood’s values of promoting the health and well-being of our community and our city. Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Council March 26, 2020

  • Madison Alders PASS new No F-35 Resolution!

    Nice work, the resolution passed! Contact Madison Alders: Common Council members have introduced a strongly worded resolution opposing the F-35’s placement at Truax on Tuesday 3/17. Emails in support of the resolution opposing F-35s will be appreciated tomorrow and for the 2 weeks leading up to the vote on the March 31st. Find your Alder​​ Email all Alders: allalders@cityofmadison.com Resolution online (text below) Responding to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Air National Guard F-35A Operational Beddown. WHEREAS, on September 17, 2019 the Madison Common Council adopted RES-19-00588, “Responding to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Air National Guard F-35A Operational Beddown”; and, WHEREAS, in that resolution, the Madison Common Council requested that “the Air National Guard (ANG) reconsiders the selection of Truax Field as a preferred location until and unless the findings of the EIS are shown to misrepresent the significant environmental impacts to those living, working, and visiting the north and east sides of Madison”; and, WHEREAS, the Final EIS released on February 18, 2020, confirms the significant environmental impacts identified in the Draft EIS, including substantially reduced quality and quantity of current affordable housing stock, decreased value of the property tax base, reduced opportunities for Transit-Oriented Development, ongoing soil, ground and surface water PFAS contamination violations by the ANG, significant adverse health effects that disproportionately affect children, residents who are low income and people of color; and, WHEREAS, these impacts are contrary to the City of Madison’s values of equity, sustainability, health and adaptability as codified in our Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2018, the City’s Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative, and undermine multiple long-term goals of City policy makers, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that based on the significant adverse impacts identified in the Final EIS to multiple neighborhoods in and around the north and east sides of Madison, the Madison Common Council opposes the selection of Truax Field in Madison, WI as a preferred location for the 5th Operational Beddown and requests that the Secretary of the US Air Force not move forward with a beddown of F-35A jets at Truax Field, and to remove Truax Field from future consideration; and, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City of Madison Clerk forwards this resolution to the Secretary of the Air Force, US Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, Congressman Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Wisconsin Senators Miller, Risser, Erpenbach, Wisconsin Assembly Representatives Sargent, Taylor, Hesselbein, Anderson, Subeck, Stubbs and Hebl, the Dane County Board & County Executive Parisi, and Dane County Airport Commission & Director.

  • F-35s Imperil Infants and Mothers – Mother’s Milk Alliance

    Wisconsin State Journal  |  February 29, 2020  |  Alix Loniello  Mother’s Milk Alliance is a Madison-based organization that facilitates the sharing of breast milk with accessibility to local infants, donor lab testing, safety education and health screening. We have the privilege of seeing families come together to feed local babies. We have seen the power of our community firsthand in hundreds of families. The landing of the F-35 jet fighters in Madison poses a threat to the safety of breast milk and health of babies. Neighborhoods near Truax Field could experience more pollution in the form of PFAS, which have been used in firefighting foam at the airport and which seep into the water we drink. According to Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin, studies have shown that “PFAS can be transmitted through breast milk, can affect growth, learning and behavior of infants, can adversely affect the immune and endocrine system and increase the risk of cancer.” These chemicals can delay speech, affect long-term memory and decrease math and reading scores in children. Noise from these planes also is harmful. Our donors and recipients are from all around Dane County. When one of our communities is affected, we all are at risk. To learn about the consequences of the F-35s and how to act, including signing the petition and contacting your legislators, go to… Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin Coalition – No F-35s    

  • Veterans for Peace-Madison opposes F-35s

    Veterans for Peace-Madison Clarence Kailin Chapter 25  Veterans for Peace-Madison stands with Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin and the concerned citizens engaged in the struggle. We oppose F-35’s coming to Madison, we oppose F-35’s anywhere and we oppose the war machine and its crimes. We oppose the racism and systemic racism that forces brown, black, natives and the poor to sacrifice their health and quality of life so that corrupt politicians can enrich the billionaire owners of Lockheed Martin and the corporate rulers connected to the Chamber of Commerce: US Chamber and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.  We oppose the effect that these jets and the military will have on children. We must not allow the pollution of our water and soil to continue while the US government avoids accountability for around 80 years of PFAS forever chemical pollution and burn pits. This has poisoned much of Monona and Madison’s groundwater. The F-35A, is a combination stealth fighter and bomber and can carry several B61 nuclear bombs with a range of less than one kiloton of explosive mayhem to 50 kilotons. That seems to be a lot of environmental impact, when compared to the 12-kiloton bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Is the hundreds of billions dollar cost of this latest child of the military-industrial complex worth it? As a low-flying stealth bomber capable of carrying nukes, it is an extremely risky and potentially destabilizing war machine in an already unstable world, whether you consider the Middle East, the near east, or the far east. One error in deciphering a tense situation could set off a nuclear tit-for-tat that would produce the worst environmental impact statement of all. One only has to read nuclear war planner Dan Ellsberg’s recent “The Doomsday Machine” to learn of the horrors American cities could experience, and that we have been living on the brink. The Pentagon has hyped the F-35 as a “computer that happens to fly,” and Lockheed Martin says there are 8 million lines of software code which control weapons deployment, communications, radar and flight controls. Given the extent of computer hacking continuously going on, what could anyone have to fear with a flying computer carrying nuclear weapons?  Veterans for Peace works to end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons, and to abolish war as an instrument of national policy. We do not want to see nuclear-enabled stealth fighter bombers stationed here in Madison — or anywhere, for that matter. The cost of F-35 fighter jets, Lockheed Martin calls it the “F-35 Joint Strike Fighter,” is phenomenal and will be paid by taxpayers. A recent book – Preventing War and Promoting Peace: A Guide for Health Professionals – tells that Lockheed Martin claims that parts of the F-35 are “built in forty-five states.” That makes it possible for politicians across the U.S. to claim that the F-35 and, therefore, the defense industry, will produce jobs everywhere. Compared to needed civilian jobs that could be funded for much less taxpayer money, the sum for F-35s is enormous and the jobs to be produced are few. Lockheed Martin is the lead contractor for F-35s, and “…the world’s largest defense contractor,” according to the book, edited by William Wiist and Shelley White. “With a (current) price tag of $1.4 trillion per plane…[F-35] has become the most expensive weapon system in history…punctuated by reports of one malfunction after another, from flaws in the fuel tanks that made the planes vulnerable to lightning-caused fires, to criticism of its maneuverability….” The F-35 program is projected to use most of the U.S. budget for aircraft through 2030, the authors write. The size of the US military machine is massive and currently causes more violence than it prevents. The US has far more bases, jets, aircraft carriers than anyone. Our military spending is more than the next seven nations combined. We do not need F-35’s for defense. This is war profiteering and imperialism.None of the effects on human beings were improved in the final Environmental Impact Statement, in fact, the US government made no effort to alleviate the impacts. The money is there to protect people, the choice is made to serve the war profiteers and harm the people.For Peace & Justice, Bradley J. Geyer On behalf of Veterans for Peace-Madison Clarence Kailin Chapter 25

  • YWCA Madison: Letter in Opposition to Siting the F-35s in Madison, Wisconsin

    YWCA Madison blog – February 25, 2020 LETTER BY YWCA MADISON CEO VANESSA McDOWELL. Dear Secretary Barrett, Senator Baldwin, Senator Johnson, and Congressmember Pocan, We ask you to oppose stationing the F-35s Lightning II to the Wisconsin 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Air National Guard Base in Madison, Wisconsin. As documented in the Environmental Impact Statement drafted by the United States Air Force, the detrimental noise and environmental impacts of the proposed F-35 fighter jets would disproportionately fall on Black, Brown, and Latinx families, and low-income communities in Madison. “There would be significant disproportionate impacts to low-income and minority populations as well as children. The increase in noise exposure near the airport would disproportionately impact low-income areas and the increase in noise exposure would disproportionately impact a low-income minority population.”  Nearly every area affected by the increased noise and air pollution is in a census tract with higher rates of poverty and people of color than the City of Madison averages.  According to a report by the City of Madison Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development, rents and homes within the areas impacted by the F-35s are “significantly more affordable than the city as a whole. … Rents are generally 10-20% lower than Madison’s median rent”. The harm caused by the F-35s is significant and documented. Health impacts associated with long-term exposure to the decibel levels of the F-35s include sleep disturbance, decreased school performance, increase stress and anxiety, hearing impairment, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Children, in particular, are most vulnerable to these extremely loud noise levels.  If the F-35s are stationed in Madison, there is expected to be a 135% increase in CO2 emissions.  Long-term exposure to CO2 creates breathing complications and respiratory illness, decreased cognitive decision making and problem-solving, and heart disease.  And the F-35s at Truax Field will add further PFAs and chemicals to Madison’s drinking water, which is already severe, and possibly irreversibly, contaminated by the F-16 fighter jets. This is unacceptable. The devastating health and economic impacts of the F-35s will fall on low-income communities and communities of color.  Both of these communities already struggle greatly in Madison, and they should not personally bare the detriments of the F-35s.  If these communities are displaced, there is nowhere for them to go in a city already struggling to provide affordable housing.  If these communities stay, they will pay with their health and education. They will also experience strong economic loss from the depreciation of their home values if the F-35s come to Madison. There is no economic benefit great enough to compensate for the harm to thousands of people already left behind in Madison, Wisconsin, and the United States. Do not base the F-35 Fighter Jets at Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin. Please contact me if you have any questions or wish to discuss this further. Thank you, Vanessa McDowell CEO, YWCA Madison

  • Statement in Opposition to F-35 Jets: United Faculty Academic Staff (AFT 223 Union) at UW Madison

    United Faculty Academic Staff (AFT #223) Resolution opposing the F-35 fighter planes Members of United Faculty Academic Staff (AFT #223) passed this resolution on January 27, 2020 in strong opposition to the F-35 fighter planes and the stationing of these planes at Truax Field in Madison, WI. We are faculty and academic staff from departments across campus at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Some of our members live in neighborhoods on the Northeast side of Madison that would be directly impacted by the planes. There are numerous reasons for our concern and opposition, including those below. • The stationing of the F-35s at Truax Field would be an affront to environmental justice. The impacts would be experienced disproportionately by people of color and low income neighborhoods. This situation would exacerbate racial disparities in Dane County which already are some of the worst in the nation. • Pollutants associated with F-35 operations threaten air quality, water quality, human health, and ecosystems. The Midwest Environmental Justice Organization documents gaps in the Environmental Impact Statement that should be addressed in a revised Environmental Impact Statement. The Wisconsin Physicians for Social Responsibility organization details health impacts of the projected pollution and noise. We call on decision-making to be grounded in sound science. • Noise levels associated with the take off and landing of the F-35 aircraft are at levels dangerous to children and vulnerable adults. • According to the Environmental Impact Statement by the Air Force, more than 1,000 homes near Truax Field could become “incompatible for residential use” due to the increased noise levels associated with the F-35 program. • At a time when climate change poses a dire threat to our planet and humanity and timescales are short for transformative action, it is imperative that we focus our resources on rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions rather than supporting expensive projects that burn fossil fuels such as the F-35 fighter jets. We call upon the U.S. Air Force, Wisconsin elected officials, and the University of Wisconsin’s administration to heed the widespread concerns expressed by the Madison community and to speak out in strong opposition to the F-35 fighter aircraft and their placement at Truax Field in Madison, WI. References: 1. Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin Organization: https://www.safeskiescleanwaterwi.org/ 2. Midwest Environmental Justice Organization’s comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement: https://www.safeskiescleanwaterwi.org/midwest-environmental-justice-organization-mejo-commentson-the-draft-eis/ 3. Wisconsin Physicians for Social Responsibility’s document explaining health and safety concerns: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b8f343e4b01341cb1a19e6/t/5d80fb954c34bc48addc766f/1568 734102009/Health+Safety+F-35-11+ref+++%281%29.pdf 4. City County Homeless Issues Committee: https://www.safeskiescleanwaterwi.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/12/CCHIC-opposition-to-F-35-at-Truax-1.pdf

  • WI Chapter of National Association of Social Workers takes a stand against F-35’s

    The National Association of Social Workers, Wisconsin Chapter opposes bringing F-35 jets to the Air National Guard Truax Field. NASW WI is concerned that the greatly elevated sound levels of the F-35s would negatively impact thousands of low income and diverse residents. We are also concerned about the potential impact of this sound on day care centers or schools in the area. Finally NASW WI is concerned about other environmental issues including the potential run off of PFAS in local waterways.   We would request that the federal government drop its proposal to bring the fighter jets to Dane County.   Marc Herstand, MSW CISW Executive Director National Association of Social Workers, Wisconsin Chapter 131 West Wilson Street, Suite 903 Madison. WI 53703 (608) 257-6334 Mherstand.naswwi@socialworkers.org    The NASW WI Mission Statement To support all social work practitioners in their mission to serve and strengthen relationships within diverse populations; to promote social justice; and to enhance the dignity and worth of all people in the State of Wisconsin through the promotion of quality practice, competent practitioners, integrity and unity of the social work profession.

  • Eastmorland Neighborhood Association concerned with F-35 bed-down

    The Eastmorland Community Association Motioned for this letter to be written in November of 2019. To Whom it May Concern: Madison’s Mayor has asked the United States Air Force/Air National Guard (USAF/ANG) to reconsider listing Truax Field as a bed-down location for F-35s due to concerns with the negative impacts on low-income residents and communities of color living near Truax Field, and impacts on the area’s children in particular.  There are additional concerns related to contamination of water resources, noise pollution and other environmental issues.   Mayor Rhodes-Conway has expressed that the USAF/ANG must be prepared to prevent or fully mitigate those impacts or she will not support the selection of Madison as an F-35 bed-down location. Children from our neighborhood school recently went on a field trip to Cherokee Marsh and planes overhead on that trip scared the kids.  They crouched down and covered their ears as these loud planes flew overhead.   Teachers inside the 65-decibel zone have expressed that plane landings and take-offs are already disruptive to classes. As a board, we are unanimously concerned with the impacts of the F-35 fighter jets and have voted to issue a statement in support of the community concerns and endorse the efforts of our elected officials to fully consider the impacts of the F-35s on our community. In her recent letter to the editor of the Cap Times 10/31/19, Dr. Elizabeth Neary wrote the following:         “The Air Force concluded in its draft Environmental Impact Statement that       locating the F-35s at Truax Base would have a disparate negative impact on      children, people of color and low income individuals who live in dense  population areas around the Dane County Airport.  Approximately a dozen K-      12 schools and 15 child day care centers are in and around the areas where      the most intense noise is predicted.” The noise generated by the F-35s is an impulse sound – a brief, very loud noise. According to pediatrician Elizabeth Neary, impulse noises cause more severe hearing loss than steady noise.   For children, the impacts can lead to delayed speech development, reduced attention, impaired concentration, long-term memory issues and decreased math and reading comprehension.  The EIS corroborates the impact of noise on children, citing studies that have found a linear relation between chronic aircraft noise exposure and impaired reading comprehension and recognition memory. We add our name, the Eastmorland Community Association to the long list of neighborhood organizations and groups concerned with the F-35s becoming part of our community. Thank you. ECA Board

  • Marquette Neighborhood Association Letter to Sen. Baldwin

    Letter to Sen. Baldwin Opposing F-35s at Truax – Jan 22, 2020 (PDF) January 22, 2020 Senator Tammy Baldwin 30 West Mifflin Street, Suite 700 Madison, WI 53703 Dear Senator Baldwin: The Marquette Neighborhood Association (MNA) opposes the Operational Beddown of F-35A fighter jets at Truax Field Air National Guard Base for many reasons, just a few of which are discussed below. Destruction of Neighborhoods The presence of F-35s at Truax will lead to the displacement of thousands of residents and will cause a significant loss in real estate value and harm to the tax base. According to the EIS, 1019 households will become “incompatible with residential use.” Research conducted by a local real estate company, Solidarity Realty, revealed that the assessed values of those properties alone amounts to $255,000,000. https://www.safeskiescleanwaterwi.org/madison-real-estate-firm-tallies-f35-affected-property-values/ That figure does not include properties that will be adversely affected by the F-35s but have not been officially deemed “incompatible” for use. The EIS specifically recognizes that the operational beddown will affect disproportionately low-income or minority areas. Thus, the negative impacts of this project will be felt most strongly by communities that may already be struggling. And individual citizens won’t be the only ones affected—the presence of F-35’s, with their noise and disruption, will also result in losses in service and shopping facilities. The anticipated costs of both housing and commercial losses, with the accompanying loss of tax revenue, will have a destructive effect on not only the area closest to Truax, but on the entire City of Madison and surrounding areas. Although proponents of the project have talked about mitigation efforts, there is no reason to believe that increased soundproofing will be effective anywhere near the flight path, where the neighborhood is predominately made up of frame-built, double-glazed-windowed houses and apartments. Further, we have learned that in Burlington, VT, where a similar project is housed, mitigation efforts are planned to take place over many years with no immediate government assistance. Damages and Risks to Health and Safety Our community is concerned about damage to air quality due to the excessive fuel lost and burned during take offs and flights of the F-35s, as well as about the increased use of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the “forever chemicals” that are used to de-ice and fight oil fires at the airfield. Recent research has found that PFAS already exist in abundant quantities in Starkweather Creek, which adjoins the air field and empties into Lake Monona. (Tests for PFAS in Lake Monona have been ordered but have not yet been conducted.) Alternative chemicals that the military is using have not been thoroughly tested and are very similar to the harmful PFAS. We are also concerned about damage to hearing and cognitive function of individuals who experience the noise associated with F-35s. People who have experienced F-35s in other communities have complained of nausea, persistent ringing in the ears, disorientation, loss of balance, and trauma. There are several elementary schools and many day care centers located on or near the proposed flight paths, and the Draft United States Air Force F-35A Operational Beddown National Guard Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concludes that the affected areas have “higher proportions of children.” Sustained loud noises are harmful to children and disruptive to education. Additional health and safety concerns are posed by the risk of accidents due to mechanical failures, which have already been seen in the F-35s, and the risk associated with potential nuclear munitions that the F- 35s could carry in the future. Finally, it should be noted that Madison has been making efforts to reduce carbon emissions, and we are concerned that the rapid increase of carbon emissions associated with the F-35s will counteract those efforts and negate the benefits we are working so hard to achieve. No Offsetting Benefits The EIS states that increases to employment and income in the Madison region would be “beneficial but negligible.” Indeed, the military estimates that the project will create only 64 new jobs. It is antithetical to conclude that the addition of 64 jobs could be worth displacing thousands of residents, disrupting thousands more, polluting our natural environment, and gutting our local tax base. Conclusion Senator Baldwin, as you are a former resident of the Marquette Neighborhood, I’m sure you can easily identify with our concerns. There are over 4500 households in the Marquette neighborhood that are within a short distance of the current flight paths for the F-16 jets of the Air National Guard and the Dane County airport. We are concerned about the wellbeing of our neighborhood, of the neighborhoods located more proximate to Truax Field, and the City of Madison as a whole. We hope you will reconsider your support for this harmful project and we invite you to hold a listening session here in our neighborhood to find out what your constituents think of this project and to share your thoughts with us. Respectfully submitted, Anita Krasno MNA President

  • Madison Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Statement Opposing F-35 Jets in Madison

    To: United States Airforce, F-35A Operational Beddown-Air National Guard Environmental Impact Statement-Issued October 23, 2019   I write on behalf of the Madison Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc., to lend our opposition to F-35A Operational Beddown.  It is our position that to allow for the F-35 to be built at the Madison Truax location would have a detrimental impact and cause irreversible harm to low income and people of color who live in and around the 65db curve. We have reviewed the Draft Environmental Statement and The City Staff Memo & Maps on F-35 Environmental Impact Statements and therefore offer the following comments and concerns. Our first and foremost concern is for the children and families who will be adversely impacted of those who live in and around this facility. It has been reported report that the increase in noise exposure near the airport would disproportionately impact low-income areas and the increase in noise exposure would disproportionately impact low-income minority population. The City’s analysis state that long-term, flights are expected to increase from 2,400 to approximately 3,061 annually based on flight time requirements and average flight length, a 27% increase. In addition, we understand that the transition time, between 11Fw’s to the F-35 flight could increase 47% from the current levels in this community. While this transition is taking place our young children and low income families who are the most marginalized and vulnerable citizens in the Madison area.  Notably, the EIS does not address whether F35s based at Truax would carry nuclear weapons. It is well know that F35s are designed to carry a wide range of combat weapons, and could eventually carry nuclear weapons.  The Madison Common Council has gone on record opposing the presence of nuclear weapons, first declaring Madison a nuclear free zoning in 1983 and reaffirming such, in August of 2019. We also believe the health concerns and consequences associated with noise exposure is worth highlighting.  Health impacts associated with long term exposure to noise levels similar to those expected from the F35s, include: sleep disturbance, decreased school performance, increased levels of stress, hearing impairment, annoyance, hypertension, and heart disease.  Although we understand that there would be funding for sound mitigation,  said monies presumably would not be applicable to residential units and structures outside of the 65db DNL contour lines, which include subsidized housing units, the Madison College campus and the Hawthorne Elementary School. We also are concerned regarding the EIS’s demographic data and criteria which was used.  While the 50% minority rate may be a national standard for environmental impact statements, it appears to be a very high bar for measuring impacts on communities of color particularly in Madison and Dane County, where persons of color make up 26% and 20% of the population, respectively. Using this metric, the only block groups flagged for having a minority population are west of the airport, generally outside the 65 db curve. Nearly every impacted area within the City of Madison belongs to a census tract with rates of persons of color well above the city- and county-wide averages.    In Wisconsin, 30% of African American families live in poverty. Only 18% of our third graders are proficient or advanced in reading. Our families are 27 times more likely to be homeless than white families. The typical Black household could only afford to rent in two areas, and this economically challenged and socially disenfranchised area, is one chosen. We find it deplorable that greater consideration hasn’t been factored in as to how this decision will adversely affect said families. This is certainly a clear example of how Environmental injustices across our nation affect the disenfranchised. We in essence adamantly oppose this choice. Thank you for the time taken to consider our position.   Sincerely, Yolanda Shelton-Morris, Chapter President Madison Alumnae Chapter  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.,   Madison Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated F-35 Opposition Statement Word Document About the Chapter 

  • City of Madison & Dane County Homeless Issues Committee Statement Opposing F-35’s

    Dear Senator Baldwin,   As staff for the CCHIC opposition to F-35 at Truax I am sending a letter (attached) from committee co-chairs Linda Ketcham and Ulysses Williams, voicing the committee’s opposition to placing F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field.   Thank you.   Sarah Lim “The committee opposes the proposal that will likely result in increased housing instability and inequities among vulnerable populations. We urge you to advocate against the placement of F-35 jets at Truax Field.” CCHIC opposition to F-35 at Truax

  • Eken Park Neighborhood Association letter regarding F-35s

    Last month, the EPNA membership voted to take a stance on F35s coming to Truax. The stance that the association took was such: The EPNA requests that the significant criticisms of the draft EIS be addressed before the United States Air Force makes a final decision on the location of the jets. The criticisms and acceptable actions to be taken to address these criticisms are outlined in the EPNA’s letter. Before the November 1st public comment period closed, the EPNA submitted this letter to the EIS as part of their open public comment process. This letter was also sent to the following representatives of the neighborhood: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan, Governor Tony Evers, Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, State Senator Fred Risser, State Representative Chris Taylor, County Executive Joe Parisi, County Supervisor Paul Rusk, County Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and District 12 Alder Syed Abbas. Read or download the F35 Letter from Eken Park Neighborhood Association

  • SouthWest Wisconsin Area Progressives oppose F-35 jets

    The Southwest Wisconsin Area Progressives are opposed to F-35 jets in Madison. The proposed placement of jets in an urban area is a horrible idea. The jets would pose health and safety dangers for Dane County residents while increasing air and water pollution in our shared environment. In addition, the jets are designed to carry nuclear weapons; Madison has established itself as a nuclear-free zone since 1983. The jets have had five crashes in five years. We do not want the next F-35 disaster to be in Dane County. The region’s economic engine should not come from jets but from bolstering sustainable clean energy, education, and health care. SouthWest Wisconsin Area Progressives (SWWAP)

  • Marquette Neighborhood Association opposes F-35s

    September 16, 2019 Dear Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Common Council: The Marquette Neighborhood Association is adding its opposition to the thousands of Madison and Dane County people opposing the beddown of F-35A fighter jets at Truax Field. We ask that you support the Foster/Kemble resolution (File 57354 v.2) because it analyzes key problems with the proposal based upon the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) including: (1) Increases to employment and income in the Madison region would be “beneficial but negligible” (2) 1019 households will become “incompatible with residential use” (3) Affected areas have “higher proportions of children” (4) The beddown will affect “disproportionately low-income or minority areas” We support the position of Representative Chris Taylor in refusing to allow powerful outside interests determine how our community succeeds. Rep. Taylor points out that mitigation is also problematic in that it requires a buy-in from the airport base to agree to mitigation, mandates complete transition from F-16s to the F-35A jets before mitigation could begin, and includes a two-year waiting period to initiate. We also support the recommendation from our neighbors in the Schenk-AtwoodStarkweather-Yahara Neighborhood Association to prepare and plan for investment in mitigation should the jets be situated here despite opposition. Sincerely, Lynn Lee MNA President Marquette Neighborhood Assoc Statement on f-35 (PDF)

  • Community Development Authority Statement on F-35’s for Truax/Madison

    CDA Statement on proposed Air National Guard F-35A Operational Beddown October 16, 2019 Madison’s Community Development Authority (CDA) governs the city’s 857 public and multifamily housing units. The focus of this housing is to “provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.”  Public Housing Purpose and Properties   The CDA is charged with upholding Wisconsin State statute (Wis. Stat. § 66.1201) to operate in the public interest of providing safe and sanitary housing for vulnerable residents. There are multiple CDA properties, as well as many low-income housing units, within or very near to the 65 dB DNL contour presented in the Draft United States Air Force F-35A Operational Beddown Air National Guard Environmental Impact Statement, which was released in August of 2019. In particular, the Truax Park Apartments and the Webb-Rethke townhomes are located on the border of the 65 dB DNL contour. According to the City of Madison Staff Analysis of the draft EIS, “head of household demographics at Truax and Webb-Rethke are 70% persons of color, 100% low income, 45% disabled and 14% elderly.”    F35 EIS Staff Analysis – Nan Fey, Interim DPCED Director Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development   However, the draft EIS has not adequately analyzed the impact of the proposed F-35 beddown on these properties. The draft EIS states that 551 people will be impacted by the 65-70 dB DNL contour (2019, p. WI-24), however, the population at these two properties alone is 600 residents— over the total number of affected residents accounted for in the draft EIS. The inclusion of the CDA properties in the final EIS is particularly important because, according to the draft EIS, “upon completion of the Final EIS, a mitigation plan will be prepared” (2019, p. WI-17). Given this stipulation, the 600 residents on the border of the 65 dB DNL contour are at risk of being unacknowledged and left without recourse to possible mitigation considerations. Considering this information, the CDA is requesting that the US Air Force include these public housing complexes in the noise impact analysis in the final version of the environmental impact statement. Not only are these residents potentially impacted by the F-35 beddown, they are also limited in their ability to move away from the Truax area in the event of adverse impacts. The Community Development Authority requests that the Air National Guard revise their environmental impact statement to include consideration of CDA properties, particularly the Truax Park apartments and the Webb-Rethke townhomes.    Draft Environmental Impact Statement

  • WI DNR Comments on Draft EIS Oct 30, 2019

    Online document  Backup documents – duplicate scan   Adam C. Mednick, PhD, AICP Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act Coordinator State of Wisconsin DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 101 S. Webster Street Box 7921 Madison

  • Updated – Wild Warner: Advocates of Wildlife and Nature Oppose F-35’s in Madison

    Wild Warner, Inc., is a 501.c.3 organization that advocates for the wildlife and natural spaces in Warner Park and our partner city and county parks; for public nature recreation; and for the promotion of nature education for children of all ages as well as the general public. We are opposed to the stationing of F-35 fighter jets in Dane County. Warner Park and the parks which exchange wildlife with ours are within range of the highest area of impact by the multiple forms of pollution that have been proven to accompany the F-35 fighters. While advocates of these fighters are determined to ignore all concerns about the noise pollution of F-35’s, studies show that loud noises have a major impact on the health of animals. Noise pollution causes birds to fail to breed, fail to nest, or to leave the area altogether. We have worked hard to restore habitat for native birds, and have drastically increased the number and diversity of birds which nest in our meadows, marshes, and old-growth remnant wood. These aircraft will drive many of these birds out of the area and reduce the viability of those that remain. In addition, the primary pollution source in Warner Pond and the marshes is from the exhaust of fossil-fuel combustion. Much of this pollution settles out of the air and can be measured in sediment cores. For the F-35s to run operations near our park promises to increase air pollution and the accompanying water pollution. Wild Warner and the City of Madison have partnered for over a decade to improve water quality in our park and adjacent areas and we do not want to see it imperiled by the high-power engines of these fighter jets. Finally, the impact of the F-35s on nature education and recreation is not negligible.  People sensitive to loud noises, and more importantly children, will be less willing or able to play outdoors in our park, attend our nature education events, or enjoy the quiet, natural areas of Warner Park, any time the F-35 war machines take off or land at the airport. Please consider siting the F-35’s in an area of the country with degraded habitat, low species diversity, and a high population of rich military contractors and politicians.  The people of Northeast Madison do not deserve to be subjected to the impacts these machines will have on us, and our wildlife and young children deserve to have a pollution-free environment. Sincerely, Kathlean Wolf, BS, MMSU Chair, Wild Warner Inc.   Wisconsin Master Naturalist

  • Midwest Environmental Justice Organization (MEJO) comments on the Draft EIS

    The Midwest Environmental Justice Organization’s core mission is to work with communities to identify and work together to prevent exposures to toxic chemicals, especially among the most vulnerable people such as low income people, people of color, children, and elderly. We are opposed to the F-35s. Their placement at Truax Field in Madison Wisconsin will expose thousands of people in our community—especially low income people of color—to toxic noise and chemical pollution. We request a revised Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed beddown of F-35A jet fighters at Truax Field in Madison, WI. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) did not respond to several of our EIS scoping comments (see Appendix A). A previous Environmental Assessment (EA) closely associated with the projects in the Draft EIS violated CFR 989.19 by not including the appropriate type and level of public review and improperly segmented the EA from the EIS projects, violating NEPA. See here and here. MEJO Comments on Draft EIS re F-35s: April 6, 2018 MEJO F35 EIS Comments November 1, 2019

  • PFAS Pollution from Truax: Emerson East Neighborhood Association of Madison

    Dear elected representatives, [listed below] The Emerson East neighborhood in Madison is nearby the Truax Airfield, the major known source of PFAS (per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances) in the Madison area. Before Well 15 was taken offline in March 2019, the Emerson East neighborhood received up to 20% of our drinking water from that well. According to Madison Water Utility testing, Well 15 has been contaminated by at least 10 different PFAS compounds. The two most numerous and more studied compounds, PFOA and PFOS, showed increasing concentrations in Well 15 water, from 10 parts per trillion (ppt) in August 2017 to 12 ppt in February 2019. For comparison, the State of Vermont has set a drinking water standard of 20 ppt for five PFAS compounds. The level of these same five compounds in Well 15 has been measured at 34 ppt, with total levels of the ten detected PFAS compounds reaching 56 ppt. As residents of the impacted area, we appreciate that our City, County and federal governments are beginning to address the PFAS contamination in Madison and specifically around Truax / Well 15. We are writing to urge all three levels of government to take timely and collaborative action, to address health concerns, and to identify and remediate the source or sources of the PFAS contamination around Truax. In particular, we ask for: * A precautionary approach that recognizes much is unknown about the levels above which PFAS compounds have negative health impacts, the possible additive impacts of multiple PFAS compounds, and the impact on vulnerable populations including children; * A holistic approach that considers the multiple ways in which we and our neighbors could be exposed to PFAS, including drinking water, contaminated fish, and from biosolids or sludge applied to farm fields; * Rapid action to address health concerns, including the formation of a joint City-County Task Force and financial support from the federal government to remediate the contaminated area or areas around Truax; and * Meaningful, ongoing outreach to and consultation with affected members of the public, with an emphasis on lower-income families and communities of color. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We will share any response you send through our neighborhood association. Sincerely, Indira Ceylan and Sara Hinkel Co-chairs, Emerson East Neighborhood Association  July 29, 2019 To: Mayor Rhodes-Conway, via email: Mayor@cityofmadison.com Madison Common Council, via email: Allalders@cityofmadison.com County Executive Parisi, via email: Parisi@countyofdane.com Dane County Board, via email: County_board_recipients@countyofdane.com U.S. Senator Baldwin, 709 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 U.S. Senator Johnson, 328 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 U.S. Representative Pocan, 1421 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

  • Opposition to F-35s: Emerson East Neighborhood Association of Madison

    Dear Mr. Ramon Ortiz and elected representatives, [listed below] The Emerson East Neighborhood Association is dedicated to improving our area as a place to live, work and recreate, with an emphasis on social and environmental sustainability. Our neighborhood association recently voted unanimously to oppose the siting of F-35A fighter jets in Madison, Wisconsin. All the available information, including our current experiences with F-16 flights, indicates that the impact of the F-35s on our neighborhood and others on Madison’s northeast side would be significant and negative. Reasons for opposing the F-35s include: ⦁ The disproportionate impact on low-income households and communities of color. As the City’s analysis of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) notes, “Nearly every impacted area within the City of Madison belongs to a census tract with rates of persons of color well above the city- and county-wide averages,” as well as “poverty rates above the city-wide average.” Healthy neighborhoods are diverse and welcoming. The F35s would exacerbate already significant racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in Madison. ⦁ The disproportionate impact on children. The City’s analysis of the EIS identifies 13 childcare locations and 16 schools within or adjacent to the 65 decibel day night average noise level (DNL) contour. Known health impacts of long-term exposure to similar noise levels include increased stress, decreased school performance, hearing impairment and hypertension. ⦁ Limited, poor or no options for sound mitigation. Under a best case scenario, some housing where residents are significantly impacted by noise may be able to access soundproofing measures, but this option will only become available years after F-35s start flying, and only to structures within the 65 DNL contour. Such funding would not be available to residents of the mobile home park just west of the airport or to several subsidized or affordable housing facilities located just outside of the 65 DNL contour. The federal program that funds these noise mitigation measures requires local entities to provide matching funds covering at least ten percent of total costs. In addition, there is no sound mitigation that could reduce the impact on our playgrounds, parks, athletic fields, bicycle and pedestrian trails, or beloved outdoor summer events. ⦁ The disproportionate impact on affordable housing. Emerson East and our surrounding neighborhoods are welcoming to young families, retirees and others with lower or fixed incomes because housing prices are more affordable here. As the City’s analysis of the EIS notes, within the 65 DNL contour, “rents are generally 10 to 20 percent lower than Madison’s median rent,” while homes and condominiums are assessed at roughly two-thirds of the median rate in Madison overall. ⦁ The likely reduction in home values. Siting the F-35s here would make northeast Madison a significantly less desirable place to live, work or recreate. Home values would drop, taking from our neighbors equity they worked hard over many years to grow. ⦁ The need to address PFAS water contamination. Truax Airfield is the major known source of PFAS (per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances) in the Madison area. Before Well 15 was taken offline in March 2019, the Emerson East neighborhood received up to 20% of our drinking water from that well. The City’s analysis of the EIS says that PFAS testing required by the state has yet to be carried out at Truax, because “the Department of Defense does not consider this a priority site. … It is anticipated that PFAS from the 115 Fighter Wing will continue to contaminate City of Madison unit well #15 for decades to come.” Therefore, the Emerson East Neighborhood Association urges the U.S. Air Force to remove Madison from its list of potential host sites for the F-35A fighter jets. We also call on our elected officials to publicly and vigorously oppose the siting of F-35s here. Sincerely, Sara Hinkel Co-chair, Emerson East Neighborhood Association October 20, 2019 To: Mr. Ramon Ortiz, U.S. Air Force, via email: usaf.jbanafw.ngb-a4.mbx.a4a-nepa-comments@mail.mil Mayor Rhodes-Conway, via email: Mayor@cityofmadison.com Madison Common Council, via email: Allalders@cityofmadison.com County Executive Parisi, via email: Parisi@countyofdane.com Dane County Board, via email: County_board_recipients@countyofdane.com U.S. Senator Baldwin, 709 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 U.S. Senator Johnson, 328 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 U.S. Representative Pocan, 1421 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

  • American Federation of Teachers – Wisconsin – No F35

    The American Federation of Teachers – Wisconsin (AFT-W) passed the following resolution at their convention on Oct. 29, 2017. Resolution:                No F-35 Fighter Plane – Education Instead Resolved, AFT-Wisconsin demands a “just transition” including full re-employment for F-35 and other defense workers with comparable wages and benefits as a priority, and be it further Resolved, AFT-Wisconsin calls for an end to the F-35 program and reallocate the money to education spending.

  • Resolution: No F-35 Fighter Plane – AFSCME 171 Local

     The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 171 passed this resolution on August 9, 2017. Resolution: No F-35 Fighter Plane Whereas, the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet may be deployed at Madison’s Truax military Air Guard base and the decision should be announced by the end of 2017, and Whereas, the F-35 performs poorly in its stated role and compared to other fighter jets and is unlikely to address terrorism or be effective against today’s security threats, and Whereas, the F-35 program is the most expensive weapons system in history ($11.6 billion in U.S. taxpayer spending a year*, city of Madison residents are paying $9.6 million a year) and a symbol of runaway military spending, a “scandal and disgrace” for its waste according to Senator John McCain, and President Trump has criticized its cost as well, and annual tax dollars toward the program surpasses the budget of each of the following: the EPA, the NSF, the Army Reserve, and the Military Families Support programs, and Whereas the F-35 program is promoted as an economic development tool by the Madison Chamber of Commerce even though deploying it in Madison comes with no promise of new jobs in the area and decades of research shows dollars toward military uses create fewer jobs than dollars put toward civilian uses, and Whereas, this war profiteering by Lockheed-Martin is unacceptable when American workers lack basic protections such as healthcare, and sales of unneeded armaments have contributed greatly to the collapse of Greek and other economies in recent years, and Whereas, workers have the right to decide the economic and security direction of the country, therefore be it Resolved, AFSCME Local 171,  demands a “just transition” including full employment and re-employment for F-35 and other defense workers as a priority, with comparable wages and benefits, and Resolved AFSCME Local 171 calls for an end to the F-35 program.

  • “No New Stadium” organization opposes F-35s in Madison

    No New Stadium  |  Oct 30, 2019 No New Stadium recognizes the negative impact that environmental noise can have on community residents, and stands in support of our alder Tag Evers advocating against the Air Force bringing F-35s to Truax Field.  All of our elected officials should work to protect Madison’s east and north side neighborhoods from the damaging impact of F-35s operating in the airspace above homes, schools and businesses. Visit Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin for more information about F-35s in Madison. No New Stadium opposes F-35s in Madison   No New Stadium is are an all-volunteer grassroots group of concerned citizens who strongly oppose Edgewood’s recently unveiled plan to turn its new athletic field into a stadium with 1,000 seats, 80-foot high-mount night lighting and an amplified sound system. Some of us are Edgewood parents and alumni. We’re your neighbors, colleagues, walkers, runners, kayakers, and cyclists. We’re everyone who appreciates the Monroe Street corridor and Lake Wingra watershed.

  • Opposition Statement from the Wisconsin Greens

    https://www.wisconsingreenparty.org  |  Sep 25, 2019  |  Dave Schwab, Co-Chair WI Green Party   WI Greens: No F-35s in Madison!   Friday November 1st is the deadline to submit public comments in opposition to the proposed addition of 18 F-35 multirole combat aircraft to Truax Field in Madison. The Wisconsin Green Party’s position is that the proposed F-35 expansion at Truax field would have major negative impacts on public health, quality of life and the environment in our state capital. We urge everyone in Wisconsin who cares about our future to voice their opposition to this project now. Submit a public comment now to say no to F-35s in Madison before the deadline Friday! According to the Air Force environmental impact report (F-35 Training Base: Environmental Impact Statement, 2012) produced for the Boise area, F-35 jet emissions include volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, and large and small particulates. Bringing F-35s to Madison would mean increased use of cancer-causing PFAS “forever chemicals”, worsening the water pollution problem that has already caused Madison to shut down Well 15. The Air Force has not provided funds to study or clean up these pollutants, and appears to have no plans to do so.  Locally, a recent Madison report points to the negative impact of noise and pollutants of the proposed squadron of 18 F-35 jets to be stationed at the base, primarily affecting minorities, low-income neighborhoods, and children on the east side of the city. Recent public testimony on the expansion given by 13-year-old Gio Alcantara revealed the fact that the currently housed jets are waking up school children in the middle of the night.  The proposed F-35 expansion is a textbook case of how the military-industrial complex takes massive amounts of money from American taxpayers for little in return. Wisconsin taxpayers already pay over $200 million per year for the notoriously wasteful F-35 project, which if brought to Madison would increase the tax base by less than $2 million per year. 1,450 households and over 3,000 people live in areas that the Environmental Impact Statement deems “potentially incompatible with residential use”, yet they have not been given clear answers on what will happen to their homes. It seems almost certain that state and local taxpayers will have to pay dearly to deal with the noise, air and water pollution if F-35s come to Madison. In addition, F-35s are part of the US military’s nuclear weapons delivery system, and placing a key part of this delivery system in Madison would make our capital city a top nuclear target. It is both law and sound practice to ensure residential zones have multiple protections in place to ensure safety and quality of life for all residents, regardless of ethnicity, disability, or income level. The proposed addition of F-35 jets to Madison’s Truax field would significantly increase noise and pollution and reduce quality of life in a residential area where people have the right to health, safety, education, a clean environment, and a restful night’s sleep undisturbed by dangerous noise levels. For all these reasons and more, we urge everyone in Wisconsin to oppose the F-35 expansion by submitting public comments on the Air National Guard’s Environmental Impact Statement by the new November 1st deadline, and raising your voice to demand our elected representatives put people, planet and peace over Lockheed Martin’s profits. Submit a public comment now to say no to F-35s in Madison before the deadline Friday! After submitting your comment, please call US Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, your congressional representative, and your state and local representatives to ask them to oppose F-35s in Madison! Office of Senator Tammy Baldwin: (608) 264-5338 Office of Senator Ron Johnson: (920) 230-7250 Find and contact other representatives using the “My Elected Officials” tool on MyVote.wi. Thank you for taking action for the greater good! Peace, Dave Schwab Co-chair, WI Green Party P.S. – The Green Party is a people-powered party that refuses to take money from corporations, lobbyists or super PACs. We rely entirely on people like you for support. Please consider making a contribution to support our work – thank you! P.P.S. – The Wisconsin Green Party is holding a one-day Green Campaign School on Saturday November 9th in Madison for anyone who is interested in running for office as a Green, working on a Green campaign, or learning more about grassroots campaigning. Click here to learn more! WI Green Party http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org/

  • Sustainable Madison Committee, City of Madison, Response to USAF Environmental Impact Statement

     October 30, 2019  |  Sustainable Madison Committee  |  City of Madison    To: Ramon Ortiz, 35A EIS Project Manager From: City of Madison, Sustainable Madison Committee  RE: FR#2018-02468   We, the members of the Sustainable Madison Committee, a committee that takes a leadership role in the promotion of sustainability for the City of Madison, the Madison community, and the region, hereby express concerns regarding details included in the recently released Draft United States Air Force F-35A Operational Beddown National Guard Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pertaining to the 115 Fighter Wing at Truax Airfield. Specifically, we note the EIS predicts that upon the basing of the F-35s, the annual Truax airfield CO2 emissions would increase by approximately 12,478 tons or 135 percent versus that which is currently emitted by the F-16 squadron, and that this is equivalent to adding an additional 2,438 passenger vehicles onto our city’s roads, driving 11,500 miles per year on average. Further, because the use of afterburners may be more frequent than accounted for in the draft EIS, the estimated amount of CO2 emissions may in reality be much higher than the calculated amount. According to a USAF memo obtained by the Isthmus newspaper, it is very likely that, in practice, F-35 pilots are likely to use their afterburners up to 50% of the time.    It might get louder It’s established that F-35 fighter jets bedding down at Truax Field could causelife-disrupting noisefor area residents. Under the proposal, the Wisconsin Air Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing would increase military operations at the airfield by 47 percent, which is especially significant considering that the F-35 is roughly four times louder to the human ear than the F-16, the fighter it would replace.   Some consolation is offered by the Air National Guard’s assertion that the F-35 wouldn’t use afterburners nearly as often as the F-16. Col. Erik Peterson, commander of the 115th Fighter Wing, emphasized that point during the environmental impact statement meeting at Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall on Sept. 12. The draft EIS uses an estimate of up to 5 percent afterburner use, which is potentially 45 percent lower than actual use. Please note, the Sustainable Madison Committee helped craft legislation passed by Madison’s Common Council in 2017 committing our city to 100% renewable energy and net zero carbon emissions. As Truax is located within the city, the stationing of F-35s, which the draft EIS states will burn more CO2 than the currently-stationed F-16s, counteracts the work that the city is doing to achieve these goals. As city residents, we take seriously the reality of our climate crisis and the health impacts of air pollution. We further believe all levels of government must commit to reducing carbon emissions and thereby embrace a sustainable path ensuring the planet’s livability for future generations. Moreover, we are concerned that the F-35 Environmental Impact Statement is lacking in providing a comprehensive assessment on the environmental health impacts to our ecosystem and our community, including serious health risks associated with air and noise pollution, including: poor quality sleep, negative impacts on mood and mental health, decreased school performance, and increases in stress hormones, blood pressure, inflammation, and heart disease. The associated social and economic costs to our community are immense. The environmental impact study acknowledges there will be “significant disproportionate impacts to low-income and minority populations as well as children.” Many families who live in the affected area are already burdened by racial inequities, such as poverty, which severely limits their capacity to move and often forces families to rely on open windows for cooling. Some of the lowest income communities affected by this decision may not qualify for mitigation.   The draft EIS does not address one environmental issue that has become quite important to our community. For many years the ANG has used fire-fighting foam containing PFAS chemicals at Truax airport to extinguish fires and in training exercises. These chemicals have been found at very high levels in groundwater at the airport and in Starkweather Creek, which receives waters draining from the airport. The Madison Water utility has stopped utilizing water from one municipal well found to contain levels of PFAs at 9.4 to 12 ppt. The WI Department of Health Services has recommended a groundwater standard for PFOA and PFOS of 20 ppt.  Madison Water Utility: Perfluorinated Compounds  While these foams may soon be replaced by other fire-fighting materials, we ask that you include impact analysis for past and future PFAs use and expected replacements at the airport in the final EIS. We respectfully ask the Air Force to issue a revised EIS clarifying the impacts the basing of the F-35s would have on our city’s health and carbon load, specifically addressing means by which these environmental health burdens may be reduced. Finally, if there are no means for effectively reducing these environmental health burdens, we respectfully oppose the Air Force basing of the F-35s at Truax.” 

  • Comment from the Board of the Friends of Cherokee Marsh about EIS for F- 35 at Truax

    We respectfully request that the final Environmental Impact Statement regarding the addition of the F-35 plane to Truax Field in Madison include consideration of the effects of noise and other disturbances on the ecologically important Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park and Cherokee Marsh State Natural Area. The Cherokee Marsh is the largest wetland in Dane County and has been declared a Wetland Gem by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. Most of Cherokee Marsh’s over 2000 acres of wetland lies immediately to the north and west of the north-south runway of the Dane County Airport. There is one active bald eagle nest in the marsh and another to the west of the marsh. Though the bald eagle is no longer on the Endangered Species List, it is still protected under the Migratory Bird Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits disturbing these rare birds. Identified state-listed species in Cherokee Marsh include: Henslow’s sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii, Threatened), red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Special Concern), white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum, Threatened) glade mallow (Napaea dioica, Special Concern) and Butler’s garter snake (Thamnophis butleri, Special Concern). Effects of the proposed F-35s on sensitive species that live in or visit Cherokee Marsh are absent from the EIS. It does not make sense to survey the developed airport itself for federal- and state-listed species and not review the marsh. The board of the Friends of Cherokee Marsh voted unanimously on Sept. 18, 2019 to ask that you correct this omission. Thank you, Board Member Anita Weier on behalf of the entire board DOWNLOAD PDF

  • Madison NOW Expresses Opposition to the Potential Addition of F-35As at Truax

    The Madison chapter of the National Organization for Women (www.nowmadison.org) Madison NOW Expresses Opposition to the Potential Addition of F-35As at Truax Media Contact Heather Huber Secretary, Madison NOW madtownnow@gmail.com As Madison’s 115th Fighter Wing has become a finalist for the siting of 20 new F-35As, Madison NOW would like to formally state its opposition to the project. Two of our organization’s core commitments are to promoting Economic Justice and Racial Justice. Both the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) commissioned by the National Guard and the City of Madison’s own research raise troubling questions about the disproportionate impact of F-35As on low income communities and particularly on people of color. In terms of economic injustice, the areas immediately surrounding Truax have lower household incomes than elsewhere in the city, with some neighborhoods experiencing poverty rates in excess of 30%. Many residents are renting. City of Madison estimates consider that 1000 homes or more may be displaced or otherwise be incompatible with residential use if the F-35As are sited here. While FAA grants may be available to some homeowners to remediate harm from increased noise, those grants do not address renter concerns, will only be available to a narrowly defined geographic area (where average daily noise levels are estimated to exceed 65 decibels), and will exclude anyone in a mobile home or those structures the FAA decides are not permanent. A mobile home park off Sherman Avenue falls within this narrow 65 decibel zone, but being “non-permanent” the FAA leaves residents there few options besides moving if they can find an affordable alternative or staying and coping with a detrimental physical environment. In regards to racial injustice Madison already sees disproportionately negative impacts on communities of color. City of Madison maps estimate neighborhoods closest to Truax have minority populations of 40-50%. Areas of poverty overlap and intersect with these areas. Again, their recourse is limited if the F-35As make the area unlivable or hostile to additional economic development. None of this even begins to address the myriad environmental and pollution concerns around Well 15 and PFAS contamination from Truax. We echo the concerns raised by the Safe Skies and Clean Water Coalition. The Federal Government is ultimately responsible for the decision of where to site these new, $90 million apiece aircraft, but it would be a grave mistake to ignore the disparate impacts that are already felt on the Northside of Madison and the increasing harm to populations who can least afford to cope. Madison NOW is opposed to adding F-35As to Truax and hopes everyone will join us in registering feedback with the Air National Guard at http://www.angf35eis.com during their open comment period which runs through September 27, 2019. Madison NOW also encourages everyone to write and call Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, as well as 2nd Congressional District Representative Mark Pocan, to express opposition. We are contacting you on behalf of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Organization for Women. Our mailing address is: National Organization for Women PO Box 45671 Madison, WI 53744 Madison NOW F-35s in Madison statement (PDF)

  • Madison Water Utility Board Comment on the Draft EIS

    September 23, 2019 Madison Water Utility Board Comment on the Draft United States Air Force F-35A Operational Beddown National Guard Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pertaining to the 115 Fighter Wing at Truax Field The Madison Water Utility Board (the Board) is established to direct the outcomes of the Madison Water Utility (MWU) in fulfilling its responsibility to provide safe, affordable and adequate water for drinking, household and business uses, and fire protection to the residents and visitors of MWU’s service area in Dane County. Of its many duties, the identification, public communication, monitoring and mitigation of drinking water contamination is a primary activity of the Utility. Monitoring and mitigation are both critical and costly activities, affecting both the affordability and adequacy of water for our area. In the recent months, MWU, the Board and citizens of Madison have been working together to understand, quantify and assess the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAs, now found in Well 15. The well is located less than a mile from Truax Field, where PFAs chemicals have been detected and reported at high levels in groundwater. In our community, there is considerable concern and demand for action to respond to this risk. The Board is actively engaged in exploring actions and uniting all partners in understanding and plans to protect against a public health threat. READ THE FULL LETTER HERE

  • WI Greens: No F-35s in Madison!

    Wisconsin Green Party, Sept 25, 2019 The Wisconsin Green Party stands in opposition to the proposed addition of 18 F-35 multirole combat aircraft to Truax Field in Madison. The proposed F-35 expansion at Truax field would have major negative impacts on public health, quality of life and the environment in our state capital. We urge everyone in Wisconsin who cares about our future to voice their opposition to this project now. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

  • School Board joins calls for Air National Guard to reconsider F-35s at Truax

    The Cap Times, Sept 23, 2019 – Scott Girard The Madison School Board has added itself to the push against new F-35 fighter jets stationed at Truax Field in Madison. Read the School Board’s Resolution here Board members adopted a resolution Monday requesting the Air National Guard reconsider Truax Field as a preferred location for the aircraft based on negative effects on the schools closest to the airfield identified in the draft environmental impact study (EIS). READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

  • Interfaith Peace Working Group Letters to elected officials

    The Interfaith Peace Working Group We are writing you on behalf of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice (WFVJ), Madison-area Urban Ministry (MUM), and the Interfaith Peace Working Group (IPWG). We represent communities of faith and conscience that are working for a peaceful, just and environmentally sustainable world. READ LETTER TO SENATOR BALDWIN READ LETTER TO SENATOR JOHNSON READ LETTER TO REPRESENTATIVE POCAN

  • Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara Neighborhood Association opposes F-35s in Madison

    Dear County Executive Parisi and Mayor Rhodes-Conway, Please accept the attached letter on behalf of the Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara (SASY) Neighborhood Association concerning the proposed bed down of F-35A military jets at the Truax base. The decision on this matter will have deep implications for our neighborhood for many years to come. It will have real impacts on thousands of people. It is important that we take a position this issue and that we communicate that position to our leaders. Thank you for your time, consideration and leadership, Brad Hinkfuss President – SASY, Inc. READ THE LETTER HERE

  • 15 County Supervisors signed letter opposing F-35s at Truax

    Thank Supervisors Rusk, Kilmer, Bayrd, Ritt, Danner, Schwellenbach, Krause, Veldran, Downing, Chawla, Audet, Erickson, Wegleitner, Nguyen-Hilfiger, and Doyle for supporting our fight against the F-35s! Find your supervisor: https://board.countyofdane.com/findyoursupervisor or email them all at county_board_recipients@countyofdane.com. Read the letter here.

  • Madison City Council asks Air Force to reconsider option to bring F-35 jets to Madison

    Wisconsin State Journal, Sept 18, 2019 – CHRIS HUBBUCH and EMILY HAMER “After a more than eight-hour meeting Tuesday, the Madison City Council passed a resolution early Wednesday morning asking the Air Force to reconsider potential plans to base a squadron of F-35 jets at Truax Field. Although the Air Force makes the final decision on whether to place the base in Madison or at four other locations, many residents said they wanted the council to take a stand opposing locating the jets at Truax. The resolution, which was approved on a 16-3 vote with one abstention, stopped short of completely opposing the F-35s being based in Madison. But it asks the Air Force to pick another location for the jets unless the many adverse impacts that have been predicted for homes near the field are found to be exaggerated or misrepresented.” READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE Here is how the Council voted: Recording of the 8-1/2 hour meeting and public comments

  • Northside Planning Council opposes F-35s at Truax Field

    “This proposal is projected to create only 64 jobs, while making 132 homes uninhabitable, gutting property values, disrupting the education and development of our children and leaving thousands of people needing to move or bear what the military calls unlivable noise conditions… We call on our elected leaders to have the moral courage to speak out and join us in protecting the well-being of our local economy, environment and, most importantly, our community.” ~From the Northside Planning Council position statement on F-35s at Truax READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE

  • Safe Skies Clean Water letter to public officials

    Date:    August 30, 2019 To:        Madison Community Leaders Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway County Executive Joe Parisi Governor Tony Evers Senator Tammy Baldwin Representative Mark Pocan Airport Director Kimberly Jones Madison Common Council Dane County Board of Supervisors School District Administrator Jane Belmore Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education From: Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin – safeskiescleanwaterwi.org Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for F-35A Squadron at Truax Field The Air Force has released for public comment a draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluating the impacts of the proposed beddown of a squadron of new F-35 fighter jets at existing Air National Guard bases in Wisconsin, Idaho, Florida, Michigan and Alabama. The Wisconsin base at Truax Field would receive a squadron of 18 fighter jets. Of the five sites evaluated in the EIS, Truax Field has the greatest environmental justice and health impacts due the low-income and minority families that live adjacent to the county airport and thousands of residents who live on the east and north sides of Madison. Existing Noise is Already Unacceptable – The proposed F-35A fighter jets will be four times louder and fly 47% more frequently than the F-16 jets currently based at Truax Field. The noise from the current F- 16 jet testing and training is already unacceptable to many Madison residents. The noise interferes with the enjoyment of our homes, our health and the education of our children. It adversely affects thousands of residents who live around Truax Field on the east and north side of Madison. Environmental Racism – Existing noise already disproportionately impacts low income and minority residents who live close to Truax Field, including those in a mobile home park only 500 feet from the main airport runway. The EIS for Truax Field concludes: “There would be significant disproportionate impacts to low-income and minority populations as well as children. The increase in noise exposure to the south of the airport would disproportionately impact low-income areas and the increase in noise exposure to the east of the airport would disproportionately impact a low-income minority population.” Further the EIS concludes that 132 households will now lie within noise levels where “housing in incompatible”. The proposed squadron of F-35A fighter jets will only worsen existing noise impacts and promote environmental racism. Protect Our Children – The EIS for Truax Field concludes: “the Proposed Action could disproportionately impact children”. The 65 dB DNL noise standard used by the EIS does not account for the impacts of noise including stress, sleep disturbance, and reduction in the educational performance of children. In its report on burdens due to environmental noise, the World Health Organization found that: 1) 50 % of children exposed to 65 decibels will develop noise induced cognitive impairment, 2) over 20 studies have shown negative effects of noise on reading and memory in children, and 3) noise exposure during critical periods of learning at school could potentially impair development and have a lifelong effect on educational attainment. The noise standard used to evaluate the proposed F-35A fighter jets will not protect our children. No Funds for Noise Abatement – The EIS for Truax Field concludes there will be 2,766 people exposed to noise greater than 65 dB DNL. This standard is over 50 years old, and as many residents can attest, completely inadequate. The EIS states the Air Force will provide no funds for noise abatement. The FAA does allow airports to fund noise abatement for people living in the 65 dB DNL zone. We estimate that the costs to add noise abatement measures to existing homes or relocate residents in Madison is between $18 million and $285 million. Despite growing air traffic and revenue, the Dane County Airport has rejected neighborhood pleas to address existing impacts and has undertaken few noise abatement measures. There is no assurance the airport can protect those who will now be impacted by the noise from the new fighter jets. At the Air National Guard base in Burlington, Vermont, two hundred homes were purchased and demolished by the city due to fighter jet noise. In Madison, 1,318 households are within the 65 dB DNL. Will these homes also be demolished? Drinking Water Contamination – Operations at Truax Field are responsible for contaminating local groundwater with fire-fighting chemicals, including PFAS. Well 15 has been shut down but residents have already been exposed to PFAS from this well for many years. While the EIS notes the contamination, it provides no assurance the Air National Guard will investigate and clean up the contamination. Neither does it provide estimates of the extensive liabilities faced by Truax Field. Undesirable and Unsustainable – Madison residents are actively working to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods and encourage more people to live in the city. Madison and Dane County currently lead Wisconsin in population growth. Rather than encouraging people to live where they work and play, the F-35A squadron will make the city a less desirable place to live and promote urban sprawl, unsustainable lifestyles and global warming. Our Comments on the Draft EIS – We have reviewed the draft EIS and prepared comments and recommendations for improvements. When you provide comments to the Air Force on the EIS, we encourage you to include those included with this letter. Take a Stand for Madison Residents – The time for discussion is over. It is clear that the introduction of F-35A jets to Truax would have a devastating effect on Madison residents, including low-income and minority children. We ask that you send a clear message to the Air Force and those that support Truax Field as a site that you oppose this project. Need for Meeting with Public Officials – We are saddened that Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Mark Pocan are supporting the F-35A squadron for Truax Field and show no concern for the impacts on Madison residents. We request a City of Madison leadership meeting with Governor Evers, Sen. Baldwin and Rep. Pocan to review the position our leaders …more

  • Madison Quakers oppose F-35s

    Madison Friends Meeting issued a statement on the F-35s, called a “Minute,” on September 1, 2019. Below are some excerpts. Read the full text here We, the Madison Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) call on our elected officials and community leaders to oppose stationing F-35 fighter jets at Truax Air National Guard base in Madison, Wisconsin. As Quakers, we seek to remove the circumstances that foster war, based on our belief there is that of God in everyone. That belief has been shown to turn adversaries into friends, while to prepare for war creates a threat, making enemies of people who might otherwise be our allies… We are also very concerned about the day to day impact of F35 flight operations on the residents of East Madison… In the words of Albert Einstein: “You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war. The very prevention of war requires more faith, courage and resolution than are needed to prepare for war.” We urge our elected officials to summon the faith, courage and resolution to reject the F-35 aircraft being located at Truax Field. As members of the Religious Society of Friends, we also advocate for an end to the nuclear capable F-35 program and for US compliance with international treaties to eliminate nuclear weapons. Surely Madison can attract clean energy and other sustainable industry that will create jobs without threatening the health and safety of Madison residents. We wish to see Wisconsin as a force for peace in the nation and the world. Read the full text here

  • Progressive Dane Opposes F-35s in Madison and Calls for an End to the F-35 Program

    Progressive Dane Blog, March 8, 2018 [Our note: this is over a year old, so the event is no longer current] Last week, Progressive Dane members unanimously voted to oppose the siting of the F-35 fighter jets at the Truax Air National Guard Base in Madison. While many elected officials have signed on in support of the exorbitant military boondoggle (weapons makers have deep pockets stuffed with campaign donations), Progressive Dane electeds are applying serious scrutiny and listening to local concerns about environmental impacts, noise, and excessive military spending. Madison Common Council President Marsha Rummel convened a listening session on February 28, 2018, for Madison Alders and County Supervisors to take public comment on the F-35 siting. Dozens of people attended the session at the East Madison Community Center. Many of them expressed their opposition to the program and raised serious questions about the purported economic benefit of the F-35 program as proclaimed by the Madison Chamber of Commerce. In reality, siting this program in Madison creates no new jobs here and raises serious environmental justice concerns. There are several low income housing neighborhoods which would be most impacted by the F-35 flights, including, but not limited to CDA public housing at Truax, Packers and Northport Apartments, Dryden Terrace, and Oak Park Terrace. Progressive Dane Member Harry Richardson has lived on the Northeast Side of Madison for 40 years and in the flight path of the F-16s (the current fighter jets flying out of Truax) for 16 years. Harry is part of the No F-35 Fighter Jets in Madison activist group and attended the listening session, where he explained that more jobs are created by investing in infrastructure, health care, clean energy, and education than the military. “The total lifetime cost of the weapons program will exceed 1 TRILLION DOLLARS. The purpose of the F-35 is to kill people. It doesn’t work, it’s behind schedule, and it’s over budget, according to Bloomberg Business Week.” Progressive Dane seeks answers to community concerns with the level of noise and the environmental impacts of the F-35s, with particular focus on Starkweather Creek, and asks our elected officials to obtain necessary information, evaluate and mitigate adverse impacts on Dane County, and resist future spending on the F-35s. [Our note: this is last year’s event] We encourage the public to attend the March 8, 2018 meeting of Air Force Officials at Crowne Plaza Hotel from 5-8 PM at 4402 E. Washington Ave to get more information and submit written comments there or online. GO TO PROGRESSIVE DANE BLOG POST

Group Statements

View a summary of group statements

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Follow us on Facebook --- Contact

Facebook

Search for:
© 2021 Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition. All rights reserved.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.