Public Notice Published July 11, 2008 By Mike Spaits 96th Civil Engineer Group EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Notice of availability of Supplemental Draft Environment Impact Statement for the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) at Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, Florida. The Air Force is proposing the Military Housing Privatization Initiative at Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field to provide military personnel and their families safe and affordable housing. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Air Force is announcing that it has published its Supplemental third Draft EIS evaluating the potential environmental consequences of the MHPI. The EIS is available for public review and comment between July 11 and Aug. 25, 2008, at www.eglin.af.mil and the following libraries: Mary Esther, Navarre, Shalimar, Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, and Valparaiso. Earlier iterations of the EIS were released in 2005 and 2006 and underwent public hearings. Since that time, the Air Force has considered the public comments and reevaluated the Proposed Action. The main difference between the Supplemental Draft EIS and previous iterations is that no parcels outside the main base areas of Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field would be used for housing and the total number of housing units has been reduced. The Air Force will host a public hearing Aug. 4 at the Hurlburt Soundside Club to provide community members and interested agencies the opportunity to comment on the supplemental draft EIS. At 6 p.m., attendees can attend an open information session to learn about the project, the EIS process and the results of the draft EIS analysis. At 6:30 p.m., the Air Force will present the draft EIS analysis of potential environmental consequences associated with the proposed action, followed by an opportunity for public and agency oral comment. Public Hearings Aug 4th, 2008, 6-9 p.m. The Soundside Club, 107 Kissam Avenue, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (across Hwy. 98 from Hurlburt Field's main gate) Oral and written comments may be given at the public hearing. Written comments will be accepted throughout the environmental analysis process; however to ensure comments are considered in the preparation of the final EIS, please submit by Aug. 25, 2008 to: Ms. Melinda Rogers 96 CEG/CEVSP 501 DeLeon Street, Suite 101 Eglin AFB, FL 32542-5133 Fax: (850) 882-3761 or email: Melinda.rogers@eglin.af.mil