Summary of the Problems with the Burlington F-35 Basing Process
May 25, 2018
The process by which the United States Air Force selected the Vermont Air National Guard Station — co-located with the Burlington International Airport located in South Burlington, Vermont — involved an extensive analysis as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It also involved highly inappropriate, unethical, and possibly prohibited, activities on the part of the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) and Vermont’s Senator Patrick Leahy including:
- interference in the process through manipulation of facts and data, such as, (intentional?) scoring errors designed to misrepresent facts on the ground,
- orchestration of public comments,
- inappropriate attempts by military personnel to intimidate members of the public, and
- withholding crucial information that directly affects public safety.