Truax Air Field & F-35’s

PSR Wisconsin has developed a simple handout on the “Health, Safety and Environmental Concerns Regarding F-35 Fighter Jets in Madison, Wisconsin”. Download it here >>

Despite strong community opposition, Truax Air Force Base in Madison, Wisconsin was chosen as a base for a squadron of eighteen to twenty F-35 fighter jets. Why are we concerned?

  • All F-35 jets have the capacity to deliver nuclear weapons. Although Madison residents have been told that the jets stationed at Truax will not be carrying nuclear warheads, the Air Force can change the mission of the squadron at any time without informing the public. 

  • Truax AFB soil has already been contaminated with PFAS run off from fire-fighting foam which has entered Madison ground water and contaminated wells and Lake Monona. The chemicals used in regular stealth coatings of the jets may further pollute the soil and water of East Madison.

  • The F-35 is four times louder than the current F-16s and there will be a 27 % increase in military operations long-term. . This level of noise can have a detrimental effect on people with PTSD, autism, mental illness, and other neurological and sensory vulnerabilities. Children will especially be affected.

  • A disproportionate number of homes located near Truax AFB are occupied by low income and minority populations.

The F-35 is the most expensive weapons system in history and will cost US taxpayers $1.7 trillion over the life of the project. The cost of each F-35A to taxpayers is $110.3 million. Some of the cost for Truax to accommodate the F-35s will be borne by state and local taxpayers, including the clean-up of existing contaminants at the base as well as noise mitigation and housing for residents who need to be relocated. Dane County is responsible for all noise abatement, not the military

Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class D. Keith Simmons

Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class D. Keith Simmons

Action: Our US Senators can be influential

  • Urge Tammy Baldwin to withdraw her support for the F-35 basing at Truax. Tell people you know who support her to urge her as well - especially those outside of Madison. She needs to know that her supporters strongly disagree with her position on this issue! Call (608) 264-5338 – Madison or (202) 224-5653 – DC or get more contact info.

  • Contact Sen. Ron Johnson: Email or call (608) 240-9629 – Madison or (202) 224-5323 – DC

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTs

  1. PSR Wisconsin has developed a simple handout with references on the Health and Safety Concerns Regarding F-35 Fighter Jets in Madison, Wisconsin. Download it here >>

  2. Please see the City of Madison staff’s analysis of 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. Staff in the Planning Division, Community Development Division, Housing Authority, Engineering Division and Public Health of Madison and Dane County contributed to this report. View it here >>

  3. Click here to read our comments sent to the Madison City Council on March 31, 2020.

  4. Click her to read an op-ed from our steering committee members on April 29, 2020.

NEWS

Courtesy of Sight and Hearing Association

  • Dr. Paula Rogge and Dr. Bruce Barret wrote an op-ed against the beddown of F35s in Madison due to health and safety concerns (April 29, 2020). View here >>

  • More than 1,000 homes near Truax Field could be “incompatible for residential use” because of heightened noise levels if a new fighter jet program is placed there, according to an Environmental Impact Statement draft report compiled by the U.S. Air Force and National Guard Bureau. View the article here >>

  • Opposition To F-35 Fighter Jets In Madison (August 22, 2019). View radio interview and article >>

Changes in DNL (day-night average sound level) results in an additional 1,320 acres within the black 65 dB noise contour where compatible land use recommendations are triggered. As a result, the number of households located within the black 65 dB DNL contour would increase by 1,019 and the number of people exposed would increase by 2,215. One hundred thirty-two of the households and 292 persons would be located within the red 70-75DNL contour, which is incompatible with residential use. Map courtesy of Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin.

Web Resources and Other Useful Documents

Local Sources of Information on F-35’s:

National Sources of Information of F-35’s and EIS Statements

  • Vermont’s 2013 Fact Sheet on Basing F-35 at Burlington Vermont Air Guard Station. View here >>

F35 as Part of Nuclear First Strike Force

F35 and Noise Pollution

  • The Executive Summary of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is here >>, the full report can be accessed here >>.

  • Map of decibel levels seen to the right (courtesy of Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin)

F35 and Air Pollution

  • “Not Just Noise, F-35 Health Is In The Air” op-ed by Denise Seigart, PhD, MS, RN, Wharton Fellow.

    View here >>

F35 and Water Pollution

  • Tom Boswell points out that the Truax AFB has still not cleaned up PFAS chemicals on base that have contaminated city water and soil. View article here >>

Safety Issues with F35

Cost of F35 to Madison