New Squadron Update

A new squadron of B-52 bombers and about 900 new airmen for andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t minot-air-force-baseandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Minot Air Force Baseandamp lt aandamp gt is still being promised by Air Force brass But right now the idea for the squadron still has to clear an environmental hurdle 5th Bomb Wing Commander Joel Westa the base commander says the process of finishing an environmental impact study is continuing He says public comments have been received and are being reviewed Colonel Westa says the final decision on when the new squadron comes to Minot is with officials at the Pentagon but he says right now it s a matter of waiting for the results of the environmental study Col Joel Westa MAFB Commander andamp quot Any time you bed down a new unit there s a requirement for an environmental assessment to see if that unit impacts the environment in that local area So they have to go through that and make sure there s not going to be an environmental impact of any kind or if they can mitigate it in some way before then it s decided this is the best choice and the least impact to the environment and they we ll put it here andamp quot Minot Air Force Base is one of only two bases in the US that are home to the nation s B-52 bomber fleet