The public is now being invited to comment on a plan to base up to an additional 24 MV-22 Osprey aircraft and 27 H-1 helicopters at Marine Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.

The proposed move would involve additional aircraft operations in and around Kaneohe, as well as in training areas across the state.

Public hearings are scheduled across the state beginning late this month.

Here’s the Marine Corps summary:

On behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps, the Department of the Navy has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), that evaluates environmental consequences that may result from the basing and training of MV-22 tiltrotor Osprey aircraft and H-1 Cobra and Huey attack/utility helicopters in support of Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) elements in Hawaii. Because aviation training would occur on land currently owned or controlled by the Department of the Army, the Army is a cooperating agency in this NEPA process.

The proposed action includes: (1) basing and operating of up to two Marine Medium Tiltrotor (VMM) squadrons (up to 24 MV-22 aircraft) and one Marine Light Attack Helicopter (HMLA) squadron (27 H-1 aircraft) in Hawaii, (2) constructing and renovating facilities to accommodate and maintain the squadrons; and (3) conducting aviation training, readiness, and special exercise operations at training facilities located statewide.

Approximately 1,000 active duty personnel, 22 civilian personnel, and 1,106 dependents would be associated with the VMM and HMLA squadrons.

As a result of a systematic analysis to identify possible basing locations, only Marine Corps Base (MCB) Hawaii Kaneohe Bay met all requirements, and the alternatives evaluated in this EIS are facility siting alternatives at that installation. The facility siting alternatives include Alternative A, which proposes all facilities on the southeast side of the MCB Hawaii Kaneohe Bay runway, and Alternative B, which proposes VMM facilities on the northwest side of the run-way at West Field. In Alternative B, a runway underpass would pro-vide access to West Field. New bachelor enlisted quarters (BEQ) would be developed in each alternative, with different options for demolition and new construction between alternatives.

Construction is proposed to improve existing facilities at three training areas: Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (MCTAB) on the island of Oahu, Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the island of Hawaii, and Molokai Training Support Facility (MTSF). Aviation training activities would be identical in Alternatives A and B. A No Action Alternative provides a benchmark to evaluate environmental consequences of the proposed action alternatives. Under No Action, the VMM and HMLA squadrons would not be based in Hawaii and no facilities would be constructed to support them.

The Draft EIS is available online for review.

All comments must be received or postmarked by December 26, 2011.