Another lawsuit challenges plan to bring fighter jets to Madison

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A group that’s opposed to plans to bring new F-35 fighter jets to Truax Field in Madison has filed a second lawsuit challenging the military’s environmental review.

Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in federal court alleging the Air Force and National Guard Bureau had failed to follow the law when they considered the likely effects of their decision to bring the jets to the 115th Fighter Wing.

The F-35 jets will replace the aging fleet of F-16s beginning in 2023.

The nonprofit group said the military didn’t adequately consider the impact of noise, air and groundwater pollution that could result from the fleet.

“Truax is the worst location for these fighter jets,” said Steven Klafka, an environmental engineer and member of Safe Skies, tells the Wisconsin State Journal.

Spokespeople for the Air Force and National Guard Bureau declined to comment on the litigation.

A previous lawsuit filed by the group in December against the National Guard Bureau challenges its separate environmental review of the construction projects associated with the new jets, including aircraft shelters and a flight simulator building.

Safe Skies asked the U.S. District Court of Western Wisconsin to block construction until the National Guard does a more thorough review of those projects.