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Department of the Navy
[Federal Register: November 16, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 221)] [Notices]
[Page 57579-57580]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Construction and Operational Changes Associated With Realignment of F/ A-18 Aircraft to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA From Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, FL
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of the realignment of F/A-18 aircraft and their associated personnel to Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This action is being conducted in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-510), as implemented during 1995.
In accordance with congressional direction implementing the 1995 recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC 95), the Navy will close NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and realign F/ A-18 aircraft, personnel, and ancillary activities associated with the existing F/A-18 aircraft, personnel, and ancillary activities associated with the existing F/A-18 missions. F/A-18 assets from NAS Cecil Field will be distributed to support the Navy's operational mission by use of existing infrastructure and capacity, elimination of substantial new construction, and maintenance of operational flexibility for deployment. For BRAC 95, two F/A-18 reserve squadrons are proposed to be sent to NAS Atlanta for integration with Naval Reserve Forces and two operational squadrons are proposed to be sent to MCAS Beaufort to establish joint operations capability with existing Marine Corps F/A-18 assets. These two moves will be addressed in separate NEPA documentation. The remainder of F/A-18 assets (up to ten squadrons) are proposed to be sent to NAS Oceana and is the subject of this EIS. The move to NAS Oceana includes approximately 175 aircraft, 3,600 military personnel, and 200 civilians. In order to accommodate this realignment, approximately 200,000 square feet of new/existing facilities will be constructed or modified. In addition, the realignment will result in a greater level of aircraft operations at NAS Oceana, at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Fentress, located in Chesapeake, Virginia, and within various aircraft training ranges and warning areas in and adjacent to Virginia and eastern North Carolina, including Dare County, BT-9 (Brant Island Shoal), and BT-11 (Piney Island).
The Navy intends to analyze the potential impacts of the realignment on the natural environment, including but not limited to air quality, plant and animal habitats, and water resources, such as streams and wetlands. It will also evaluate potential effects to the built environment, including land use patterns, cultural resources, transportation, housing, community services, and the regional economy. Further, the Navy will be preparing analyses of the projected operations of the incoming F/A-18 aircraft on the existing airspace range structure in Virginia and eastern North Carolina, and on aircraft noise exposure levels in and around NAS Oceana and NALF, Fentress, and training areas in Virginia and North Carolina. In accordance with the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (42 U.S.C. 7401-7661q), as implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency Regulations on Determining Conformity of General Federal Actions to Federal or State Implementation Plans (40 CFR Parts 6, 53, and 93), the Navy will conduct a conformity review, assessing whether total direct and indirect air emissions associated with the realignment are consistent or in compliance with all relevant requirements and milestones contained in the relevant State Implementation Plan (SIP). All required public comment periods, hearings and notices associated with the conformity review will be conducted concurrently with those associated with the EIS.
The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of determining the scope of significant issues to be addressed in the EIS related to the proposed action. The Navy will hold five public scoping meetings on the following dates: December 5, 1995 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Carteret County Courthouse, Courthouse Square,[[Page 57580]]
U.S. Route 70, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516; December 6, 1995 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Pamlico County Courthouse, NC Highway 55 (near NC Highway 304), Bayboro, North Carolina 28515; December 7, 1995 beginning at 7 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium and Marine Resources Center, Main Auditorium, Airport Road (adjacent to the Dare County Airport), Manteo, North Carolina 27954; December 12, 1995 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Seatack Elementary School, Main Auditorium, 411 Birdneck Circle, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454; and December 13, 1995 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Butts Road Intermediate School Gymnatorium, 1571 Mount Pleasant Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 23322. Following a presentation on the EIS process and the Navy's proposed action, Navy representatives will be available at these meetings to receive comments from agencies and the public regarding issues of concern. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies and interested persons take this opportunity to identify environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. In order to ensure adequate time for those wishing to make public comments, speakers will be limited to five minutes.
Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the scoping meeting. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly describe the specific issues or topics that the commenter believes the EIS should address. Please mail written comments no later than January 5, 1996 to: Commander, Atlantic Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 1510 Gilbert Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23511, Attn: Code 2032DC (Mr. Dan Cecchini), telephone (804) 322-4891, fax (804) 322- 4894.Dated: November 13, 1995.
M.A. Waters,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 95-28299 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810-77-M