Record of Decision for the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle at
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
[Federal Register: June 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 122)]
[Notices]
[Page 37805-37806]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jn03-40]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Record of Decision for the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle at
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of record of decision.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) announces its decision to replace
the amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) with the advanced amphibious
assault vehicle (AAAV) at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton,
California, and construct new and modify existing facilities at MCB
Camp Pendleton to support the AAAV.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
addressing this decision may be obtained from Commander, Southwest
Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Attn: Lisa Seneca, Code
5 CPR.LS, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 92132-5190.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lisa Seneca, telephone (619)-532-
4744.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Marine Corps is developing
the AAAV to replace the AAV as its primary combat vehicle for
transporting troops on land, at sea, and from ship to shore. The AAAV
is designed to provide increased capabilities compared to the AAV and
seamlessly link maneuver from ships and maneuver ashore, thus allowing
the Marine Corps and Navy to more effectively implement Operational
Maneuver From The Sea.
The proposed action comprises two distinct and related components
at MCB Camp Pendleton. The first component is the fielding of the AAAV
at MCB Camp Pendleton, CA, which involves replacement of 270 existing
active field AAVs with 224 new AAAVs at MCB Camp Pendleton in the First
Marine Expeditionary Force and supporting establishment. Of the 224
AAAVs, 214 will be fielded to the Operating Forces as active field
vehicles and 10 will be maintained as Depot Maintenance Float Activity
life-cycle support vehicles (i.e., not part of the active fleet, but
can be used should an active vehicle be rendered inoperative). The 3rd
Assault Amphibian Battalion (3rd AA Bn) will receive 161 AAAVs, the
Assault Amphibian School Battalion will receive 46 AAAVs, and the
Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch (AVTB) will receive 7 AAAVs. The AAV
will be gradually replaced by the AAAV. Vehicle replacement is
estimated to start in fiscal year 2007 and continue through 2017. Upon
full implementation, the proposed action will result in the fielding of
56 fewer active amphibious vehicles at MCB Camp Pendleton, which
equates to a 21 percent reduction in the number of vehicles.
Training exercises using the AAAVs will be conducted at MCB Camp
Pendleton in existing mechanized maneuver areas, ranges, and other
training areas currently used by the AAVs. The mechanized maneuver
areas represent areas of concentrated training. In the mechanized
maneuver areas, AAAVs will be authorized to maneuver in off-road areas
in accordance with applicable laws governing environmental protection.
Existing transit routes currently used by AAVs will be used by AAAVs to
access mechanized maneuver areas and ranges. The ocean training area
will be extended seaward from 3 nm (4 miles (6 km)) up to approximately
25 nm (29 miles (46 km)) from MCB Camp Pendleton beaches to conduct
AAAV over-the-horizon training exercises.
The second component of the proposed action is demolition of
existing AAV training and maintenance facilities and construction of an
Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle Consolidated Training, Maintenance,
and Headquarters Complex. The 3rd AA Bn maintenance facility will be
replaced and AVTB facilities will also be modified and replaced. The
existing 3rd AA Bn maintenance building will remain in place, but the
existing supply building will be demolished and replaced. The proposed
demolition, construction, and modification of facilities will occur in
the Del Mar Basin area of MCB Camp Pendleton.
Training activities at the San Clemente Island Range Complex
(SCIRC) were considered as part of the proposed action. These training
exercises would involve the use of AAAVs in the same areas on land
(e.g., the authorized tracked-vehicle maneuver road, tracked-vehicle
maneuver areas, and existing transit routes within the Shore
Bombardment Area (SHOBA)) and at sea (e.g., SHOBA) currently utilized
by the AAVs. Also, AAAVs would conduct over-the-horizon exercises. The
Department of the Navy is preparing an EIS/Overseas EIS (OEIS) for the
use and management of SCIRC. Any decision regarding the use of SCIRC by
the AAAV is being deferred until completion of the SCIRC EIS/OEIS.
Accordingly, while AAAV training is proposed at SCIRC, no decision
regarding this training is being made in this Record Of Decision. The
proposed action and the associated environmental impact analysis
presented in the AAAV EIS will be fully incorporated into the SCIRC
EIS/OEIS and Biological Assessment. The AAAV will follow all
requirements resulting from the SCIRC EIS/OEIS NEPA process, the
consultation between Navy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
associated with the SCIRC EIS/OEIS NEPA process, and the SCIRC
Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan. The SCIRC EIS/OEIS will
provide a complete evaluation of SCIRC beach landing operations
conducted by a variety of vehicles including the AAAV. In addition, an
evaluation of issues related to erosion associated with proposed
operations and training will be included in the SCIRC EIS/OEIS.
Finally, the SCIRC project section 7 consultation will address the use
of maneuver areas (by all vehicles) identified in the AAAV EIS and will
formalize the scheduling of SHOBA for environmental management.
The Marine Corps prepared an EIS to evaluate the direct, indirect,
and cumulative impacts associated with implementation of the proposed
action that is the subject of the present decision. Alternatives
evaluated in the EIS included the proposed action and the no-action
alternative.
[[Page 37806]]
Under the no-action alternative, the fielding of the AAAV and the
demolition, modification, and construction of maintenance and training
facilities at MCB Camp Pendleton would not occur. AAAV training
exercises would not be conducted at SCIRC. The use of the AAV fleet
would be continued at MCB Camp Pendleton and SCIRC. However, the
continued use of the AAV would not meet the purpose of and need for the
proposed action and would not satisfy the need for the newer technology
required to meet the mission of the Department of the Navy. It has been
determined that the proposed action is the preferred alternative.
Impacts to archeological resources at MCB Camp Pendleton associated
with training and operations in the mechanized maneuver areas would be
potentially significant. To mitigate this impact, the Marine Corps will
complete a cultural resource inventory of the mechanized maneuver areas
pursuant to a multi-year condition assessment, site monitoring, and
effects treatment plan. The California State Historic Preservation
Officer approved this Plan. MCB Camp Pendleton supports 18 species
Federally listed as threatened or endangered. Pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act, the Marine Corps consulted with USFWS and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service
(NOAA Fisheries). These agencies issued a biological opinion (USFWS)
and a letter (NOAA Fisheries) in support of AAAV training at Camp
Pendleton. The Marine Corps will conduct training in accordance with
the provisions of the biological opinion and letter, copies of which
are included in the final EIS. Under the Clean Air Act General
Conformity rule, the emissions caused by the proposed action would be
below de minimis levels and would not be regionally significant.
Therefore, the Marine Corps has determined that the proposed action
will conform with the State Implementation Plan. The Marine Corps has
determined and the California Coastal Commission concurred that the
proposed action will be consistent with the State Coastal Zone
Management Plan.
The draft EIS was provided to the public for a 53-day review
period. During this period three comment letters were received from
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Interior, and
San Diego County Archaeological Society. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency submitted comments primarily on air and water quality
concerns. The U.S. Department of Interior submitted comments primarily
on the use of SCIRC and sensitive biological resources potentially
affected at MCB Camp Pendleton. These comments were addressed in the
final EIS, which was distributed to the public on May 9, 2003, for a
30-day public review period. During this period, one letter was
received from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Their concerns involved compliance with appropriate laws and
regulations governing hazardous substances. The final EIS addresses
these issues in detail and appropriate regulations governing hazardous
substances will be followed during construction activities. In
addition, USFWS verbally requested clarification of how unresolved
issues for the AAAV on SCIRC would be resolved. As discussed in the
final EIS, AAAV training would be conducted in accordance with
protocols developed during preparation of the SCIRC EIS/OEIS.
On behalf of the Department of the Navy, I have decided to
implement introduction of the AAAV at MCB Camp Pendleton, including
construction of associated support facilities. In making this decision
I considered the requirements of the Marine Corps, the potential
environmental impacts of this action, social and economic concerns, and
other comments received during the EIS process. All practicable means
to avoid or minimize environmental harm from implementing introduction
of the AAAV at MCB Camp Pendleton have been adopted. After carefully
weighing all of these factors I have determined that introduction of
the vehicle at MCB Camp Pendleton best meets the requirements of the
proposed action.
Dated: June 18, 2003.
Wayne Arny,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Facilities).
[FR Doc. 03-16069 Filed 6-24-03; 8:45 am]
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