[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2348]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

 

Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Proposed Realignment of Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, MD

    Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act 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 environmental effects of the realignment of Naval Air 
Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Patuxent River, Lexington 
Park, Maryland. This action is being conducted in accordance with the 
Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-510) and 
the specific 1993 base closure and realignment decisions which became 
effective in September 1993.
    The proposed action involves the relocation of personnel and 
activities from the Naval Air Systems Command, Arlington, Virginia, and 
from NAWCAD Trenton, New Jersey, to NAWCAD Patuxent River and, 
possibly, to the Naval Electronic Systems Engineering Activity (NESEA) 
site, St. Inigoes, Maryland. The Navy was directed to close NESEA St. 
Inigoes by the same 1993 base closure and realignment decisions; 
however, it was decided that the property would not be disposed of, but 
would be transferred to the Naval Air Systems Command to support its 
relocation to southeastern Maryland.
    In order to meet the facility and operational requirements of the 
realigning activities at the two receiving sites, the realignment will 
require 500,000 to 700,000 square feet of facilities. These facility 
and operational requirements will be met through the utilization of 
existing space (renovation of buildings) and/or new construction of 
facilities, such as administrative buildings, parking structures, test 
labs and other support facilities. Approximately 3,000 additional 
personnel, with their dependents, will relocate to support the various 
activities.
    Alternatives addressed in the EIS will focus on means of meeting 
realignment requirements at NAWCAD Patuxent River, including 
alternative construction site locations. The EIS will discuss 
environmental impacts resulting from the construction and operation of 
facilities as well as expected associated impacts to the local 
communities resulting from the relocation of military and civilian 
personnel and their dependents. Major environmental issues that will be 
addressed in the EIS will include, but not be limited to, impacts on 
cultural resources, terrestrial and aquatic habitats, stormwater 
runoff, noise, and air quality. Other impacts to be considered will 
include impacts to community services, such as school capacity, 
infrastructure, and traffic. Cumulative impacts associated with the 
realignment of all personnel and activities to the region around NAWCAD 
Patuxent River will be considered.
    The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of 
determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the 
significant issues related to this action. The Navy will hold a public 
scoping meeting on Thursday, February 17, 1994, beginning at 7 p.m. at 
the Carter Office Building, Leonardtown, Maryland. The meeting will be 
advertised in Southern Maryland tri-county area newspapers.
    A brief presentation will precede requests for public comment. Navy 
representatives will be available at this meeting to receive comments 
from the public regarding issues of concern. It is important that 
federal, state, and local agencies and interested individuals take this 
opportunity to identify environmental concerns that should be addressed 
during the preparation of the EIS. In the interest of available time, 
each speaker will be asked to limit his/her oral comments 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 
public meeting. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly 
describe specific issues or topics which the commentor believes the EIS 
should address. Written statements and or questions regarding the 
scoping process should be mailed to: Commanding Officer, Naval Air 
Station Patuxent River, Building 407, Patuxent River, Maryland 20670-
5409, (Attn: Joan Hinson), telephone (301) 826-7512. All comments must 
be received no later than March 28, 1994.

    Dated: January 28, 1994.
Michael P. Rummel,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-2348 Filed 2-1-94; 8:45 am]
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