[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3618]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 17, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy

 

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Disposal 
and Reuse of the Naval Radio Transmitting Facility, Suffolk, VA

    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 disposal and reuse of the 
Naval Radio Transmitting Facility (NRTF) Driver, Suffolk, Virginia. 
This disposal is being conducted in accordance with the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990.
    Closure of NRTF Driver was recommended by the 1993 Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Commission to eliminate redundancy in 
geographic coverage in naval telecommunications. The recommendations 
became effective in September 1993. The proposed action to be evaluated 
in the EIS involves the disposal of land, buildings, and infrastructure 
of NRTF Driver for subsequent reuse.
    The Navy intends to analyze the environmental effects of the 
disposal of NRTF Driver based on the reasonably foreseeable reuse of 
the property, taking into account uses to be identified by the City of 
Suffolk Reuse Planning Group. The property will likely be developed for 
mixed uses, including recreation, housing, and light industry. In 
coordination with the City of Suffolk's reuse plan, other federal 
agencies may offer uses for the property. The EIS will evaluate 
alternative reuse concepts of the property, including the ``no-action'' 
alternative, which would be retention of the property by the Navy in 
caretaker status. However, because of the process mandated by the Base 
Closure and Realignment Act, selection of the ``no-action'' alternative 
would be considered impracticable for the Navy to implement.
    The EIS will evaluate impacts of reuse of NRTF Driver on the 
natural environment including wetlands and wildlife habitat, as well as 
the socioeconomic environment, which includes potential impacts to 
population, housing, and schools. The Navy will conduct a cultural 
resource survey to determine whether any sensitive archaeological 
resources exist within the property. Additionally, the Navy is 
conducting an Environmental Baseline Survey to determine if any areas 
of environmental contamination exist.
    The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of 
determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the 
significant environmental issues related to disposal and reuse of the 
property. The Navy will hold a public scoping meeting on March 3, 1994, 
beginning at 7 p.m., at the John Yeates Middle School, located on 4901 
Bennett Pasture Road, Suffolk, Virginia. This meeting also will be 
advertised in local newspapers.
    A brief presentation will precede request for public comments. The 
Navy and the City of Suffolk will provide a brief introduction and 
description of the proposed action. Navy representatives will be 
available to receive comments from the public regarding issues of 
concern to the public. 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 time, each speaker will be asked to 
limit his or her oral comments to 5 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 specific issues or topics that the commentor believes the EIS 
should address. The Navy will provide comment cards at the scoping 
meeting. Prepared statements also will be accepted at the scoping 
meeting. Written statements and/or questions regarding the scoping 
process should be mailed no later than March 18, 1994, to Commander, 
Atlantic Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 1510 Gilbert 
Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23511-2699.

(Attn: Mr. Robert Waldo, (Code 2032RW)), telephone (804) 445-2305.

    Dated: February 14, 1994.
Michael P. Rummel,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-3618 Filed 2-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-AE-M