[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 110 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14082]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 9, 1994]


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


DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
 

Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Homeporting and Pre-Acceptance Trials of 
Seawolf Class Submarines on the East Coast of the United States

    Pursuant to the regulations implementing the procedural provisions 
of the National Environmental Policy Act, as implemented by the Council 
on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), the 
Department of the Navy announces its intent to prepare a Supplemental 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the proposed 
homeporting and Pre-Acceptance Trials of SEAWOLF Class submarines.
    On May 10, 1991, the Navy distributed for public review a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency for the proposed dredging of the Thames River in 
support of the operational evaluation requirements (Pre-Acceptance 
Trials) of SEAWOLF submarines. Program changes necessitated a delay in 
the EIS preparation, and a Final Environmental Impact Statement was 
never issued.
    The Navy has recently changed the proposed action addressed in this 
DEIS to now include the homeporting requirements of SEAWOLF class 
submarines. The Navy will prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (SDEIS) addressing Homeporting and Pre-Acceptance 
Trial requirements of SEAWOLF class submarines. The Naval Submarine 
Base New London (SUBASE NLON) has been identified as the Preferred 
Alternative to be addressed in the SDEIS and the Naval Station Norfolk 
VA (NAVSTA NORVA) and the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay GA (NSB KB) 
will be evaluated as alternatives to SUBASE NLON.
    Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation located 
in Groton, Connecticut, is constructing the first SEAWOLF submarine. 
Following delivery to the Navy, this submarine (as well as those that 
follow) must undergo extensive operational and engineering evaluations 
referred to as Pre-Acceptance Trials. These evaluations are conducted 
by Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE located at SUBASE NLON. The 
SDEIS will evaluate these Pre-Acceptance Trial and Homeporting 
requirements for SUBASE NLON. However, since these Pre-Acceptance Trial 
requirements must be conducted near the SEAWOLF contractor's plant, 
Pier 7 at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) New London, 
Connecticut, will be evaluated as the location for SEAWOLF Pre-
Acceptance Trials should either NAVSTA NORVA or NSB KB be selected as 
the homeport for SEAWOLF class submarines. If SEAWOLFs are homeported 
at SUBASE NLON, Pre-Acceptance Trials will be conducted from SUBASE 
NLON.
    Implementation of the proposed action would affect the natural and 
man-made environments. The principal environmental consequence would 
result from dredging of the Thames River to a depth of 41 feet mean low 
water to provide safe passage to the SUBASE NLON for SEAWOLF 
submarines. Approximately 2.7 million cubic yards of river sediment 
would be dredged for proposed disposal at the New London Disposal Site 
located in Long Island Sound.
    Dredging would also be necessary at NAVSTA NORVA and NSB KB with 
quantities ranging from approximately 225,000 cubic yards to 500,000 
cubic yards respectively. At these locations, disposal of dredged 
material would be at upland disposal sites.
    If Pre-Acceptance Trials are to be conducted at NUWC NLON, dredging 
at Pier 7 would be required. Approximately 1.3 million cubic yards 
would be removed from around the pier and the Thames River channel from 
NUWC to Long Island Sound. Disposal would be at the New London Disposal 
Site.
    The SDEIS will provide a detailed analysis of dredging 
requirements, including sediment characterizations and disposal 
options, for each alternative. Other Homeporting and/or Pre-Acceptance 
Trials requirements for each alternative will also be addressed in the 
SDEIS.
    Due to the size of the crew to be assigned to each SEAWOLF 
submarine and the small number of submarines, socioeconomic impacts at 
any alternative locations will be addressed, but are not expected to be 
significant.
    In July 1994, the Navy will initiate a public scoping process for 
the purposes of determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for 
identifying the significant issues relative to the Proposed Action. The 
Navy will conduct scoping hearings, to be announced at a later date, at 
all alternative locations. Specific information concerning date, place 
and time for each of these scoping hearings will be published in local 
area newspapers.
    Questions concerning this announcement should be directed to: Mr. 
R.K. Ostermueller, Northern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command, 10 Industrial Highway, Lester, Pennsylvania 19113, Attn: Code 
202, telephone 610-595-0759.

    Dated: June 6, 1994.
Lewis T. Booker, Jr.,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-14082 Filed 6-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-AE-P