[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 444-445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-166]



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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy


Record of Decision for Realignment of the Naval Air Station, 
Pensacola, FL

    Pursuant to Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for 
implementing NEPA procedures (40 CFR 1500-1508), the Department of the 
Navy announces its decision to implement realignment of the Naval Air 
Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida.
    In accordance with the legislative requirements of the Base Closure 
and Realignment Act of 1990 (Public Law [P.L.] 101-510), the 1993 
Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC-93) recommended 
the realignment of NAS Memphis, Tennessee, and the closure of the Naval 
Training Center (NTC) San Diego, California. Also recommended for 
closure was the Naval Aviation Depot (NADEP) in Pensacola, Florida. All 
the naval technical training now offered at NAS Memphis and the 
Messmans Apprentice (MS `A') School from NTC San Diego will be 
relocated to NAS Pensacola.
    A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was prepared for the 
proposed realignment implementation and was distributed to Federal, 
State, and local agencies and to interested individuals and interested 
groups/organizations. Comments from the reviewers and Navy responses to 
those comments were incorporated into the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) which was distributed to the public for a 30-day 
review period ending on 21 November 1994. This review resulted in 
letters from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region IV, 
and from the Office of the Governor, Florida State Clearinghouse. The 
EPA letter stated while the proposed realignment would result in minor 
degradation of air quality from proposed fire-fighting training 
activities, immediate on-site and proximate environmental consequences 
are within acceptable limits and the proposal appears reasonable. The 
State Clearinghouse indicated the action, at this stage, is consistent 
with the Florida Coastal Zone Management Program. Should further 
environmental documentation be required to support the action, 
subsequent review from the State Clearinghouse will be obtained. The 
Navy will also accommodate Florida regulatory agency requirements 
during the permitting process.
    The realignment will, by 1997, increase the average number of on- 
board students by 4,924. The number of permanent naval personnel 
necessary to support the apprentice school training will increase by 
approximately 1,101, bringing with them approximately 1,684 dependents. 
Thus, implementation of the realignment will bring about 7,709 
personnel to the area. During the same period, it is estimated that 
about 2,587 NADEP employees including their dependents will leave the 
Pensacola region, resulting in a net population increase of 5,122 
people.
    The Navy has determined that 19 BRAC-related construction (BRACON) 
projects are required to accommodate the realignment at NAS Pensacola. 
The BRACON projects include upgrades of existing facilities and 
construction of new facilities to support new functions and the 
increased number of students and permanent personnel. All associated 
construction and renovation projects addressed in the FEIS will occur 
at NAS Pensacola, with the exception of a 116-unit family housing 
project, which will be constructed at the Navy Technical Training 
Center (NAVTECHTRACEN) Corry Station, also in Pensacola.
    The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act waived certain aspects 
of NEPA such that the environmental analysis need not consider the no-
action alternative. Alternative means of implementing the mandated 
BRAC-93 realignment at NAS Pensacola were considered, including the use 
of existing structures and alternative sites for construction of new 
facilities. Sites considered at NAS Pensacola for the proposed new 
facilities/renovations avoided environmentally sensitive areas and were 
preferred based on functional considerations: adequacy of existing 
structures for the proposed uses, availability of utilities, proximity 
to existing facilities, and minimal distances required for students to 
walk to classes from the barracks and galley. The Chevalier Field site, 
being vacated by the closure of NADEP, is chosen as the best site to 
develop the training ``campus''. NAVTECHTRACEN Corry Station is 
selected as the most environmentally preferred and functionally 
desirable site for the family housing project.
    The Navy anticipates no significant adverse impacts to surface 
waters or wetlands from implementation of the [[Page 445]] action. New 
facilities will be constructed such that wetlands, except for a small 
area (less than one-tenth of an acre), are not encumbered. Sediment and 
erosion control measures for construction activities meeting federal 
and state guidelines outlined in the FEIS will ensure that temporary 
decreases in the quality of stormwater runoff during construction are 
minimal and temporary. Since existing facilities predate current 
stormwater regulations, implementing Best Management Practices required 
by federal and state permits will improve the overall quality of 
stormwater. There will be no significant impacts to groundwater or 
potable water resources as a result of the realignment.
    The realignment will not significantly impact ambient noise levels 
or air quality. Temporary, localized noise impacts will occur, 
primarily from heavy machinery during construction and demolition. 
Compliance with the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air 
Pollutants (NESHAPS), the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Florida 
Administrative Code (FAC) 17-296.810 will be effected during the 
removal of asbestos-containing material. Asbestos debris will be 
disposed of in accordance with NESHAPs and FAC 17- 701. Lead-based 
paint will be disposed of in accordance with FAC 17-701 after sampling 
of the material is completed. NAS Pensacola is located in an area of 
full attainment for all criteria pollutants, thus an applicability 
analysis required by the General Conformity Rule under the 1990 Clean 
Air Act Amendment is not necessary. The action complies with the 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). A minor source of air 
pollutants will be fire-fighting training, which is estimated to have 
total emissions of federal criteria pollutants of less than 16 tons per 
year (tpy), well below the Prevention of Significant Deterioration 
(PSD) limits of 100 and 250 tpy. Closure of NADEP and its associated 
emissions reductions will more than offset emissions of the 
realignment, and thus the action will not cause or contribute to 
exceedance of NAAQS.
    The action will not adversely impact any Department of Defense 
Installation Restoration Program (IR) sites. While four IR sites do 
overlap areas proposed for the campus development, these sites will be 
remediated prior to construction and after their risk assessments for 
potential impacts on human health are approved by the EPA, the Florida 
Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and the Navy. In 
addition, one petroleum-contaminated site will be remediated in 
compliance with the guidelines set forth by FAC 17-770 and will be 
constructed upon only after EPA or FDEP approval.
    The net total population increase to the Pensacola region will be 
5,122 persons, or less than two percent of the existing Escambia County 
population. This number represents a net quantity which accounts for 
both the loss of personnel from the NADEP closing and the incoming 
personnel from NAS Memphis. This increase is considered insignificant, 
especially when the enlisted student loading of 4,924, the majority of 
which will be housed on-base in bachelor's quarters, is considered. The 
action also provides 116 new family housing units at NAVTECHTRACEN 
Corry Station. No impacts to the area infrastructure or traffic is 
anticipated from the housing construction.
    The increase in elementary, middle, and high school enrollment 
resulting from the realignment will have no significant impact on 
Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. Based on a recent survey by local 
school boards, the closure of NADEP may result in approximately 668 
school-aged children leaving the region. Similarly, using population 
characteristics of other Navy training facilities, about 686 school-
aged children are expected to enter the local schools as a result of 
the realignment.
    Utilities at NAS Pensacola and Corry Station have adequate capacity 
to accommodate the new housing. The total demand for wastewater for the 
action is 0.9 million gallons per day (mgd) which increases the total 
base requirement to 2.1 mgd, below the total capacity of 2.35 mgd.
    Potential impacts to cultural resources at NAS Pensacola have been 
evaluated in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historical 
Preservation Act (of 1966), as amended, and the Programmatic Agreement 
between NAS Pensacola, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 
(ACHP), and the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Results of 
the cultural resource survey conducted at Chevalier Field identified 
the previously recorded Commodore's Pond site and the historic Town of 
Woolsey. However, construction is not expected to result in a loss of 
cultural resources because all subsurface impacts beneath 40 
centimeters will be monitored by a professional archaeologist; 40 
centimeters is the thickness of the fill material overlying the site. 
In addition, subsurface testing will be coordinated with the SHPO to 
avoid or mitigate potential significant features.
    Renovations for nine buildings in the vicinity of Chevalier Field 
include buildings 18 and 52, located within the NAS Pensacola Landmark 
Historic District; buildings 606, 607, 627, 630, and 631, located 
within the proposed boundary increase; and building 225, which is an 
older building located outside of the district. No adverse impacts are 
expected during renovation work because the SHPO's recommendations for 
avoiding adverse effects to historic structures will be followed. These 
recommendations include leaving historic building exteriors intact and 
providing a 100-foot buffer zone between historic buildings and new 
construction. Also, proposed interior modifications will be reviewed by 
the SHPO prior to initiating work. In a letter dated June 6, 1994, the 
SHPO agreed that the renovations at Chevalier Field could proceed under 
the mitigation and monitoring guidelines outlined above.
    Questions regarding the Draft and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement prepared for this action may be directed to: Commanding 
Officer, Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, PO 
Box 190010, North Charleston, SC 29419-9010 (Attn: Mr. Ronnie 
Lattimore, Code 203RL, telephone (803) 743-0888, fax (803) 743-0993.
Elsie L. Munsell,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment and Safety).
[FR Doc. 95-166 Filed 1-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P