[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53823-53824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25713]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 95-049]
Proposed Consolidation of U.S. Coast Guard Training Centers;
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to consolidate its training
centers and, as a result, some of its centers could be expanded,
realigned, or closed. Based on comments received to a proposed
Environmental Assessment (referred to as a Programmatic Environmental
Assessment (PEA)) and a Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI), the Coast Guard supplemented the PEA with a ``Summary of
Public Comments and Responses'' and revised the FONSI. This notice
announces the availability of the PEA and FONSI, as adopted by the
Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has not determined how it will consolidate
its training centers but has determined that no significant impacts on
the environment would result from the implementation of several
alternatives under consideration and that the preparation of an
environmental impact statement is not necessary.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the PEA, FONSI, and ``Summary of Public Comments
and Responses'' may be obtained from Ms. Susan Boyle, NEPA Branch
Chief, U.S. Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific,
Coast Guard Island, Building #54D, Alameda, CA 94501-5100. Copies of
these documents were sent to the following libraries: Petaluma Library,
100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA; Cape May Public Library, 110 Ocean
Street, Cape May, NJ; Pasquotank-Camden Library, 205 East Main Street,
Elizabeth City, NC; Newport News Public Library, 2400 Washington
Avenue, Newport News, VA; and the New London Public Library, 63
Huntington Street, New London, CT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Susan Boyle, NEPA Branch Chief, U.S. Coast Guard Maintenance and
Logistics Command Pacific, Coast Guard Island, Building #54D, Alameda,
CA 94501-5100, at (510) 437-3626.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On June 15, 1995, the Coast Guard announced the availability of the
proposed PEA and FONSI in the Federal Register [60 FR 31529] and
solicited comments. The public was also informed of opportunities to
comment through legal notices in 10 newspapers, and through press
releases and public meetings at each of the potentially affected
communities. The 30-day comment period ended on July 17, 1995, and the
Coast Guard accepted comments until July 25.
The Coast Guard received 54 verbal comments and over 470 written
comments. Approximately 70% of the written comments were form letters.
The Coast Guard considered all the comments. These are documented and
addressed in the ``Summary of Public Comments and Responses'' which
supplements the PEA. The analysis of public comments did not reveal any
significant environmental concerns.
In the notice, the Coast Guard announced that it was considering
consolidating its training activities throughout the country to reduce
operational expenditures and achieve long-term savings. The five Coast
Guard training centers that might be directly affected by the proposed
action include: Training Center (TRACEN) Petaluma, California; TRACEN
Cape May, New Jersey; Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC)
Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Reserve Training Center (RTC) Yorktown,
Virginia; and the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Under
the consolidation proposals, some installations could be expanded, some
could be realigned, and some could be closed.
The PEA, as adopted, evaluates the potential environmental and
[[Page 53824]]
socioeconomic impacts related to the possible alternatives and
addresses broad program level issues rather than site-specific effects.
It will be used in the process of selecting an alternative. The four
alternatives evaluated in the PEA are summarized below.
1. No Action: The Coast Guard would continue to operate the
training centers as they currently exist.
2. Consolidate East Coast: TRACEN Petaluma would close and its
training functions would be relocated to RTC Yorktown, TRACEN Cape May,
and the Coast Guard Academy.
3. Consolidate Tidewater Area: TRACEN Petaluma and TRACEN Cape May
would close and their functions would be relocated to RTC Yorktown and
ATTC Elizabeth City.
4. Consolidate to a DOD facility: TRACEN Petaluma, TRACEN Cape May,
and ATTC Elizabeth City would close. RTC Yorktown would continue to
remain a Coast Guard facility but would not continue to be a training
center. The other training functions from the four training centers
would be transferred to an undetermined Department of Defense (DOD)
installation. Other tenant commands at the four Coast Guard
installations would remain, with RTC Yorktown being reused by other
Coast Guard activities. The impacts at TRACEN Petaluma and TRACEN Cape
May for this alternative are the same as those under Alternative 3.
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations
(40 CFR Part 15), and the Coast Guard Implementing Procedures and
Policies (COMDTINST M16475.1B), the Coast Guard found that Alternatives
1, 2, and 3 will have no significant environmental effects and,
therefore, adopting any of these alternatives will not require an
environmental impact statement. If Alternative 4 is selected, a
specific DOD facility will be considered and an appropriate NEPA
analysis will be conducted to address environmental impacts at that DOD
facility.
The PEA evaluates the potential environmental impacts of each
alternative, including: land use; infrastructure and transportation;
hazardous materials and waste management; biological resources;
cultural resources; air quality; noise; and water resources.
Socioeconomic issues are also evaluated. Other environmental impacts,
including impacts on geology, soils, and bathymetry, are not expected
to be affected from the action and are not evaluated in detail.
Environmental impacts related to potential reuse and disposal of
facilities will be the subject of subsequent NEPA analyses.
As revised, the PEA lists specific planning tasks to be implemented
subsequent to approval of one of the alternatives. Compliance with all
applicable federal, state, and local regulations and Coast Guard policy
will be carried out at every training facility.
Dated: October 12, 1995.
Approval Signature:
T.W. Josiah,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Resources.
[FR Doc. 95-25713 Filed 10-16-95; 8:45 am]
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