[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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