[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57579-57580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28299]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Construction and Operational Changes Associated With Realignment of F/
A-18 Aircraft to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA From
Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, FL
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) 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 potential environmental consequences of the
realignment of F/A-18 aircraft and their associated personnel to Naval
Air Station (NAS) Oceana, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This
action is being conducted in accordance with the Defense Base Closure
and Realignment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-510), as implemented during
1995.
In accordance with congressional direction implementing the 1995
recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission
(BRAC 95), the Navy will close NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and realign F/
A-18 aircraft, personnel, and ancillary activities associated with the
existing F/A-18 aircraft, personnel, and ancillary activities
associated with the existing F/A-18 missions. F/A-18 assets from NAS
Cecil Field will be distributed to support the Navy's operational
mission by use of existing infrastructure and capacity, elimination of
substantial new construction, and maintenance of operational
flexibility for deployment. For BRAC 95, two F/A-18 reserve squadrons
are proposed to be sent to NAS Atlanta for integration with Naval
Reserve Forces and two operational squadrons are proposed to be sent to
MCAS Beaufort to establish joint operations capability with existing
Marine Corps F/A-18 assets. These two moves will be addressed in
separate NEPA documentation. The remainder of F/A-18 assets (up to ten
squadrons) are proposed to be sent to NAS Oceana and is the subject of
this EIS. The move to NAS Oceana includes approximately 175 aircraft,
3,600 military personnel, and 200 civilians. In order to accommodate
this realignment, approximately 200,000 square feet of new/existing
facilities will be constructed or modified. In addition, the
realignment will result in a greater level of aircraft operations at
NAS Oceana, at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Fentress, located
in Chesapeake, Virginia, and within various aircraft training ranges
and warning areas in and adjacent to Virginia and eastern North
Carolina, including Dare County, BT-9 (Brant Island Shoal), and BT-11
(Piney Island).
The Navy intends to analyze the potential impacts of the
realignment on the natural environment, including but not limited to
air quality, plant and animal habitats, and water resources, such as
streams and wetlands. It will also evaluate potential effects to the
built environment, including land use patterns, cultural resources,
transportation, housing, community services, and the regional economy.
Further, the Navy will be preparing analyses of the projected
operations of the incoming F/A-18 aircraft on the existing airspace
range structure in Virginia and eastern North Carolina, and on aircraft
noise exposure levels in and around NAS Oceana and NALF, Fentress, and
training areas in Virginia and North Carolina.
In accordance with the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (42 U.S.C.
7401-7661q), as implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency
Regulations on Determining Conformity of General Federal Actions to
Federal or State Implementation Plans (40 CFR Parts 6, 53, and 93), the
Navy will conduct a conformity review, assessing whether total direct
and indirect air emissions associated with the realignment are
consistent or in compliance with all relevant requirements and
milestones contained in the relevant State Implementation Plan (SIP).
All required public comment periods, hearings and notices associated
with the conformity review will be conducted concurrently with those
associated with the EIS.
The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of
determining the scope of significant issues to be addressed in the EIS
related to the proposed action. The Navy will hold five public scoping
meetings on the following dates: December 5, 1995 beginning at 7 p.m.
at the Carteret County Courthouse, Courthouse Square,
[[Page 57580]]
U.S. Route 70, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516; December 6, 1995
beginning at 7 p.m. at the Pamlico County Courthouse, NC Highway 55
(near NC Highway 304), Bayboro, North Carolina 28515; December 7, 1995
beginning at 7 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium and Marine Resources
Center, Main Auditorium, Airport Road (adjacent to the Dare County
Airport), Manteo, North Carolina 27954; December 12, 1995 beginning at
7 p.m. at the Seatack Elementary School, Main Auditorium, 411 Birdneck
Circle, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454; and December 13, 1995 beginning
at 7 p.m. at the Butts Road Intermediate School Gymnatorium, 1571 Mount
Pleasant Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 23322.
Following a presentation on the EIS process and the Navy's proposed
action, Navy representatives will be available at these meetings to
receive comments from agencies and the public regarding issues of
concern. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies and
interested persons take this opportunity to identify environmental
concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. In order to ensure
adequate time for those wishing to make public comments, speakers will
be limited to five 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 the specific issues or topics that the commenter believes the
EIS should address. Please mail written comments no later than January
5, 1996 to: Commander, Atlantic Division, Naval Facilities Engineering
Command, 1510 Gilbert Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23511, Attn: Code
2032DC (Mr. Dan Cecchini), telephone (804) 322-4891, fax (804) 322-
4894.
Dated: November 13, 1995.
M.A. Waters,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-28299 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am]
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