[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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