[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3010-3011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1670]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on
General Development at the Acoustic Research Detachment, Bayview, ID
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act 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 environmental effects of implementing a plan for
General Development at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Acoustic
Research Detachment (ARD) in Bayview, Idaho. Bayview is situated on
Scenic Bay in the southern end of Lake Pend Oreille in Kootenai County,
Idaho. Bayview is approximately 70 miles northeast of Spokane,
Washington, 35 miles north of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, and approximately
75 miles south of the Canadian border.
The mission of the ARD is to support underwater acoustic research
experiments. Lake Pend Oreille provides certain characteristics that
provide an ideal acoustic and water quality environment for research
experiments. The ARD operates facilities ashore and in Lake Pend
Oreille. The shore facilities are generally
[[Page 3011]]
divided into the Waterfront Industrial Area and Upland Base. The
Waterfront Industrial Area, located along the lake shoreline, is suited
to water access, berthing, and equipment maintenance facilities. The
Upland Base, located on a bluff above the shoreline, is suited to
administrative facilities. Currently, functions and facilities are
scattered among dispersed facilities causing inefficiency in
operations. Planning for future operations at ARD has identified a need
to consolidate dispersed facilities and functions, bringing together
related functions for an increased operations efficiency.
Two alternative programs for improvements to both the Waterfront
Industrial Area and the Upland Base have been identified to accomplish
this goal. These alternatives will focus on design and configuration
options for two principal developmental projects. These projects are
the construction and operation of a Model Engineering and Support
Facility (MESF) and an Acoustic Test and Analysis Center (ATAC). The
EIS will address the environmental impacts of these two projects and
associated capital improvements in comparative analysis. The EIS will
also address ARD operations supported by these facilities, including
acoustic experimentation in Lake Pend Oreille. The No Action
alternative would result in continuing operations at ARD and using the
existing facilities without change.
The proposed MESF is needed to improve waterborne operational
efficiency. It would incorporate an interior model life well, storage,
maintenance shop, and laboratory space. It would replace an existing
barge which is not adequate to support mission requirements of storage
and handling capacity. As proposed, the MESF is a pile-supported
structure over a dredged slip area used for retrieving models from the
lake. Several design options are available for environmental analysis,
including a pile support option, a floating barge support option, and
no-dredge model slip option.
The proposed ATAC would consolidate project management, computer
centers, record storage, and conference facilities with Waterfront
Industrial area shop functions in a new facility located near the
present site of Building 1. The proposed ATAC would replace the
existing Building 1 and provide additional vehicle maneuverability and
laydown space along the shoreline within the Waterfront Industrial
Area. Building 1 would be demolished. In the alternative design option
for this facility project, management, computer, storage, and
conference functions would be located in a new facility in the Upland
Base. The Waterfront Industrial Area shops would be consolidated in a
new building to be located near Building 1; Building 1 would also be
demolished under this alternative.
In addition to construction of these facilities, the proposed
action includes a number of other associated capital improvements in
the Waterfront Industrial Area and Upland Base. Improvements in the
Waterfront Industrial Area would include extension of the floating log-
boom wave diffuser, construction of a pier to the existing model
support platform, and relocation and construction of a new hazardous
materials handling facility. The new construction would require removal
of 1940's vintage buildings and other temporary structures. Associated
with these improvements are bank stabilization projects to protect the
lake and Navy resources. Improvements to the Upland Base would include
the relocation of the main gate and entry road, expansion of the main
parking lot, and construction of a new recreation activity area.
The EIS will discuss environmental impacts resulting from
construction and operation of these facilities, mitigation measures,
and indirect environmental impacts to area land use patterns.
Significant environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS will
include, but not limited to, impacts on water quality, shoreline
habitat, threatened and endangered species, groundwater, land use,
transportation, noise, utilities, aesthetics, air quality, cultural
resources, and environmental justice. Cumulative impacts associated
with the implementation of the proposed action, including associated
operations, will also be considered.
Federal, State and local agencies, and interested individuals are
encouraged to participate in the scoping process to determine the range
of issues and general development of alternatives to be addressed by
the EIS. A public scoping meeting to receive oral and written comments
will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 1996, at the Bayview Community
Center, 16304 Perimeter Road, Bayview, Idaho 83803, at 7 p.m. In the
interest of available time, each speaker will be asked to limit oral
comments to five minutes. To be most helpful, scoping comments should
clearly describe specific issues or topics which the commentor believes
the EIS should address.
ADDRESSES. Written comments should be sent to the address listed below
and submitted no later than March 15, 1996 to become part of the
official record. Questions regarding the scoping process should also be
addressed to: Commanding Officer, Engineering Field Activity Northwest;
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 19917 Seventh Avenue NE, Poulsbo,
WA 98370-7579 (Attn: Mr. Peter Havens, Code 232PH), telephone (360)
396-0916, fax (360) 396-0854.
Dated: January 25, 1996.
M.D. Schetzsle,
Lt, JAGC, USNR, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-1670 Filed 1-29-96; 8:45 am]
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