[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13158-13159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7249]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Disposal and Reuse of Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, 
Calverton, Long Island, NY

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 as implemented in the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of Navy 
announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the Disposal and Reuse of Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant 
(NWIRP), Calverton, Long Island, New York.

[[Page 13159]]

    The Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 authorizes the 
Secretary of the Navy to convey the property directly to the Community 
Development Agency of the Town of Riverhead, New York. The conveyance 
is subject to the condition that the town use the property for economic 
redevelopment to replace all or part of the economic activity being 
lost at the facility. Any part of the facility not conveyed to the Town 
would be disposed of by the General Services Administration (GSA) in 
accordance with the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 
1944.
    The Grumman Aerospace Corporation operated a Government Owned/
Contractor operated (GOCO) facility on approximately 2,900 acres of the 
6,050-acre site until February 1996 when operations ceased. The 
objective of the EIS is to evaluate the environmental impacts 
associated with the various reuse alternatives. Environmental issues 
that will be addressed in the EIS include air quality, water quality, 
wetland impacts, endangered species impacts, cultural resource impacts, 
and socioeconomic impacts.
    The proposed action to be analyzed in the EIS involves the disposal 
of land, buildings, and infrastructure for subsequent reuse by the Town 
of Riverhead. The 6,050-acre site has two aircraft landing runways 
(7,000 ft and 10,000 ft in length) and buildings with more than 1 
million sq. ft of space.
    The reuse of NWIRP Calverton has recently been studied by the Town 
of Riverhead's Joint Planning and Redevelopment Commission and its 
consultants. The redevelopment/reuse plan, developed by the town's 
consultants and to be approved by the Riverhead Town Board, will be the 
basis for the EIS. The proposed reuse, known as the Calverton Business 
Park, comprises the following uses: theme attraction park(s), hotel/
conference center, service retail, golf course, industrial center (2.5 
million sq. ft), community park(s), open space, natural areas, aviation 
use/aircraft maintenance, event grounds, and a commercial/recreation 
area including a stadium. Two additional alternatives will also be 
evaluated in the EIS. One reuse alternative will include the 
construction of a permanent automobile race course incorporating use of 
one existing runway. Industrial, recreational, and other land uses 
would be included in this alternative. A third alternative reuse plan 
will include only residential development on the site limited to 
residents of 50 years or older. The No Action alternative will also be 
addressed in the EIS. It is defined as closing NWIRP, cessation of all 
GOCO activities, and retention of the land as U.S. Government property. 
The EIS to be prepared by the Navy will address the following known 
areas of concern: effects of developed at the facility on the natural 
and socioeconomic environment, effects of future growth on 
infrastructure and transportation systems, and the effects of reuse on 
the facility's historic properties. The EIS will also serve as 
technical support for the National Historic Preservation Act Section 
106 consultation process.
    The Navy will hold a scoping meeting to receive comment on 
significant issues that should be addressed in the EIS. The meeting 
will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 1996, beginning at 7:00 P.M. at 
the Ramada Inn located at 1830 Route 25 (at exit 72 of the Long Island 
Expressway) in Riverhead, NY 11901. Navy representatives will make a 
brief presentation, then members of the public will be provided an 
opportunity for comments. It is important that federal, state, and 
local agencies and interested individuals take this opportunity to 
identify environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. In 
the interest of time, speakers will be asked to limit their comments to 
five minutes.

ADDRESSES: Agencies and the public are encouraged to provide written 
comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the scoping 
meeting. To be most helpful, comments should clearly describe specific 
issues or topics which the EIS should address. Written comments must be 
postmarked by May 1, 1996, and should be mailed to: Commanding Officer, 
Northern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Commend, 10 Industrial 
Highway, Lester, Pennsylvania 19113 (Attn: Mr. Robert Ostermueller, 
Code 202), telephone (610) 595-0759.

    Dated: March 21, 1996.
M.D. Schetzsle,
LT, JAGC, USNR, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-7249 Filed 3-25-96; 8:45 am]
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