[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 73 (Monday, April 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 16468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9215]



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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 Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division 
(NAWC AD), Indianapolis, Indiana

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 the 
Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Disposal of Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division 
(NAWC AD), Indianapolis, Indiana. NAWC AD Indianapolis is a Navy 
facility that provides electronic systems to the fleet, and is located 
in the east central portion of Marion County, approximately fifteen 
minutes from Indianapolis. The property comprises 163 acres of land and 
includes 62 buildings containing more than 973,000 square feet of 
usable floor space.
    In accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 
1990, as implemented by the base closure process of 1995, the Navy 
intends to close NAWC AD Indianapolis and either (1) privatize NAWC AD, 
so that the mission remains the same but the ownership of the equipment 
and facilities is transferred to the private sector, including, 
possibly, the local government; or (2) relocate necessary functions 
along with associated personnel, equipment, and support to other Navy 
technical activities, then dispose of the base for other uses.
    The objective of the EIS is to describe the existing conditions of 
NAWC AD Indianapolis, the disposal alternatives, and to evaluate the 
environmental impacts associated with the various reuse alternatives. 
The significant environmental effects that may result from the disposal 
and reuse of NAWC AD Indianapolis will be identified and fully 
discussed. The EIS will also effect compliance with the National 
Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultation process. Major 
environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS include air 
quality, water quality, and impacts to wetlands, endangered species, 
cultural resources, and socioeconomics.
    The Navy will hold a public scoping meeting for the purpose of 
further identifying the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. It 
will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 1996 at 7:00 p.m. at the John 
Marshall Middle School Auditorium, 10101 East 38th Street, 
Indianapolis, Indiana. Navy representatives will make a brief 
presentation, then members of the public will be asked to provide their 
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 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 30, 1996, and should be mailed to Commanding Officer, 
Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, P.O. Box 
190010, North Charleston, South Carolina 29419-9010 (Attn: Mr. Ronnie 
Lattimore, Code 064), telephone (803) 820-5888. The scoping meeting 
will be conducted in English, and requests for language interpreters or 
other special communications needs should be made to Mr. Lattimore at 
least one week prior to the meeting. The Navy will make every 
reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.

    Dated: April 10, 1996.
M.A. Waters,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-9215 Filed 4-12-96; 8:45 am]
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