[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19262-19263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10744]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Realignment of E-2 Aircraft Squadrons From Naval Air Station, 
Miramar

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy

[[Page 19263]]

Act of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) 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 realigning the Airborne Early 
Warning Wing (AEWWING), consisting of four E-2 aircraft squadrons and 
associated personnel, presently located at Naval Air Station (NAS) 
Miramar to another naval air station with compatible mission and 
function.
    The realignment is in accordance with the legislative requirements 
of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act (DBCRA) of 1990 (Public 
Law 101-510), as implemented by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 
processes of 1993 and 1995. BRAC-1993 directed the closure of Marine 
Corps Air Stations (MCAS) EL Toro and Tustin and realigned aviation 
units, functions and personnel at MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin to NAS 
Miramar and MCAS Camp Pendleton. The Navy and Marine Corps agreed to 
transfer ownership of NAS Miramar from Navy to Marine Corps in 
September 1997. Accordingly, the four AEWWING squadrons must be 
relocated from their present location at NAS Miramar.
    The proposed action entails relocating four E-2 squadrons (16 
aircraft), as well as related support personnel, equipment, and 
functions from NAS Miramar to another naval air station. The Navy has 
identified NAS North Island, NAS Lemoore, Naval Air Warfare Center 
(NAWC) Point Mugu and Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro as potential 
receiving sites for the relocated squadrons. To accommodate the AEWWING 
relocation, military construction projects (new construction, 
expansion, modification or demolition) would be necessary at any 
receiving site under consideration. The amount of construction required 
is dependent upon availability and compatibility of existing space at 
each alternative base. In all cases, new or modified hangar space, 
aircraft parking aprons, maintenance facilities and E-2 specific 
training facilities would be required. Construction or modification of 
community support facilities would be based on the adequacy and 
capacity of existing resources at each base.
    The Navy intends to analyze the environmental effects of the 
realignment and potential construction at the four alternative base 
locations. Major environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS 
include, but are not limited to: geology/soils/seismicity; biology; 
water resources/hydrology/drainage/flood control; noise; air quality/
conformity; land use; cultural resources; socioeconomics; 
transportation/circulation; public health and safety/hazardous 
materials; aesthetics; public services/utilities; and environmental 
justice.
    The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of 
determining the extent of issues to be addressed and identifying the 
significant issues related to the AEWWING realignment. The public and 
interested parties are invited to participate in the scoping process, 
to review the draft EIS, and to attend a public meeting on the draft 
EIS. Public scoping meetings will be conducted at all four alternative 
base locations on the following dates starting at 7:00 p.m.:
     Tuesday, May 21, 1996 at the Oxnard Center for Performing 
Arts, Thousand Oaks/Hueneme Room, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, California.
     Thursday, May 23, 1996 at the Board of Supervisors 
Chambers, County Administration Center (Second Floor), 940 West Main 
Street, EL Centro, California.
     Tuesday, May 28, 1996 at Coronado High School Auditorium, 
650 D Avenue, Coronado, California.
     Wednesday, May 29, 1996 at Lemoore Union High School 
Cafeteria, Back Room, 101 East Bush Street, Lemoore, California.
    A brief presentation on the proposed action will precede the 
request for public comment. Navy representatives will be available at 
these meetings to receive comments from the public regarding issues of 
concern. It is important that federal, state, local agencies and 
interested individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental 
concerns that should be addressed during the preparation of the draft 
EIS.
    Agencies and the public are invited and encouraged to provide 
written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the 
public scoping meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments should 
clearly describe specific issues or topics which the commenter believes 
the draft EIS should address. In the interest of time, speakers will be 
asked to limit comments to five minutes.

ADDRESSES: Written statements or questions regarding the scoping 
process should be postmarked no later than June 6, 1996, to Commanding 
Officer, Southwest Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 1220 
Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92132-5190 (Attention: Ms. Kelly Knight, 
Code 232.KK). Ms. Knight may be reached by phone at (619) 532-1158 or 
by fax at (619) 532-3824.

    Dated: April 26, 1996.
M. A. Waters,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-10744 Filed 4-30-96; 8:45 am]
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