[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 41596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20336]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Hearing for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for Capital Improvements at Naval Surface Warfare Center 
(NSWC) Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) Bayview, ID

SUMMARY: 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 has prepared and filed with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for proposed capital improvements at NSWC Carderock Division, 
ARD Bayview, Idaho. The DEIS has been distributed to various federal, 
state and local agencies, elected officials, special interest groups, 
and the public. A Notice of Availability of the DEIS was published in 
the Federal Register on August 9, 1996. It also is on file and 
available for review at the following locations: (1) Bayview Community 
Center, 16304 Perimeter Road, Bayview, ID; (2) Kootenai County Public 
Library, 3835 N. Government Way, Hayden Lake, ID; 30399 Third Street, 
Athol, Id; 1652 Highway 41, Rathdrum, ID; 217 N. Fifth Street, Spirit 
Lake, ID; (3) East Bonner County Library, 419 N. Second Avenue, 
Sandpoint, ID; and (4) Coeur d'Alene Public Library, 201 E. Harrison 
Avenue, Coeur d'Alene, ID..

    The Navy proposes to implement a capital improvement plan at NSWC, 
ARD Bayview, Idaho. 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 these 
dispersed facilities and functions, bringing together related functions 
for an increased operations efficiency. This DEIS addresses two 
alternative plans, each composed of capital improvement projects 
designed to increase operational efficiency at ARD. The DEIS focuses on 
the environmental impacts anticipated from the construction and 
operation of two major capital improvement projects. The DEIS also 
addresses ARD operations supported by these facilities, including 
acoustic experimentation in Lake Pend Oreille. Anticipated 
environmental impacts of these projects and other, associated capital 
improvements are presented in a comparative analysis. The proposed 
action may result in temporary, construction-related impacts such as 
increased turbidity near construction sites, construction noise and 
construction traffic. Long term impacts would include increased 
stormwater runoff, redistribution of sediment deposition in Lake Pend 
Oreille nearshore areas not affecting Kokanee salmon spawning habitat, 
minor visual obstruction of the lake from some viewpoints, and changes 
in land use through acquisition of a private-family residence and 
Bayview Public Park. Specific mitigation measures are provided which 
will either avoid, or reduce impacts. The two alternative improvement 
plans differ in level of water quality impacts and view impacts. The No 
Action Alternative would result in continuing operations at ARD and 
using the existing facilities without change.

ADDRESSES: The Navy will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, 
September 5, 1996, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Bayview Community Center, 
16304 Perimeter Road, Bayview, Idaho, to inform the public of the DEIS 
findings and to solicit comments. Federal, state and local agencies, 
and interested parties are invited to be present or represented at the 
hearing. Oral comments will be heard and transcribed by a stenographer. 
To assure accuracy of the record, all comments should be submitted in 
writing. All comments, both oral and written, will become part of the 
public record in the study. In the interest of available time, each 
speaker will be asked to limit oral comments to five minutes. Longer 
comments should be summarized at the public hearing and submitted in 
writing either at the hearing or mailed to the address listed below. 
Written comments must be received by Monday, September 23, 1996, to 
become part of the official record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Peter W. Havens (Code 232PH), Engineering Field Activity Northwest, 
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 19917 Seventh Avenue NE, Poulsbo, 
Washington 98370-7570, email address: [email protected], 
telephone (360) 396-0916.

    Dated: August 6, 1996.
M.A. Waters,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-20336 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
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