[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 161 (Monday, August 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42873-42874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21059]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy


Rescission of the Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement for Solid Waste Disposal at Naval Station Roosevelt 
Roads, Puerto Rico

SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy rescinds the Notice of Intent (NOI) 
to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Solid Waste Disposal 
Alternatives at U.S. Naval Station (NAVSTA) Roosevelt Roads, Puerto 
Rico which appeared in the Federal Register on 17 November 1992. The 
existing sanitary landfill at NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads accepts 
nonhazardous solid waste generated at the station as well as solid 
waste from in-port ships. In 1992, due to changes to RCRA Subtitle D 
regulations concerning siting and operation of sanitary landfills, the 
Navy sought to dispose of solid waste at a site that would be in 
compliance with regulations. Alternatives to have been addressed in the 
EIS included no action, use of an existing municipal landfill, use of a 
privately operated landfill, and establishment of a new landfill on 
NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads.
    In November 1994, NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads obtained a permit from the 
Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (EQB) to continue operations at 
the existing sanitary landfill, in accordance with the Sanitary 
Landfill Operating Plan, for a 10-year period. NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads 
now desires to construct a 10-acre vertical lift within the existing 
sanitary landfill in compliance with EQB regulations. After ten years, 
the facility to be developed would also function as a locale for 
transfer of the station's nonhazardous solid waste to a regional 
disposal facility. Currently, there is no private or municipal landfill 
within the region in compliance with RCRA Subtitle D and EQB 
regulations (i.e., controlled facility). During recent discussions with 
representatives of NSRR Roosevelt Roads, officials from the Puerto Rico 
Solid Waste Management Authority indicated that they are in the process 
of developing a management plan for construction and operation, within 
ten years, of a controlled regional disposal facility at Fajardo 
regardless of the Navy's actions. This controlled facility would have 
the capacity to dispose of 400 tons of solid waste per day. NSRR 
Roosevelt Roads would dispose of an average of 30 tons per day there, 
over a 30-year planning period, which would constitute approximately 
7.5 percent of the projected daily disposal at the regional landfill. 
It is anticipated that the disposal of NSRR Roosevelt Roads'

[[Page 42874]]

solid waste would not significantly impact on the planned operations of 
the regional landfill. Accordingly, the Navy will prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the current proposal.

    Dated: August 14, 1996.
M.A. Waters,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-21059 Filed 8-16-96; 8:45 am]
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