[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 66265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31893]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Improved Ordnance Storage at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona

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 Marine 
Corps announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to evaluate the environmental effects of improving ordnance 
storage at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma. MCAS Yuma is located 
in the southwestern corner of Arizona near both the California border 
and the international border with Mexico. Current ordnance storage at 
MCAS Yuma is limited by the size and location of the station's existing 
ordnance storage magazines. The proposed action is to purchase 1,641 
acres of land adjacent to the southern boundary of MCAS Yuma and 
construct new ordnance storage facilities. Alternatives being 
considered include: constructing new ordnance storage facilities in the 
vicinity of existing ordnance storage facilities; constructing new 
ordnance storage facilities on the nearby Barry M. Goldwater U.S. Air 
Force Range (BMGR) and transporting ordnance over public roads to MCAS 
Yuma as required; constructing a complete outlying landing field with 
ordnance storage magazines at Auxiliary Airfield 2 in the BMGR; and 
continuing to use the existing ordnance storage area with no expansion 
(No Action). Additional alternatives may be identified during the 
scoping period and included in the EIS.
    Environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS include: 
socioeconomics, geology and soils, biological resources, water 
resources, noise, air quality, land use, cultural resources, 
transportation/circulation, public health and safety, and utilities.

ADDRESSES: The Marine Corps will initiate a scoping process for the 
purpose of determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for 
identifying significant issues relative to this action. The Marine 
Corps will hold public scoping meetings at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 
January 14, 1996, and at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 1996. Both 
meetings will be held at the Best Western Chilton Inn and Conference 
Center, located at 300 East 32nd Street in Yuma, Arizona. A formal 
presentation will precede public testimony. Marine Corps 
representatives will be available at the scoping meetings to receive 
comments from the public. It is important that federal, state, and 
local agencies, as well as interested individuals, take this 
opportunity to identify environmental concerns that should be addressed 
during preparation of the EIS. In the interest of available time, each 
speaker will be asked to limit their oral comments to five minutes.
    Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide 
written comments in addition, or in lieu of, oral comments at the 
public meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly 
describe specific issues or topics that the EIS should address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Written statements and/or questions regarding 
the scoping process should be mailed no later than January 31, 1996, 
to: Ms. Christine Bates, Environmental Planner; Box 99110; MCAS Yuma; 
Yuma, AZ 85369-9110. Questions or requests for information regarding 
the proposed action may also be directed to Ms. Bates at that address.

    Dated: December 11, 1996.
Donald E. Koenig, Jr.,
LCDR, JAGC, U.S. NAVY, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-31893 Filed 12-16-96; 8:45 am]
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