[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16563-16564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8720]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed West Coast Introduction of the F/A-18 E/F Aircraft

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 announces its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the environmental impacts of the 
West Coast introduction of F/A-18 E/F aircraft, associated functional 
and administrative components, and associated military personnel. Naval 
Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) Pt. Mugu, 
and Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, California are proposed as 
potential basing locations.
    This process involves retiring older aircraft from active use and 
incorporating the new F/A-18 E/F into service. The new aircraft will 
continue to support operations of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
    Major environmental issues addressed in the EIS will include, but 
are not limited to, air space, operational training capability, 
socioeconomic and environmental justice impacts, air quality, noise, 
endangered species, cultural resources, traffic, local infrastructure 
impacts, and cumulative impacts.

ADDRESSES: The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of 
determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the 
significant issues related to this action. The Navy will hold public 
scoping meetings on Monday, April 28, 1997 at 7 p.m. at the Lemoore 
High School Cafeteria, 101 East Bush Street, Lemoore, California; on 
Tuesday, April 29, 1997 at 7 p.m. at the Imperial County Board of 
Supervisors Office, 940 West Main Street, El Centro, California; and on 
Wednesday, April 30, 1997 at 7 p.m. in the Bougainvillea Room, Orchid 
Professional Building, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo, 
California. A brief presentation will precede a request for public 
comments. Navy representatives will be available at this meeting to 
receive comments from the public regarding information on issues of 
concern. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies and 
interested individuals take this opportunity to provide information or 
identify environmental concerns that should be addressed during the 
preparation of the EIS. In the interest of available time, each speaker 
will be asked to limit oral comments to five minutes.
    Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide 
written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the 
public meeting. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly 
describe specific issues or topics which the commenter believes the EIS 
should address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Written statements and/or questions regarding the scoping process 
should be mailed to: Commanding Officer, Engineering Field Activity 
West, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 900 Commodore Drive, San 
Bruno, CA 94066-5006 (Attention: Mr. Surinder Sikand, Code 18511), 
telephone (415) 244-3020, fax (415) 244-3737. All

[[Page 16564]]

comments must be received no later than May 23, 1997.

    Dated: April 1, 1997.
D.E. Koenig,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-8720 Filed 4-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-M