[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