[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40061-40062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19615]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Future Operations 
on the Point Mugu Sea Range, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, 
Point Mugu, California

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Purusant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environment 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as implemented by the regulations of the 
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 40 CFR 1500-1508, and Executive 
Order 12114 (Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions), 
the Department of the Navy (Navy) announces its intent to prepare a 
combined Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Overseas 
Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) to evaluate the potential effects 
of proposed future Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWPNS) 
Point Mugu operations on the Point Mugu Sea Range.
    The geographic scope of the EIS/OEIS includes the 36,000 square 
miles of Point Mugu Sea Range, an area in the Southern California Bight 
that covers the ocean area and controlled Special Use Airspace which 
parallels the California coastline from San Luis Obispo to Santa 
Catalina Island for 200 miles and extends seaward for more than 180 
miles. The Point Mugu Sea Range has been operated by Navy for the past 
50 years, and is used by the U.S. military and allied military services 
to test and evaluate sea, land, and air weapon systems and to provide 
realistic training opportunities for these forces.
    In recent years, U.S. military strategy has evolved due to changing 
worldwide political relations, increased defense costs, and decreased 
budgets which have required Navy to reduce its infrastructure but 
retain and further develop capabilities to respond to multiple, varied 
threats. Consequently, the role of NAWCWPNS as a test and training 
center has become even more critical to the successful assessment, safe 
operation and improvement of current and future weapons systems.
    Navy has identified three key objectives: (1) The need to increase 
testing by evaluating new technologies and threat scenarios; (2) the 
need to provide a realistic training environment to ensure that 
military units operate at their highest state of readiness; and (3) the 
need to enhance existing testing capabilities to better accommodate 
evolving technologies. In order to meet these objectives, Navy proposes 
to increase testing opportunities, increase training opportunities, and 
enhance the capabilities of the Point Mugu Sea Range to respond to 
changes in technology and military strategy. The proposed action 
consists of the following three elements: (1) Increased Testing 
Element--This element includes theater-wide and area-wide missile 
defense testing, a new type of activity at NAWCWPNS Point Mugu. It also 
includes multiple alternative air-launched target presentations, 
airborne laser testing, and cruise missile defense with near-shore 
intercepts at San Nicolas Island. (2) Increased Training Element--This 
element includes an increase in the current level of Fleet training 
exercises from two to three per year and an increase in small-scale 
amphibious landings at San Nicolas Island. It also includes integration 
of testing with Fleet training. (3) Facility Modernization Element--
This element includes specific modernizations to San Nicolas Island 
such as installation of a new missile launcher, construction of a pier 
or other landing area and a vertical launch missile facility, 
modernization of instrumentation, and installation of new 
instrumentation sites. The NAWCWPNS Point Mugu modernizations include 
refurbishment of beach launch pads and relocation of some existing 
instrumentation to San Nicolas Island.
    In addition to the proposed action, alternatives consisting of 
combinations of the above elements will be considered in the EIS/OEIS. 
For example, an alternative may be to maintain current levels of 
testing, increase training, and implement specific modernizations to 
San Nicolas Island. The No-Action alternative would maintain testing 
and training activities at current levels, with no modernization.
    Environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS/OEIS include 
but are not limited to air quality, noise, vegetation, wildlife, marine 
mammals, cultural resources, land use, water quality, public health and 
safety, and socioeconomics including environmental justice.
    Navy will initiate a public scoping process to identify relevant 
environmental issues to be analyzed in this EIS/OEIS. The public 
scoping meetings will be held at the following times and locations: (1) 
August 21, 1997 at 5:30pm, Orvene Carpenter Center, 550 Park Ave., Port 
Hueneme, CA; (2) August 22, 1997 at 5:30pm, The Orchid Building, Orchid 
Room, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo, CA; (3) August 25, 1997 at 
5:30pm, Holiday Inn, 450 East Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA; (4) August 26, 
1997 at 5:30pm, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Fleischmann 
Auditorium, 2559 Puesto del Sol Road, Santa Barbara, CA; and (5) August 
27, 1997 at 5:30pm, Grant Elementary School, 2368 Pearl St., Santa 
Monica, CA.
    The schedule for the public scoping meetings will also be available 
by calling toll free (888) 217-9045 or by logging onto the Point Mugu 
Sea Range EIS/OEIS Home Page at the following

[[Page 40062]]

Internet address: http:www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/
pmeis.
    Navy will set up several information stations at these scoping 
meetings; each information station will be staffed by a Navy 
representative who will be available to answer questions from meeting 
attendees. In addition, Navy representatives will give a brief 
presentation about current NAWCWPNS activities on the Point Mugu Sea 
Range followed by a description of the proposed action and alternatives 
(including the No-Action alternative). Members of the public may offer 
verbal or written comments at the scoping meetings, or subsequent to 
the meetings by mail, by facsimile, or by toll-free telephone at (888) 
217-9045. Verbal comments will be limited to three minutes per 
individual. All comments, whether verbal or written, will receive the 
same attention and consideration during EIS/OEIS preparation.
    Navy's official repository is located at the Oxnard Public Library, 
Reference Desk, 251 South ``A'' Street, Oxnard, CA 93030, (805) 385-
7507.

ADDRESSESS: Navy will accept comments at the address listed below. To 
ensure that Navy has sufficient time to consider public input during 
preparation of the Draft EIS/OEIS, scoping comments should be submitted 
to the following address by September 13, 1997: Ms. Cora Fields, Point 
Mugu Sea Range EIS, c/o Code 832000E, 521 Ninth Street, Point Mugu, CA 
93042-5001, telephone (805) 989-0128, FAX (805) 989-0143; or, Ms. Gina 
Smith, telephone (805) 989-0141, FAX (805) 989-0143. Individuals or 
groups with special needs, such as accessibility, foreign language 
translation, assistance for the blind or hearing impaired, should 
contact Ms. Fields or Ms. Smith at least one week before the scoping 
meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning this 
notice may be obtained by contacting Ms. Fields or Ms. Smith.

    Dated: July 21, 1997.
M.D. Sutton,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-19615 Filed 7-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-M