[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51837-51838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26211]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Hearings for a Draft Clean Air Act Conformity 
Determination and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Realignment 
of F/A-18 Aircraft and Operational Functions From Naval Air Station 
Cecil Field, Florida to Other East Coast Installations

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and the 
Clean Air Act, General Conformity Rule (40 CFR Part 93), the Department 
of the Navy has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and 
Draft Clean Air Act Conformity Determination to evaluate the 
realignment of F/A-18 aircraft and operational functions from Naval Air 
Station (NAS) Cecil Field, Florida to other Navy and Marine Corps air 
stations on the east coast of the United States. In accordance with 
these laws and regulations, this notice announces the dates and 
locations of public hearings.
    The realignment of F/A-18 aircraft and associated functions from 
NAS Cecil Field is mandated by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
Act (Pub. L. 101-510, title XXIX) in accordance with the 
Congressionally approved recommendation of the 1995 Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Commission. The DEIS considers five 
alternatives for realignment of 11 F/A-18 fleet squadrons (132 
aircraft) and the fleet replacement squadron (FRS) (48 aircraft).
    East coast installations that meet operational criteria and are 
considered as possible receiving sites for F/A-18 aircraft includes NAS 
Oceana, Virginia; Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South 
Carolina; and MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. The preferred 
alternative is to single-site the F/A-18 aircraft at NAS Oceana, which 
has the largest capacity to accommodate the aircraft. Other 
alternatives that separate the F/A-18 aircraft between two of the bases 
are considered. The level of new construction required at each base to 
accommodate the aircraft is related to the number of aircraft to be 
transferred under each alternative. Each alternative is assessed in the 
DEIS with regard to its effects on the natural and built environments.
    The DEIS has been distributed to various Federal, state, and local 
agencies, as well as other interested individuals and organizations. In 
addition, copies of the DEIS have been distributed to the following 
libraries for public review: Virginia Beach Central Library, 4100 
Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Great Neck Library, 
1251 Bayne Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Chesapeake Central Library, 
298 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia; Craven County Library, 300 Miller 
Boulevard, Havelock, North Carolina; Beaufort County Library, 311 Scott 
Street, Beaufort, South Carolina; Dare County Library, 700 North U.S. 
64/264, Manteo, North Carolina; Pamlico County Library, 603 Main 
Street, Bayboro, North Carolina; Ida Hilton Library, 1105 North Way, 
Darien, Georgia. A limited number of single copies of the DEIS and 
Draft CAA Conformity Determination are available upon request by 
contacting Mr. Dan Cecchini at (757) 322-4891.


[[Page 51838]]


ADDRESSES: Public hearings will be held during the month of October for 
those individuals who would like to provide oral comments on the DEIS 
or the Draft CAA Conformity Determination. An open information session 
will precede the scheduled public hearing at each of the locations 
listed below and will allow individuals to review the data presented in 
the DEIS. Navy representatives will be available during the information 
session to answer questions and/or clarify information related to the 
DEIS. The open information session is scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 
p.m., followed by the public hearing from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 
Public hearings have been scheduled at the following times and 
locations: Monday, October 20, 1997, Technical College of the Low 
Country, Building 12, Main Auditorium, 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, South 
Carolina; Tuesday, October 21, 1997, Havelock Middle School, 102 High 
School Drive, Havelock, North Carolina; Wednesday, October 22, 1997, 
Pamlico County Courthouse, 202 Main Street, Bayboro, North Carolina; 
Thursday, October 23, 1997, North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, 
Airport Road, Manteo, North Carolina; Monday, October 27, 1997, 
Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center Auditorium, 1000 19th Street, 
Virginia Beach, Virginia; Tuesday, October 28, 1997, Butts Road 
Intermediate School, 1571 Mt. Pleasant Road, Chesapeake, Virginia.
    Federal, state and local agencies and interested parties are 
invited and urged to be present or represented at the hearing. Oral 
statements will be heard and transcribed by a stenographer; however, to 
ensure the accuracy of the record, all statements should be submitted 
in writing. All statements, both oral and written, will become part of 
the public record on the DEIS and Draft CAA Conformity Determination 
and will be responded to in the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS). Equal weight will be given to both oral and written statements.
    In the interest of available time and to ensure all who wish to 
give an oral statement have the opportunity to do so, each speaker will 
be asked to limit comments to three (3) minutes. If a longer statement 
is to be presented, it should be summarized at the public hearing and 
submitted in writing either at the hearing or mailed or faxed to Mr. 
Dan Cecchini at: Commander, Atlantic Division, Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command, Attn: Mr. J. Dan Cecchini (Code 2032DC), 1510 
Gilbert Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23511; Fax: (757) 322-4894. All 
written comments postmarked by November 18, 1997, will become a part of 
the official public record and will be responded to in the FEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning this 
notice may be obtained by contacting Mr. Cecchini or one of the 
following individuals: Mr. Fred Pierson, Community Planning Liaison 
Officer, NAS Oceana, (757) 433-3158; LtCol Blackiston, Community 
Planning Liaison Officer, MCAS Cherry Point, (919) 466-4196; LtCol 
Keverline, Community Planning Liaison Officer, MCAS Beaufort, (803) 
522-7390, or Capt Mason, Public Affairs Officer, MCAS Beaufort, (803) 
522-7201.

    Dated: September 29, 1997.
Darse E. Crandall,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-26211 Filed 10-2-97; 8:45 am]
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