[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 43689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21728]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Availability of the Revised Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for Military Training in the Marianas, Territory of
Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
AGENCY: U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), DOD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The USCINCPAC announces that a Revised DEIS has been prepared
and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This
Revised DEIS concerns ongoing and proposed military training in the
Marianas, Territory of Guam, and CNMI. The Revised DEIS supersedes the
original DEIS filed in February 1997. Limited copies of the Revised
DEIS are available upon request and public comments are solicited.
DATES: Submit comments on or before September 28, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Requests for single copies of the Revised DEIS and submittal
of written comments for inclusion into the official record should be
forwarded to Mr. Fred Minato (Code 231FM), Pacific Division, Naval
Facilities Engineering Command, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 96860-7300 or via
electronic mail (see Supplementary Information for electronic filing
address).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Fred Minato (808) 471-9338.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by the
Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508),
the USCINCPAC has prepared and filed with the U.S. EPA the above
referenced Revised DEIS.
The Revised DEIS is based on both oral and written comments
received on the original DEIS. The Notice of Announcement of Public
Hearing and Availability of the original DEIS of January 1997 was
published in the Federal Register on February 11, 1997 (62 FR 6228) and
local newspapers on February 14 through 16, 1997, and Public Meetings
were conducted during the period March 3 through 6, 1997, on Guam,
Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.
The Revised DEIS has been distributed to various federal,
territorial, and commonwealth agencies, elected officials, individuals
and organizations in the community, public libraries, and the media,
including all parties who participated/commented on the original DEIS.
A limited number of single copies are available at the address listed.
The Revised DEIS evaluates alternative uses of DOD controlled lands
on Guam, Tinian, Rota, and Farallon de Medinilla (FDM) for training by
Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Army Reserve
forces stationed on Guam or transiting the region. Most of the training
land uses described in the Revised DEIS are continuing activities; a
small number of areas are also proposed for new training use. The
alternatives are (1) No New Action, consisting of all ongoing land use
for military training; (2) No Land Use, which is stopping use of one or
more areas for training which has previously occurred; (3) the
Preferred Alternative, which includes ongoing training land use and
most, but not all, newly proposed training land uses; and (4) Not-
Preferred Action Alternatives, which includes newly proposed training
land uses which are not necessary to meet the purpose and need and
which have significant impacts that cannot be mitigated.
The training areas on Guam proposed for continuing and new military
training activities are Navy and Air Force sites (Andersen Air Force
Base, Waterfront Annex, Ordnance Annex, Naval Computer and
Telecommunications Area Master Station Finegayan and Barrigada),
private lands along the Ylig and Talofofo Rivers, and a non-military
paradrop zone in Dandan. Areas on Rota proposed for new and continuing
training consist of the airport and a small area within West Harbor.
Areas currently used for training on Tinian are within the Military
Lease Area, with limited activities in San Jose Harbor. The entire
island of FDM is used as a live fire range.
Continuing and proposed training use of these areas include field
maneuvers and logistics support, aviation, amphibious landings, live
weapons fire at existing and proposed ranges, underwater demolitions,
naval gunfire, and aerial bombardment. The proposed action also
includes construction or installation of facilities at several
locations: a small arms range and mortar range on Tinian, breaching or
shooting houses on Tinian, a logistics support base camp and security
gates on Tinian, a sniper range and breaching house in the Ordnance
Annex, extension of several small arms ranges in the Waterfront Annex,
and crew-served weapons ranges on FDM.
To be incorporated in the official record, all written statements
must be postmarked on or before September 28, 1998, and mailed to Mr.
Fred Minato at the address listed or transmitted by facsimile
transmission to (808) 474-5909. Electronic Filing Address: You may
submit comments and data by electronic mail to:
[email protected].
Dated: August 10, 1998.
Michael I. Quinn,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-21728 Filed 8-13-98; 8:45 am]
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