[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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