[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46420-46421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23536]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Public Hearing for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for Developing Home Port Facilities for Three NIMITZ-Class 
Aircraft Carriers in Support of the United States Pacific Fleet

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Announcement of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy has prepared and filed with the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for Developing Home Port Facilities for Three Nimitz-
Class Aircraft Carriers in Support of the United States Pacific Fleet. 
Public hearings will be held for the purpose to receive oral and 
written comments on the DEIS. Federal, state and local agencies, and 
interested individuals are invited to be present or represented at the 
hearings.

DATES: See Supplementary Information section for hearing dates.

ADDRESSES: See Supplementary Information section for hearing addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Coon, telephone (888) 428-
6440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 has prepared and filed with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for Developing Home Port Facilities for Three Nimitz-Class 
Aircraft Carriers in Support of the United States Pacific Fleet.
    A Notice of Intent (NOI) for this EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on December 3, 1996. Public Scoping meetings were held in 
Bremerton, WA, on February 3, 1997; in Everett, WA, on February 4, 
1997; in Pearl City, HI, on February 6, 1997; and in Coronado, CA, on 
February 10, 1997.
    The U.S. Navy has analyzed the environmental effects resulting from 
construction and operation of facilities and infrastructure needed to 
support the home-porting of three aircraft carriers. Four possible 
alternative locations are being considered: Naval Air Station North 
Island (NASNI) Coronado near San Diego, CA; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 
(PSNS) Bremerton, WA; Naval Station (NAVSTA) Everett, WA; and Pearl 
Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNS) Pearl Harbor, HI.
    The Navy proposes to construct and operate facilities and 
infrastructure needed to support the home-porting of three Nimitz-Class 
aircraft carriers in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Two Nimitz-Class aircraft 
carriers will join the U.S. Pacific Fleet, replacing two conventionally 
powered aircraft carriers (CVs) currently home-ported at NASNI in the 
Naval Port San Diego, CA. The current location of a third Nimitz-Class 
aircraft carrier at NAVSTA Everett is being reevaluated in order to 
increase efficiency of support infrastructure, maintenance, and repair 
capabilities, and to enhance crew quality of life.
    From the four alternative sites locations (NASNI, PSNS, NAVSTA 
Everett and PHNS), six different alternative home-porting 
configurations, including the no-action alternative were developed and 
analyzed. The Navy currently prefers Alternative Two, which would home 
port two additional Nimitz-Class aircraft carriers at NASNI (for a 
total of three Nimitz-Class aircraft carriers), home port a total of 
two Nimitz-Class aircraft carriers in the Pacific Northwest (one at 
PSNS and one

[[Page 46421]]

at NAVSTA Everett), and would not have any aircraft carrier at PHNS. 
Alternative Two would result in significant but mitigable impacts on 
marine biological resources at NASNI and PSNS. All other environmental 
impacts associated with Alternative Two would be less than significant.
    Environmental resource areas addressed in the DEIS include geology, 
topography, and soils; dredging, hydrology, and water quality; 
pollution prevention; socioeconomic, environmental justice, schools, 
and housing; transportation/ circulation/parking; public facilities and 
recreation; safety and environmental health; aesthetics; and utilities. 
Issue analysis includes an evaluation of the direct, indirect, short-
term, and cumulative impacts; and irreversible and irretrievable 
commitment of resources associated with the proposed actions.
    No decision on the proposed action will be made until the National 
Environmental Policy Act process has been completed and the Secretary 
of the Navy, or a designated representative, releases the Record of 
Decision.
    The DEIS has been distributed to various federal, state, and local 
agencies, elected officials, and special interest groups and public 
libraries. The DEIS is also available for public review at the 
following libraries:

--Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA.
--San Diego Library (Science & Industry Section), 820 E Street, San 
Diego, CA.
--Hawaii State Library, 478 South King Street, Honolulu, HI.
--Aiea Public Library, 99-143 Moanalua Road, Aiea, HI.
--Pearl City Public Library, 1138 Waimano Home Road, Pearl City, HI.
--Ewa Beach Public and School Library, 91-950 North Road, Ewa Beach, 
HI.
--Everett Library, 2702 Hoyt, Everett, WA.
--Kitsap Regional Library, 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton, WA.
--Sno-Isl Library System, 7312 35th Avenue, Marysville, WA.

    The Navy will conduct five public hearings to receive oral and 
written comments concerning the DEIS. A brief presentation will precede 
a request for public information and comments. Navy representatives 
will be available at each hearing to receive information and comments 
from agencies and the public regarding issues of concern. Federal, 
state, and local agencies, and interested parties are invited and urged 
to be present or represented at the hearings. Those who intend to speak 
will be asked to submit a speaker card (available at the door). Oral 
comments will be heard and transcribed by a stenographer. To assure 
accuracy of the record, all statements should be submitted in writing. 
All statements, both oral and written, will become part of the public 
record in the study. Equal weight will be given to both oral and 
written comments. In the interest of available time, each speaker will 
be asked to limit oral comments to three minutes. Longer comments 
should be summarized at the public hearings and submitted in writing 
either at the hearing or mailed to Mr. John Coon (Code 05AL.JC), 
Southwest Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 1220 Pacific 
Highway, San Diego, CA 92132, telephone 888) 428-6440, fax (619) 532-
4998, or e-mail address at CVN HOME PORTING@ efdswest.navfac.navy.mil. 
Written comments are requested not later than Monday, October 12, 1998.

DATES AND ADDRESSES:

    1. September 21, 1998, 7:00 p.m., Public Utility District County 
Building, Training Auditorium, 2320 California Street, Everett, WA.
    2. September 22, 1998, 7:00 p.m., Star of the Sea Church, Cameran 
Hall, 500 Veneta Avenue, Bremerton, WA.
    3. September 24, 1998, 7:00 p.m., Leeward Community College 
Theater, 96-045 Ala Ike Street, Pearl City, HI.
    4. September 29, 1998, 7:00 p.m., Coronado High School Auditorium, 
650 D Avenue, Coronado, CA.
    5. September 30, 1998, 7:00 p.m., San Diego County Administration 
Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA.

    Dated: August 27, 1998.
Ralph W. Corey,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-23536 Filed 8-31-98; 8:45 am]
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