[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53025-53026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26405]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Rescheduling of Public Hearings and Extension of Comment Period 
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 rescheduling of public hearings and extension 
of comment period.

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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 previously announced in the Federal Register, Volume 
63, No. 169/Tuesday, September 1, 1998, pages 46420-46421, have been 
rescheduled. This notice announces the new dates and locations for the 
five public hearings and the extension of the public review period. 
Public hearings will be held in order 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 dates.

ADDRESSES: See Supplementary Information section for 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 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.

DATES: Public hearing dates are as follows:

1. October 19, 1998, at 7 p.m., Everett, WA
2. October 20, 1998, at 7 p.m., Silverdale, WA
3. October 22, 1998, at 7 p.m., Honolulu, HI
4. October 27, 1998, at 7 p.m., Coronado, CA
5. October 28, 1998, at 7 p.m., San Diego, CA

ADDRESSES: Hearing locations are as follows:

1. North Middle School, Cafeteria, 2514 Ranier, Everett, WA
2. Westcoast Silverdale Hotel, Marine Canal Room, 3073 NW Bucklin Hill 
Road, Silverdale, WA
3. Makalapa Elementary School, Dining Room, 4435 Salt Lake Boulevard, 
Honolulu, HI
4. Village Elementary School, Village Hall, 600 Block of H Avenue, 
Coronado, CA
5. San Diego County Administration Center, South Entrance, Room 310, 
1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA

    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

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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 HOMEPORTING@efdswest. navfac.navy.mil. 
The public review period has been extended thirty-one days. Comments 
should be postmarked on or before November 12, 1998.

    Dated: September 29, 1998.
Ralph W. Corey,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-26405 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
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