[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48442-48444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22927]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[USCG-1998-4765]


Coast Guard ``Optimize Training Infrastructure'' Initiative: 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Proposed Finding of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of meetings, and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment (PEA) and a proposed Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) for the ``Optimize Training Infrastructure'' (OTI) 
Initiative. The OTI Initiative examined the ability of the Coast 
Guard's training infrastructure (training methods, personnel, and 
facilities) to support changing technological and operational 
conditions in an efficient, cost-effective manner. This notice also 
announces

[[Page 48443]]

public meetings and requests comments on the PEA and proposed FONSI.

DATES: The dates of the public meetings are--
    1. September 13, 1999, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cape May, NJ; and
    2. September 15, 1999, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Petaluma, CA.
    The meetings may close early if all business is finished. A public 
open house will be held before each meeting from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
    Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before October 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The locations of the public meetings are-
    1. Cape May--Grand Hotel, Ocean Front and Philadelphia Streets, 
Cape May, NJ; and
    2. Petaluma--Kenilworth Junior High School, 998 East Washington 
St., Petaluma, CA.
    Electronic copies of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment 
(PEA) and proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are 
available through the OTI web site at http://www.ttsfo.com/USCG. The 
documents may be viewed in text-readable form or downloaded.
    Bound copies may be viewed at the following locations:
    1. Cape May Public Library, 110 Ocean Street, Cape May, NJ.
    2. Newport News Public Library, 2400 Washington Avenue, Newport 
News, VA.
    3. Pasquotank--Camden Library, 205 East Main Street, Elizabeth 
City, NC.
    4. Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA.
    Electronic copies may also be viewed in the Department of 
Transportation's Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov 
(located at docket USCG-1998-4765). The PEA, proposed FONSI, comments 
submitted during public scoping, and other relevant materials are 
available for viewing at this site in a ``scanned image'' format, 
rather than as text. All comments received during this phase, and other 
relevant materials, will be placed in the docket. They will be 
available for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington DC 20590-0001, on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    You may mail, FAX, email, or hand-deliver your comments to Ms. 
Susan Boyle, U.S. Coast Guard, c/o Tetra Tech, 180 Howard Street, Suite 
250, San Francisco, CA 94105, Phone 510-437-3973, FAX 415-974-5914, or 
email CoastG[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, the NEPA 
process, and NEPA documents, contact Ms. Susan Boyle, Commander(se), 
USCG MLC Pacific, Coast Guard Island #54D, Alameda, CA 94501-5100, 510-
437-3973. For questions on the OTI Initiative, contact LCDR Keith 
Curran, Reserve and Training Directorate (G-WT), Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593, phone 202-
267-2429 or email CoastG[email protected]. For questions on viewing 
material in the OTI web site, contact Mr. John Bock, Tetra Tech, 415-
974-1221. For questions on viewing material in the Department of 
Transportation's Docket Management System, contact Ms. Dorothy Walker, 
Chief, Dockets, Department of Transportation, 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The OTI Initiative

    Under the ``Optimize Training Infrastructure'' (OTI) Initiative, 
the Coast Guard examined the ability of its training infrastructure to 
support changing technological and operational conditions in a cost-
effective and efficient manner. All aspects of the training 
infrastructure were evaluated, including hard infrastructure (e.g., 
buildings, utilities, and classroom types) and soft infrastructure 
(e.g., training staff, class size, curricula, training delivery 
methods, mid-level management, and financial resources). This process 
emphasized optimizing training, while maintaining the flexibility to 
meet future needs.

Preferred Alternative

    The Coast Guard announced its preferred alternative in the Federal 
Register on July 16, 1999 (64 FR 38498). The preferred alternative is 
to retain all four training centers (Training Center Cape May, NJ; 
Training Center Petaluma, CA; Reserve Training Center Yorktown, VA; and 
Aviation & Technical Training Center Elizabeth, NC) and, where cost 
effective, fill any excess training capacity with non-training and 
training-related functions. No major new construction projects are 
associated with this alternative.

Programmatic Environmental Assessment

    The Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) describes and 
compares the potential environmental and socioeconomic effects of each 
of the alternatives under consideration. We have determined that no 
significant environmental or socioeconomic impacts would result from 
the implementation of the preferred alternative (Alternative 3) and 
that the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not 
necessary. As a result, a proposed Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI) has been prepared.
    The PEA evaluates the full range of resources affected by each 
alternative. The resources include land, infrastructure, transportation 
assets, hazardous materials and wastes, biological resources, cultural 
resources, air, noise, water, geology, soils, and socioeconomic 
conditions relevant to the programmatic level of analysis and decision-
making. Specific socioeconomic conditions include population, 
demographics, employment, income, housing, schools, and public 
services.

Public Participation

    On November 19, 1998, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
entitled ``Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment 
for the Coast Guard `Optimize Training Infrastructure' Initiative'' (63 
FR 64309). The purpose for the notice was to announce our intent to 
prepare a PEA and to begin the process of gathering the public's 
comments to assist us in developing the PEA. It included a description 
of the recommended alternatives and announced three public meetings to 
assist in gathering public comments. With the publication of the 
notice, a period of public outreach and comment (scoping period) began 
and ran until January 6, 1999. However, comments received after that 
date were also reviewed and, as appropriate, incorporated in the NEPA 
process.
    In addition to the notice of intent, the public was notified of the 
scoping process through notices mailed directly to numerous public 
officials, agencies, and organizations. Scoping notices also were 
published in the Cape May Star and Wave (Cape May, New Jersey), the 
Atlantic City Press (Atlantic City, New Jersey), the Daily Press 
(Yorktown, Virginia), the Argus Courier (Petaluma, California), and the 
Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California).
    During the public scoping period, the Coast Guard received letters 
and statements from 481 individuals and form letters from 337 
individuals. In addition, 121 people made verbal comments at the public 
meetings. In total, 897 people participated in the scoping process by 
providing written or verbal comments. Additionally, local governments 
submitted resolutions addressing the proposed action and issued 
petitions, generally voicing opposition to one of the proposed closure 
alternatives. The issues and concerns expressed in the public

[[Page 48444]]

comments during the scoping phase of the planning process are 
summarized in the scoping report, Appendix A of the PEA. Transcripts 
from the scoping meetings and all written material received during the 
scoping period can be viewed at the web site for Department of 
Transportation's Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov 
(located at docket USCG-1998-4765).
    The present notice of availability begins the second phase of 
public involvement by seeking comments on the PEA. Following the 
comment period on the PEA and an analysis of comments received, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard will weigh appropriate information and 
make a final decision. That decision will be published in the Federal 
Register.

Public Meetings

    Two public meetings will be held on the PEA and proposed FONSI. 
(See DATES and ADDRESSES.) Please note that the meetings may close 
early if all business is finished. For information on facilities or 
services for individuals with disabilities or to request special 
assistance at the meetings, contact Ms. Boyle (See FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) as soon as possible.
    A public meeting has not been scheduled for Yorktown, VA, since 
there was little public interest in OTI at RTC Yorktown during the 
scoping phase of the NEPA process. However, if public interest in this 
next phase increases, a meeting may be scheduled there.

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate by submitting written comments on 
the PEA and FONSI or by presenting verbal comments at a public meeting. 
If you submit written comments, please include your name and address 
and identify the docket number for this notice (USCG-1998-4765). Please 
submit written comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger 
than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing to 
Ms. Boyle at the address under ADDRESSES. If you would like to know we 
received your comments, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed 
postcard or envelope.

    Dated: August 26, 1999.
J. B. Willis,
Captain, U. S. Coast Guard, Acting Director of Reserve and Training.
[FR Doc. 99-22927 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
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