[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9998-9999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4871]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Purchasing Land and Establishing a Naval Special Warfare Riverine and 
Jungle Training Range in the Easement Buffer of the National 
Aeronautical and Space Administration's John C. Stennis Space Center, 
Hancock County, MS, and to Announce Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section (102)(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and the regulations implemented by the 
Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the 
Department of Navy (Navy) announces its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental consequences of purchasing 5,200 acres of privately owned 
property located within the northwestern acoustic buffer zone at the 
National Aeronautical and Space Administration's John C. Stennis Space 
Center (Stennis Space Center) in Hancock County, Mississippi, and using 
the acquired acreage as a Naval Special Warfare Riverine and Jungle 
Training Range. Live-fire training on the range would use small arms 
Short Range Training Ammunition (SRTA) that has a plastic, non-lead, 
non-explosive projectile, and a limited flight profile.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Public scoping meetings will be held in Hancock 
County, MS and St. Tammany Parish, LA to receive oral and written 
comments on environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. 
Public scoping open houses will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2003, 
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hancock High School, 7084 Stennis Airport Dr., 
Kiln, MS and Thursday, March 20, 2003, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Slidell 
City Auditorium, 2056 2nd St., Slidell, LA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Davis, Southern Division, 
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, PO Box 190010, North Charleston, 
SC 29419-9010, telephone (843) 820-5589, facsimile (843) 820-7472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action will provide Special 
Operations Forces with reliable and priority access to a training range 
characterized by a permanent riverine and jungle environment and where 
live-fire exercises using SRTA can be conducted adjacent to the Stennis 
Space Center. Establishment of this range would meet the need of 
Special Operations Forces to train under realistic combat scenarios, 
thereby increasing their readiness to support national defense 
objectives and reducing combat casualties. It would also provide a 
range where Special Operations Forces could deploy the maritime 
unmanned aerial vehicle and conduct exercises using helicopters, boats, 
and vehicles.
    Alternatives to be considered in the EIS address the type and tempo 
of training to be conducted on the range. The basic range alternative 
includes small arms training with SRTA along the reaches of the Pearl 
and Mikes River. Enhanced training alternatives will also be analyzed, 
which will also provide for the additional use of maritime unmanned 
aerial vehicles and helicopter insertions and extractions at variable 
tempos (tentatively either 36 or 60 events annually). A discussion of 
preliminary range locations will be included and the alternative of no 
action will also be addressed. In addition, the EIS may also consider 
other alternatives should they be defined during the public scoping 
process and meet established training criteria.
    The EIS will evaluate the environmental effects associated with 
identified alternatives. Issues to be addressed will include, but not 
be limited to: Geology; biotic communities, including threatened and 
endangered species; water resources; noise; air quality; non-military 
land uses and access; cultural resources; transportation and waterway 
navigation; and water and land contaminants. The analysis will include 
an evaluation of the direct, indirect, short-term, and cumulative 
impacts. No decision will be made to implement any alternative until 
the NEPA process is completed.
    The Navy is initiating the scoping process to identify community 
concerns and local issues that should be addressed in the EIS. Federal, 
state, and local agencies, and interested persons are encouraged to 
provide oral and/or written comments to the Navy to identify specific 
issues or topics of

[[Page 9999]]

environmental concern that should be addressed in the EIS. Written 
comments must be postmarked by April 21, 2003, and should be mailed to: 
Special Warfare Training Range EIS, c/o Commanding Officer, Southern 
Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, P.O. Box 190010, North 
Charleston, South Carolina 29419-9010, Attn: Code ES12/RD (Richard A. 
Davis), telephone (843) 820-5589, facsimile (843) 820-7472, e-mail: 
[email protected].

    Dated: February 25, 2003.
R.E. Vincent II,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-4871 Filed 2-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P