[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38315-38316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16296]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for Military Family Housing in the San Diego Region

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, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the 
Department of the Navy (Navy) has prepared and filed with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the DEIS for Military Family 
Housing (MFH) in the San Diego Region. The public meetings will be held 
to provide information, as well as 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 meeting. The public 
meetings will be open forums in that there will be no formal 
presentations; however, you may speak directly with representatives 
from the Navy and Marine Corps. There will be information booths on 
planning and environmental issues associated with the proposed action. 
A certified court reporter will also be available to take comments at 
the public meetings.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Two public meetings will be held to provide 
additional information, answer questions, and receive oral and written 
comments. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2003, 
from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Deportola Middle School, 11010 Clairemont Mesa 
Blvd,

[[Page 38316]]

San Diego, CA. The second meeting will be held on Thursday, July 24, 
2003, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Scripps Ranch Community Library, 10301 
Scripps Ranch Lake Dr, San Diego, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sheila Donovan, Regional Planning 
Team, Southwest Division at (619) 532-1253, E-Mail at 
[email protected], or write to Commander, Southwest 
Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Attn: Ms. Sheila 
Donovan, Code 05GPE.SD, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92132-5190.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the DEIS 
was published in the FR, Vol. 64, FR 50795-50796, September 16, 1999. 
Two public scoping meetings were held on October 6, 1999, at Serra High 
School in Tierrasanta and October 13, 1999, at Scripps Ranch High 
School in Scripps Ranch. The meetings were advertised in the Union-
Tribune on September 17, 18, and 19, 1999.
    The proposed action is the construction of up to 1,600 MFH units 
and supporting infrastructure. The DEIS analyzes three MFH alternatives 
and the No Action Alternative. The MFH sites (Sites 2, 3, and 8) are 
located on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in the City of San 
Diego within an area known as East Miramar.
    Site 2 is approximately 283 acres and would include development of 
up to 1,000 units. Site 2 is located off Pomerado Road in the northeast 
portion of East Miramar near the community of Scripps Ranch.
    Site 3 is approximately 233 acres and would include development of 
up to 1,246 units. Site 3 is located in the north central portion of 
East Miramar near the community of Scripps Ranch and would be accessed 
by an extension of Miramar Way.
    Site 8 is approximately 299 acres and would include development of 
up to 1,600 units. Site 8 is located in the southeastern portion of 
East Miramar near the community of Tierrasanta. This site would be 
accessed by a 2.5-mile extension of Santo Road at State Route (SR) 52. 
An alternate access for Site 8 is also examined in the DEIS that 
involves the construction of a new interchange on SR 52 and the 
construction of an approximately 400-foot long roadway. All sites would 
also include acreage for an elementary school site (Site 8 includes 
acreage for two elementary school sites) and other recreational 
facilities. The No Action alternative would result in the proposed new 
housing not being built. The DEIS identifies Site 8 as the Preferred 
Alternative.
    The shortage of affordable housing in the San Diego region has been 
and continues to be a high priority for the Department of the Navy 
because it is important in maintaining high morale and retention rates. 
The shortage of MFH and the tight rental market in San Diego is felt 
most acutely by junior and mid-level enlisted military personnel. The 
Housing Market Analysis for the San Diego area estimates the current 
MFH deficit to be 2,356 units with a projected shortfall of 2,870 units 
in 2007.
    The DEIS evaluates the potential environmental effects associated 
with each of the alternatives and options in the following areas: land 
use; socioeconomics; environmental justice; utilities; public services; 
visual resources; cultural resources; biological resources; soils and 
geology; water resources; hazardous wastes, substances and materials; 
traffic/circulation; air quality; noise; and public safety. The 
analysis also includes the evaluation of direct, indirect, short-term 
and cumulative impacts. No decision to implement any alternative, 
including the No Action Alternative, will be made until the NEPA 
process is complete.
    The DEIS has been distributed to various Federal, state, and local 
agencies, elected officials, and special interest groups. The DEIS is 
available for public review at the following libraries:

[sbull] Tierrasanta Branch Library, 4985 La Cuenta Dr, San Diego, CA.
[sbull] Scripps Ranch Branch Library, 10301 Scripps Ranch Lake Drive, 
San Diego, CA.
[sbull] San Diego Central Library, 820 East St, San Diego, CA.
[sbull] Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem Dr, San Diego, CA.
[sbull] Santee Library, 9225 Carlton Hills Blvd, Suite 17, Santee, CA.

    All comments, both oral and written, will become part of the 
official record. Comments should clearly describe specific issues or 
topics with the DEIS. Written comments can be submitted at the public 
meetings or mailed to: Commander, Southwest Division, Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command, Attn: Ms. Sheila Donovan, Code 05GPE.SD 1220 
Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92132-5190. Comments must be postmarked 
by August 12, 2003, to be considered in this environmental review 
process.

    Dated: June 20, 2003.
E.F. McDonnell,
Major, U.S. Marine Corps, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-16296 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P