[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53599-53600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23181]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Northwest Range Complex Extension, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, 
Division Keyport, Keyport, WA

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) announces its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact

[[Page 53600]]

Statement (EIS/OEIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the extension of the Northwest Range Complex, in 
Washington state, to provide additional space and volume outside the 
existing operational areas, to support the existing and evolving range 
operations of Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Keyport, Keyport, 
WA (NUWCDIVKPT). Existing and evolving range operations include 
requirements for testing, training, and evaluation of manned and 
unmanned vehicles in multiple marine environments to evaluate system 
capabilities such as guidance, control, and sensor accuracy.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in Kitsap County, WA, Mason 
County, WA, Jefferson County, WA, and Grays Harbor County, WA, to 
receive oral and/or written comments on environmental concerns that 
should be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. The public meeting dates are:
    1. November 17, 2003, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Kitsap County, WA.
    2. November 18, 2003, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Mason County, WA.
    3. November 19, 2003, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jefferson County, WA.
    4. November 20, 2003, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Grays Harbor County, WA.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting locations are:
    1. Kitsap County--Naval Undersea Museum, 610 Dowell Street, 
Keyport, WA.
    2. Mason County--Belfair Elementary School, Gymnasium, 22900 NE 
Highway 3, Belfair, WA.
    3. Jefferson County--Quilcene Public Schools, Multi-Purpose Room, 
294715 Highway 101, Quilcene, WA.
    4. Grays Harbor County--Hoquiam High School, Cafeteria, 501 West 
Emerson, Hoquiam, WA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Shaari Unger (Code 521), Naval 
Undersea Warfare Center Div, Keyport, 610 Dowell St, Keyport, WA 98345; 
(360) 315-7730, fax (360) 396-2259, E-Mail: RangeExtensionE 
@efanw.navfac. navy.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Navy needs to extend the Northwest Range 
Complex operating area to provide multiple in-water environments that 
meet the evolving operational requirements for manned and unmanned 
vehicle testing in Washington State. The Northwest Range Complex is 
comprised of three marine ranging areas in the Pacific Northwest 
(Washington state): (1) The Dabob Bay Military Operating Area (MOA), 
two Hood Canal MOAs and the connecting waters known as the Dabob Bay 
Range Complex (DBRC); (2) the Keyport MOA; and (3) the Quinault 
Underwater Tracking Range (QUTR) MOA which is located within the Navy 
MOA W237A. The range extension is required in order to provide adequate 
testing area and volume in multiple marine environments to fulfill the 
NUWCDIVKPT mission of providing test and evaluation services in both 
surrogate and simulated war-fighting environments for emergent manned 
and unmanned vehicle program operations.
    Alternatives to be considered in the EIS/OEIS address the need to 
provide adequate testing area and volume as well as the type, tempo, 
and location of the testing and training to be conducted on the range. 
The alternatives proposed will meet the requirements for evolving range 
operations including manned and unmanned vehicle program needs. 
Additionally the alternatives will provide multiple marine environments 
including varied salinity types, variable depths, and surf zone access.
    The Navy has developed three action alternatives that meet evolving 
range operations including manned and unmanned vehicle requirements. 
These alternatives meet operational criteria to provide adequate test 
and training area and volume in multiple marine environments in varying 
proximity to existing NUWCDIVKPT facilities. Alternative (1) is to 
conduct existing and new activities within the DBRC with extensions in 
Hood Canal north and south; including shallow water activity, extension 
of the Keyport Range operating area, and extension of QUTR operating 
area to W-237A. Alternative (2) is to conducting existing and new 
activities within the DBRC without extension, extension of the Keyport 
Range operating area, and extension of QUTR operating area to W-237A or 
(3) conducting existing and new activities within the DBRC with 
additional shallow water activity, extension of the Keyport Range 
operating area, and extension of QUTR operating area to W-237A. The No 
Action alternative is to continue activities carried out at existing 
operating areas for the DBRC, Keyport range, and QUTR.
    The EIS/OEIS will evaluate the potential environmental impacts 
associated with identified alternatives. Issues to be addressed will 
include, but not be limited to, the following resource areas: marine/
benthic communities, fisheries including an analysis of essential fish 
habitat, water quality, wildlife including threatened and endangered 
species and marine mammals, vegetation/plants, soils, land/shoreline 
use, recreation, socioeconomics, transportation, public utilities, 
cultural resources, usual and accustomed fishing, air quality, and 
noise. 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 will be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. 
Federal, state, local agencies, and interested persons are encouraged 
to provide oral and/or written comments to the Navy to identify 
specific issues or topics of environmental concern that should be 
addressed in the EIS/OEIS. The Navy will consider these comments in 
determining the scope of the EIS/OEIS.
    Written comments on the scope of the EIS/OEIS should be submitted 
in accordance with future Federal Register notices for public scoping 
meetings and should be mailed to: Commander, Engineering Field 
Activity, Northwest, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 19917 7th 
Ave NE., Poulsbo, WA 98370, Attn: Code 05EC3.KK (Mrs. Kimberly Kler) E-
Mail: RangeExtensionE @efanw.navfac. navy.mil.

    Dated: September 8, 2003.
E.F. McDonnel,
Major, U.S. Marine Corps, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-23181 Filed 9-10-03; 8:45 am]
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