[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 49 (Friday, March 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 11846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5632]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Shock Test of a VIRGINIA (SSN 774) Class Submarine

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 Statement 
(EIS/OEIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated 
with conducting a shock test on a VIRGINIA (SSN 774) Class submarine, 
at a site located off the East Coast of the United States. Pursuant to 
40 CFR 1501.6, the Navy has requested that the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) act as a Cooperating Agency.
    A ``shock test'' is necessary to evaluate the effect of shock 
waves, resulting from a series of underwater explosions simulating 
conditions encountered in combat. The congressionally mandated (10 
U.S.C. 2366) Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) Program requires 
realistic survivability testing on each new Class of Navy submarines. A 
``shock test'' is a component of the Navy's LFT&E program to ensure 
survivability. The test results provide important information that is 
applied to follow-on submarines, and is used to validate/improve the 
initial submarine design and enhance the effectiveness and overall 
survivability of the submarine and crew.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in Norfolk, VA and 
Jacksonville/Atlantic Beach, FL, to receive oral and/or written 
comments on environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS/
OEIS. The public meeting dates are:
    1. Tuesday, April 20, 2004, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Norfolk, VA.
    2. Wednesday, April 21, 2004, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in 
Jacksonville/Atlantic Beach, FL.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting locations are:
    1. Norfolk, VA: Lafayette Branch Public Library, 1610 Cromwell 
Drive, Norfolk, VA 23509.
    2. Jacksonville/Atlantic Beach, FL: Mayport Elementary School Media 
Center, 2753 Shangri-La Drive, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233-2999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Sea Systems Command, Attn: 09A12 
(Mr. David Cartwright, SEA07TE), 614 Sicard Street SE., Washington Navy 
Yard, DC 20376-7031; telephone (703) 412-7521.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action (shock test) would 
subject a VIRGINIA (SSN 774) Class submarine to no more than five 
explosive charges, approximately 10,000 pounds each, while monitoring 
the effects on the submarine. The EIS/OEIS will thoroughly address 
reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, the existing 
environments of the proposed test areas, and the impact to the 
environment at those areas. An initial evaluation identified areas at 
the 400-foot depth curve and within 100 nm of Kings Bay, GA/Mayport, 
FL; and Norfolk, VA, as potential shock test locations, because they 
effectively meet the operational criteria necessary to conduct a shock 
test on a submarine. The proposed shock test is scheduled to occur 
between May 1, 2006, and September 30, 2006, with a maximum of one test 
event per week.
    The EIS/OEIS will evaluate the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the test locations. Issues to be addressed will 
include, but are not limited to, the following resource areas: 
wildlife, including threatened and endangered species and marine 
mammals, fisheries, including an analysis of water quality, air 
quality, commercial fishing, commercial shipping, recreation, and 
socioeconomics. The EIS/OEIS will include an evaluation of the direct, 
indirect, short-term, and cumulative impacts. No decision will be made 
to conduct a shock test 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/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 for consideration 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 
by May 21, 2004, and should be mailed to: VIRGINIA (SSN 774) Class 
Program, C/O Booz Allen Hamilton, 1725 Jefferson Davis HWY, Suite 1100, 
Arlington, VA 22202, Attn: VIRGINIA (SSN 774) Class EIS.

    Dated: March 8, 2004.
S.A. Hughes,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-5632 Filed 3-11-04; 8:45 am]
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