[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47918-47919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18008]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Restoration of Airfield Clear Zones and Storm Water Drainage 
Systems at Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, FL

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 Navy (Navy) announces its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental consequences of bringing the Boca Chica Field into 
compliance with Navy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety 
Regulations. Overgrowth of mangroves and other vegetation has 
negatively affected visibility and poses a strike hazard to aircraft 
landing and taking off at Boca Chica Field, thereby, adversely 
impacting airfield operations. Additionally, inadequate surface water 
drainage on the airfield has been identified as a significant safety 
hazard. NAS Key West's primary mission is to provide pilot training 
facilities and services as well as access to superior airspace and 
training ranges for tactical aviation squadrons. As such, NAS Key West 
serves as the Navy's premier East Coast pilot training facility for 
tactical aviation squadrons.
    The EIS will evaluate the environmental effects associated with 
vegetation removal on airspace, safety, earth resources, land use, 
socioeconomic resources, infrastructure, cultural resources and 
biological resources; including endangered and sensitive species, 
specifically the Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit (LKMR) and mangroves. Methods 
to reduce or minimize impacts to these species and essential fish 
habitat provided by mangroves in the clear zones will also be 
addressed. The analysis will include an evaluation of the direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts. No decision will be made to implement 
any action alternative until the NEPA process is completed.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held in Key West, FL, to 
receive oral and/or written comments on environmental concerns that 
should be addressed in the EIS. The public meeting will be held on 
Tuesday, August 24, 2004, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at Doubletree Grand Key 
Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Southern Division (NAVFAC EFD SOUTH), P.O. Box 190010, North 
Charleston, SC 29419-9010; Attn: Ms. Olivia Westbrook, telephone (843) 
820-5841; facsimile (843) 820-7465; e-mail: [email protected]. 
The point of contact at NAS Key is Richard Ruzich. He may be reached by 
telephone at (305) 293-2785; facsimile (305) 293-2542; or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Historically, the Boca Chica Field did not 
have dense vegetation surrounding the area, as is the desired condition 
for any airfield or airport. However, due to a lack of maintenance and 
rapid growth rate, excess vegetation has encroached upon the clear 
zones and now creates serious unsafe conditions on the airfield. In 
order to bring the airfield back into compliance with Navy and FAA 
safety regulations, some trees and shrubs within these safety clearance 
zones will have to be removed. Some portions of this removal process 
may have potential impacts to federally listed species and their 
habitat and the filling of wetlands. The primary species of concern is 
the endangered LKMR. Additional concerns involve wetlands within the 
project area that include freshwater marsh, saltmarsh, freshwater 
hardwoods, and mangroves (the predominant species). The Navy has 
conducted extensive research and surveyed Boca Chica Field in order to 
identify the non-compliant areas and develop a restoration/construction 
methodology. During this process the best possible technique(s) for 
restoring and enhancing the airfield clearance safety areas while 
minimizing the impacts of the restoration methods to the LKMR and 
wetlands were delineated.
    The EIS will consider three alternatives: (1) Complete compliance 
with aviation regulations. Under this alternative, maintenance would be 
completed to allow the airfield to operate under the conditions 
originally established for the Boca Chica Field. Maintenance activities 
would include clearing, grading, and grubbing vegetation within 
airfield safety clearance zones. All trees within the Primary Surface 
Area, Type I, Type II, portions of Type III, and Transitional areas 
would be removed, and the area completely cleared of stumps (grubbing) 
and re-graded. Typical mechanized equipment would be used since the 
entire area would be disturbed due to grubbing and re-grading 
activities and there would be no benefit to the use of specialized low-
impact equipment. Restoration of the existing drainage system would be 
implemented by removal of the mangroves in the canals and on the banks 
and dredging to original invert elevations. (2) The second alternative 
would include a combination of vegetation management, filling of 
wetlands, and salt marsh conversion. Restoration of the existing 
drainage system would be implemented by removal of the mangroves in the 
canals and dredging to original invert elevations. The proposed action 
would improve airfield conditions to correct deficiencies temporarily 
waivered by the Navy, and return conditions to an airfield that 
complies with FAA and Navy standards with an acceptable level

[[Page 47919]]

of safety. (3) The No Action Alternative in accordance with Section 
1502.14(d) of the NEPA regulations means that an action would not take 
place and the resulting environmental effects from taking no action 
would be compared with the effects of allowing the proposed action to 
move forward. Implementation of the No Action alternative would only 
allow the performance of minimal airfield maintenance that is eligible 
for Categorical Exclusion under NEPA requirements. Under this 
alternative, Boca Chica Field would remain in non-compliance with 
airfield safety criteria and NAS Key West operations would continue to 
be negatively impacted by existing conditions.
    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, as well as 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. The Navy will consider these comments in determining the scope 
of the EIS.
    Written comments must be postmarked by September 21, 2004, and 
should be mailed to: Restoration of Airfield Clear Zones and Storm 
Water Drainage Systems at NAS Key West, FL EIS, c/o Commander, NAVFAC 
EFD SOUTH, P.O. Box 190010, North Charleston, SC 29419-9010, Attn: Code 
ES12/OW (Olivia Westbrook), telephone (843) 820-5841, facsimile (843) 
820-7465, or by E-Mail [email protected].

    Dated: August 3, 2004.
S.K. Melancon,
Paralegal Specialist, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Alternate 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-18008 Filed 8-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P