[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 160 (Thursday, August 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 51453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19045]



[[Page 51453]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC) Mission 
Activities and Announcement of 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, 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 (EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental consequences associated with new and increased Naval 
Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC) mission activities in three 
military operating areas in the northern Gulf of Mexico and in St. 
Andrews Bay. Existing and evolving activities include research, 
development, testing and evaluation, and in-service engineering for 
mine warfare, special warfare, amphibious warfare, diving, and other 
naval missions that take place primarily in the coastal region. These 
activities generally include air, surface, and subsurface operations 
that require the use of sonar, lasers, live ordnance, and 
electromagnetic fields.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in Panama City, FL; Port 
St. Joe, FL; and Pensacola, FL, to receive oral and written comments on 
environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. The public 
meeting dates are as follows:

1. Tuesday, September 14, 2004, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Panama City, FL.
2. Wednesday, September 15, 2004, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Port St. Joe, 
FL.
3. Thursday, September 16, 2004, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Pensacola, FL.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting locations are as follows:

1. Panama City, FL--Florida State University, Panama City Campus, 4750 
Collegiate Drive, Panama City, FL 32405.
2. Port St. Joe, FL--Port St. Joe High School, 100 Shark Drive, Port 
St. Joe, FL 32456.
3. Pensacola, FL--Pensacola Junior College, Warrington Campus, 5555 
West Highway 98, Pensacola, FL 32507.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama 
City, Attn: Mrs. Carmen Ferrer, 110 Vernon Avenue, Panama City, FL 
32407; telephone (850) 234-4146; E-Mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NSWCPC currently utilizes the adjacent 
coastal and marine environments to provide naval research, development, 
test and evaluation (RDT&E) and in-service support for acquisition of 
various systems. The northern Gulf of Mexico military operating areas 
currently utilized encompasses portions of the Eglin Gulf Test and 
Training Range (EGTTR). The adjacent littoral and coastal environments 
are also currently used to test and evaluate systems. These sites 
include St. Andrews Bay, East Bay, West Bay and beaches along the Gulf 
of Mexico up to the mean high water line. The environmental 
consequences associated with such support have historically been 
addressed on a test-by-test or program-by-program basis. This method 
frequently creates time constraints and schedule limitations, including 
delays.
    The proposed action is to improve NSWCPC's capabilities to conduct 
new and increased mission operations for DOD and other users within 
three military operating areas in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and in 
the St. Andrews Bay area.
    The proposed action would enable the Navy to successfully meet 
current and future national and global defense challenges by developing 
a robust capability to meet littoral and expeditionary warfare 
requirements and by providing RDT&E, and in-service engineering for 
mine warfare, special warfare, amphibious warfare, diving, and other 
naval missions that take place primarily in the coastal region. This 
allows the Navy to meet its statutory mission to deploy world wide 
naval forces equipped and trained to meet existing and emergent 
threats, and to enhance its ability to operate jointly with other 
components of the armed forces.
    Alternatives to be considered in the EIS include two action 
alternatives that address variations in the level and tempo of mission 
operations plus a no action alternative. Additionally, the EIS may also 
consider other alternatives defined during the public scoping process, 
if the options meet established operational criteria.
    Alternative 1 involves an increase in NSWCPC capabilities over 
baseline mission activities, using foreseeable (e.g. over a five year 
period) test and training requirements to project needed capabilities. 
Alternative 1 would enhance NSWCPC's ability to meet future needs by 
incorporating new test capabilities and increases in tempo and 
intensity of RDT&E activities.
    Alternative 2 also involves an increase in NSWCPC capabilities over 
baseline mission activities. Alternative 2 also uses foreseeable test 
and training requirements to project needed capabilities. The principal 
difference between Alternatives 1 and 2 is that Alternative 2 proposes 
an increase in testing and training tempo 15% greater than that 
proposed in Alternative 1.
    The no action alternative addresses historic and current mission 
activities (e.g. baseline mission activities or the status quo) at the 
NSWCPC operating areas.
    The EIS will evaluate the potential environmental effects 
associated with the identified alternatives. The EIS will focus on the 
following areas: air quality; water resources; coastal zone management; 
noise; wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, marine 
mammals, and migratory birds; fisheries including an analysis of 
essential fish habitat, coastal/marine/benthic communities, and special 
biological resource areas; socioeconomic resources; and cultural 
resources. The analysis will include an evaluation of the direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts. Environmental effects that occur 
outside of U.S. territorial waters will be evaluated under Executive 
Order 12114. 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 NSWCPC to identify specific 
issues or topics of environmental concern. The Navy will consider these 
comments in determining the scope of the EIS.
    Written comments on the scope of the EIS must be postmarked by 
October 16, 2004, and should be mailed to: Commanding Officer, Naval 
Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Attn: Environmental Team Lead, Mrs. 
Carmen Ferrer, 110 Vernon Avenue, Panama City, FL 32407-7001; telephone 
(850) 234-4146; E-Mail: [email protected].

    Dated: August 16, 2004.
S.K. Melancon,
Paralegal Specialist, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Alternate 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-19045 Filed 8-18-04; 8:45 am]
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