[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 29 (Monday, February 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7481-7482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2817]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Public Hearings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Navy Air-To-Ground Training at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.

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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 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 
1500-1517), the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy) has prepared a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental consequences of utilizing Avon Park Air Force Range 
(APAFR), Florida, as a location for high-explosive (HE) and inert/
practice air-to-ground ordnance training for East Coast carrier-based 
strike/fighter aviation squadrons. Squadrons would use APAFR in 
combination with other available air-to-ground range assets to meet the 
operational requirements of its Fleet Readiness Training Program 
(FRTP). FRTP air-to-ground training will encompass operations 
associated with Navy integrated and sustainment level training 
exercises and combat certification. The Draft EIS focuses on air-to-
ground training alternatives within APAFR. These alternatives encompass 
varying mixtures of ordnance types among different impact areas within 
APAFR.

[[Page 7482]]

    This notice is to announce public hearings for the Draft EIS. An 
open information session will precede the scheduled public hearing and 
will allow individuals to review the data presented in the Draft EIS. 
Navy representatives will be available during the information session 
to clarify information related to the Draft EIS. The information 
session of the hearing is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., followed 
by a formal public hearing from 7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.

DATES: The meeting dates are as follows:
    1. March 1, 2005, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Frostproof, FL.
    2. March 2, 2005, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sebring, FL.
    3. March 3, 2005, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Avon Park, FL.

ADDRESSES: Public hearings locations are as follows:
    1. Frostproof--Frostproof High School (Cafeteria), 1000 N. Palm 
Street, Frostproof, FL 33843.
    2. Sebring--Sebring Civic Center (behind Public Library) 355 West 
Center Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870.
    3. Avon Park--City of Avon Park Community Center, 310 West Main 
Street, Avon Park, FL 33825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Will Sloger, Southern Div., Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command, P.O. Box 190010, North Charleston, SC 
29419-9010; telephone (843) 820-5797; facsimile (843) 820-7472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to add to APAFR's 
capabilities to allow it to conduct all components of ``air-to-ground 
ordnance delivery and training'' of integrated and sustainment levels 
of the FRTP at the range, a critical element of which is delivery of HE 
ordnance. Training would originate from afloat Navy Carrier Strike 
Groups operating in either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. 
FRTP training exercises are typically conducted three times a year, but 
depending on world conditions and military requirements, up to six 
exercises could occur annually. Although unlikely, there is a remote 
possibility that APAFR could be utilized as the sole range for the 
delivery of HE munitions for the FRTP over the course of a given year. 
This would be the exception rather than the rule. Each exercise would 
use the range for 20 days, resulting in Navy specific use of the range 
for as many as 60 days during a typical year, up to a maximum of 120 
days. The purpose of the proposed action is to improve and enhance the 
Atlantic Fleet's depth of range resources for FRTP, and, consequently, 
increase its flexibility to conduct training. The Atlantic Fleet needs 
to fulfill its statutory mission to have combat-capable air forces 
ready to deploy worldwide. The Navy is the lead agency for the proposed 
action with the U.S. Department of the Air Force (Air Force) serving as 
cooperating agency.
    In the Draft EIS, the Navy initially identifies nine candidate 
ranges for conducting all components of air-to-ground training 
exercises associated with the FRTP. Two of these ranges (Eglin Air 
Force Base and the Navy's Pinecastle Range, both in Florida) do not 
meet the purpose of the proposed action to enhance the depth of 
available resources. These ranges currently support all components of 
air-to-ground ordnance delivery, including use of explosive ordnance, 
and training. Six of the remaining seven (Rodman Bombing Range, 
Florida; Lake George Bombing Range, Florida; Townsend Bombing Range, 
Georgia; Dare County Bombing Range, North Carolina; Cherry Point Range 
Complex, North Carolina; and Camp Shelby Range Complex, Mississippi) 
candidates fail to fully meet the aircrew training enhancement 
objectives used to screen the ranges.
    Six air-to-ground training alternatives within APAFR are analyzed 
in detail in the Draft EIS. The alternatives involve using different 
combinations of target ranges at APAFR. The preferred alternative would 
use a range identified as the Alpha Plus range for air-to-ground 
training. This alternative minimizes impacts to endangered species and 
their habitat on APAFR, as well as other operations and activities on 
the range.
    The Draft EIS has been distributed to various Federal, state, and 
local agencies, as well as other interested individuals and 
organizations. In addition, copies of the Draft EIS have been 
distributed to the following libraries for public review:
    1. Avon Park Library, 100 North Museum Avenue, Avon Park, FL 33825.
    2. Maxcy Memorial Library, 15 North Magnolia, Frostproof, FL 33843.
    3. Sebring Public Library, 319 W Center Ave, Sebring, FL 33870.
    4. Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801.
    An electronic copy of the Draft EIS is also available for public 
viewing at http://www.avonpark.ene.com. A limited number of single 
copies of the Draft EIS, in paper copy or on compact disk, and 
Executive Summary are available upon request by contacting Mr. Will 
Sloger at (843) 820-5797.
    Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as interested parties 
are invited and urged to be present or represented at the hearings. 
Oral statements will be heard and transcribed by a stenographer; 
however, to ensure the accuracy of the record, all statements should be 
submitted in writing. All statements, both oral and written, will 
become part of the public record on the Draft EIS and will be responded 
to in the Final FEIS. Equal weight will be given to both oral and 
written statements.
    In the interest of available time, and to ensure all who wish to 
give an oral statement have the opportunity to do so, each speaker's 
comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. If a longer statement is 
to be presented, it should be summarized at the public hearing and the 
full text submitted in writing either at the hearing or mailed or faxed 
to: Commander, Southern Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Attn: Mr. Will Sloger (Code ES12), P.O. Box 190010, North Charleston, 
SC 29419-9010, telephone (843) 820-5797, facsimile (843) 820-7472.
    All written comments postmarked by March 14, 2005, will become a 
part of the official public record and will be responded to in the 
Final EIS.

    Dated: February 8, 2005.
I.C. Le Moyne Jr.,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Alternate 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-2817 Filed 2-11-05; 8:45 am]
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