[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36566-36567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12486]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplement to the 2003 
Environmental Impact Statement for Introduction of the F/A-18 E/F 
(Super Hornet) Aircraft to the East Coast of the United States

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, and the regulations implemented by the 
Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the 
Department of the Navy (Navy) intends to prepare a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Introduction of the F/A-
18 E/F Super Hornet Aircraft to the East Coast of the United States. 
The SEIS will provide additional analysis of the environmental 
consequences associated with the construction and operation of an 
Outlying Landing Field (OLF) to support Field Carrier Landing Practice 
(FCLP) operations of Super Hornet squadrons stationed at Naval Air 
Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia, and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) 
Cherry Point, North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To be included on the Navy's 
distribution list for the SEIS, requests should be made online through 
the project Web site http://www.efaircraft.ene.com under ``distribution 
list'' or directed in writing to: Mr. Dan Cecchini, Code EV42, Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, 6506 Hampton BLVD, 
Norfolk, VA 23508, fax: (757) 322-4984.

[[Page 36567]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 2003, the Navy completed the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Introduction of F/A-18 E/F 
(Super Hornet) Aircraft to the East Coast of the United States. In the 
Final EIS, the Navy evaluated the environmental consequences of 
homebasing 10 Super Hornet fleet squadrons (120 aircraft) and one Fleet 
Replacement Squadron (FRS) (24 aircraft) at various locations on the 
East Coast of the United States. Additionally, in the Final EIS, the 
Navy evaluated the environmental consequences associated with 
constructing and operating a new OLF to support FCLP operations of the 
Super Hornet squadrons.
    The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and 
Environment reviewed the Final EIS, and after carefully weighing the 
operational, social, economic, and environmental consequences of the 
proposed action, determined the Navy would homebase eight Super Hornet 
squadrons (and the FRS) at NAS Oceana, two squadrons at MCAS Cherry 
Point, and construct an OLF in Washington County, North Carolina. The 
Record of Decision was published in the Federal Register on September 
10, 2003, (68 FR 53353). The decision to construct and operate an OLF 
in Washington County implemented the preferred OLF alternative Site C, 
identified in the Final EIS.
    The National Audubon Society, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, 
Defenders of Wildlife, and Washington and Beaufort Counties filed a 
lawsuit challenging the Navy's decision on the basis that the Navy's 
NEPA analysis was inadequate. On February 18, 2005, the U.S. District 
Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina held that the Final 
EIS was deficient and enjoined the Navy from taking any further 
activity associated with the planning, development, or construction of 
the OLF at Site C until the Navy fully complied with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding construction and operation of 
an OLF.
    The Navy filed an appeal of the District Court's decision with the 
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Navy determined that the need for 
a new OLF, whether at Site C or elsewhere, is so urgent and critical 
that the Navy must proceed simultaneously with the appeal while 
initiating the SEIS. Should the Fourth Circuit find on appeal that the 
Navy fully complied with NEPA, the Navy may elect to discontinue the 
SEIS process, in whole, or in part.
    The SEIS will address those areas identified by the District Court 
to be deficient. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with special 
expertise in the area of migratory waterfowl and wildlife refuges, will 
be asked to participate as a cooperating agency pursuant to 40 CFR 
1501.6. The five alternative OLF sites in northeastern North Carolina 
that were evaluated in the Final EIS and that support the homebasing of 
the Super Hornets at NAS Oceana and MCAS Cherry Point will be 
considered in the SEIS. Those sites include Site A in Perquimans 
County, Site B in Bertie County, Site C in Washington County, Site D in 
Hyde County, and Site E in Craven County, North Carolina.
    To receive a copy of the Draft SEIS, please provide your name and 
address via the project Web site http://www.efaircraft.ene.com or in 
writing to the point of contact identified in this notice. Project-
related information and an electronic version of the Draft SEIS, when 
completed, will also be available on the project Web site http://www.efaircraft.ene.com. Public hearings will be held in the vicinity of 
each of the alternative OLF sites during the 45-day public and agency 
review period. Dates, locations, and times for the public hearings will 
be announced in the Federal Register and local media.

    Dated: June 20, 2005.
I. C. Le Moyne Jr.,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Alternate 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-12486 Filed 6-23-05; 8:45 am]
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