[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67341-67342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19612]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Hearing for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Restoration of Clear Zones and Stormwater 
Drainage Systems at Boca Chica Field, Naval Air Station 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 the Navy (DON) has prepared and filed with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency a

[[Page 67342]]

Draft EIS to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of 
bringing the Boca Chica Airfield at Naval Air Station Key West into 
substantial compliance with Federal Aviation Administration safety 
regulations and DON air operations requirements.
    The DON will conduct one public hearing to receive oral and written 
comments on the Draft EIS. Federal, state, and local agencies and 
interested individuals are invited to be present or represented at the 
public hearing. Navy representatives will be available to clarify 
information related to the Draft EIS. This notice announces the date 
and location of the public hearing for this Draft EIS.

Dates And Addresses: One public hearing will be held on December 07, 
2006 at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 South Roosevelt 
Boulevard, Key West, FL. Open information sessions 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 sessions to clarify information related to the 
Draft EIS. The open information sessions are scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 
p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by the public hearing from 
7:30 to 9 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Southern Division (NAVFAC Southeast), 2155 Eagle Drive, North 
Charleston, SC 29406, Attn: Mr. Timothy Cardiasmenos, telephone 843-
820-7340, facsimile 843-820-5563; E-Mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to prepare this Draft EIS 
was published in the Federal Register, August 6, 2004. A public scoping 
meeting was held on Tuesday, August 24, 2004, at the Doubletree Grand 
Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, FL.
    The proposed action is to implement corrective measures that meet 
airfield safety clearance criteria and allow for the compliance with 
Naval Air Systems Command waivers.
    Because of the size and complexity of this action, implementation 
will extend over several fiscal years, enabling the DON to incorporate 
lessons learned as the project evolves. Both restoration and 
maintenance measures will be completed in various locations at Boca 
Chica Field. Restoration measures include trimming and/or removal of 
vegetation that protrudes into vertically controlled airfield surfaces 
or those that should not be present in laterally controlled surfaces, 
clearing and grubbing, grading, filling low areas, replanting some 
areas with native salt marsh vegetation, and supplemental improvements 
to drainage conditions. Restoration methods will include the use of 
hand-clearing or mechanized methods (i.e., traditional construction 
equipment or specialized equipment). Maintenance methods will include 
mowing, hand-clearing, and others (i.e., herbicide and prescribed 
burning).
    The Draft EIS considers three alternatives: (1) Restoration of 
Original Clear Zones; (2) Restoration of Clear Zones to meet Permanent 
Waivers, which includes a combination of vegetation management, and 
wetland and salt marsh conversion; and (3) The No-Action Alternative in 
accordance with section 1502.14(d) of the NEPA regulation. Alternative 
2 is considered the Preferred Alternative. The DRAFT EIS evaluates 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 are also addressed. The analysis includes an evaluation of 
the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. Implementation of the 
proposed action is not expected to result in any significant short- or 
long-term impacts on physical, socioeconomic, or biological resources, 
with the exception of the LKMR.
    The Draft EIS has been distributed to various Federal, state, and 
local agencies, elected officials, and interested parties, and is 
available for public review at the Monroe County Public Library, Key 
West Branch, 700 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040.
    Oral statements presented at the public hearing will be recorded, 
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 EIS. Equal weight will be given to both oral and 
written statements.
    In the interest of available time and to ensure that all who wish 
to give an oral statement have the opportunity to do so, each speaker's 
comments will be limited to three 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 faxed or mailed 
to: NASKW EIS, c/o Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southern 
Division (NAVFAC Southeast), 2155 Eagle Drive, North Charleston, SC 
29406, Attn: Mr. Timothy Cardiasmenos, telephone 843-820-7340, 
facsimile 843-820-5563, E-Mail: [email protected]. All 
written comments postmarked by January 08, 2007, will become part of 
the official public record and will be responded to in the Final EIS.

    Date: November 14, 2006.
M.A. Harvison,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-19612 Filed 11-20-06; 8:45 am]
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