[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71143-71145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20846]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for the Virginia Capes Range 
Complex and Notice 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), and 
Executive Order 12114, the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas EIS 
(OEIS) to evaluate the potential environmental

[[Page 71144]]

consequences associated with naval training in the Virginia Capes 
(VACAPES) Range Complex. The DON proposes to support and conduct 
current and emerging training operations and research, development, 
testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) operations in the VACAPES Range Complex 
by: (1) Maintaining baseline operations at current levels; (2) 
increasing training operations from current levels as necessary to 
support the Fleet Readiness Training Plan; (3) accommodating mission 
requirements associated with force structure change; and (4) 
implementing enhanced range complex capabilities. The EIS/OEIS study 
area is the VACAPES Range Complex which consists of targets and 
instrumented areas, airspace, surface and subsurface operations areas 
(OPAREAs), and land range facilities. Together the VACAPES Range 
Complex encompasses: 15,143 acres of land area (including 13,600 acres 
of land area for ranges); 5,158 nm2 of special use airspace 
(SUA) associated with land ranges; 27,661 nm2 of offshore 
surface and subsurface OPAREA; 9,589 nm2 of shallow ocean 
area less than 100 fathoms (600 feet); 18,072 nm2 of deep 
ocean areas greater than 100 fathoms; 330 nm2 of over water 
danger areas; and 28,672 nm2 of SUA warning areas. The scope 
of actions to be analyzed in this EIS/OEIS includes current and 
proposed future Navy training and RDT&E operations within Navy-
controlled operating areas, airspace, and ranges. It also includes 
proposed Navy-funded range capabilities enhancements, including 
infrastructure improvements, which support range complex training and 
RDT&E operations. Training activities that involve the use of active 
sonar are conducted in the VACAPES Range Complex; however, those 
potential effects are being analyzed in detail in a separate document, 
the Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar Training EIS/OEIS. This separate sonar 
EIS/OEIS addresses active sonar use as a whole by the Atlantic Fleet in 
the eastern Atlantic Ocean (including waters that are part of the 
VACAPES Range Complex), and in the Gulf of Mexico. The results of this 
sonar EIS/OEIS will be incorporated into the VACAPES Range Complex EIS/
OEIS to account for active sonar effects that could occur within the 
geographic area of the VACAPES Range Complex. The DON will request the 
National Marine Fisheries Service to be a cooperating agency in the 
preparation of this EIS/OEIS.
    Dates and Addresses: Public scoping meetings will be held at the 
following four sites to receive oral and written comments on 
environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS/OEIS: 
Salisbury, MD; Chincoteague Island, VA; Virginia Beach, VA; and Nags 
Head, NC. Public scoping open houses are scheduled below:

    1. January 8, 2007, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at James M. Bennett High 
School, 300 East College Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804;
    2. January 9, 2007 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chincoteague 
Community Center, 6155 Community Drive, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336;
    3. January 10, 2007, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lynnhaven Middle 
School, 1250 Bayne Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23454; and
    4. January 11, 2007 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Comfort Inn 
Oceanfront South, 8031 Old Oregon Inlet Road, Nags Head, NC 27959.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Erin Swiader, Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 
23508-1278; telephone 757-322-4960; facsimile 757-322-4894.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Recent world events have placed the U.S. 
military on heightened alert in the defense of the U.S., and in defense 
of allied nations. At this time, the U.S. military, and specifically 
the U.S. Navy, is actively engaged in anti-terrorism efforts around the 
globe. The Navy's mission is to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready 
naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and 
maintaining freedom of the seas. For that reason, 10 U.S.C. Sec.  5062 
directs the Chief of Naval Operations to train all naval forces for 
combat. Therefore, naval forces must have access to ranges, OPAREAs and 
airspace where they can develop and maintain skills for wartime 
missions and conduct RDT&E of naval weapons systems. As such, Navy 
ranges, OPAREAs, and airspace must be maintained and/or enhanced to 
accommodate necessary training and testing activities in support of 
national security objectives.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to: Achieve and maintain 
Fleet readiness using the VACAPES Range Complex to support and conduct 
current, emerging, and future training operations, and RDT&E 
operations; expand warfare missions; and upgrade/modernize existing 
range capabilities to enhance and sustain Navy and Marine Corps 
training and testing.
    The need for the proposed action is to provide combat capable 
forces ready to deploy worldwide in accordance with 10 U.S.C. Sec.  
5062. Specifically, maintain current levels of military readiness by 
training in the VACAPES Range Complex; accommodate future increases in 
operational training tempo in the VACAPES Range Complex and support the 
rapid deployment of naval units or strike groups; achieve and sustain 
readiness in ships and squadrons so that the DON can quickly surge 
significant combat power in the event of a national crisis or 
contingency operation and consistent with FRTP; support the testing and 
training needed for new platforms and weapons systems; and maintain the 
long-term viability of the VACAPES Range Complex while protecting human 
health and the environment, and enhancing the quality and communication 
capability and safety of the VACAPES Range Complex.
    Three alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS/OEIS including:
    (1) The No Action Alternative comprised of baseline operations and 
support of existing range capabilities;
    (2) Alternative 1 comprised of the No Action Alternative plus 
additional operations and/or expanded warfare missions on upgraded, 
modernized, or existing ranges; and
    (3) Alternative 1 plus a construction and operation of an 
instrumented minefield training area.

The EIS/OEIS will evaluate the environmental effects associated with: 
Airspace; noise; range safety; natural land resources; water resources; 
air quality; biological resources, including threatened and endangered 
species; land use; socioeconomic resources; infrastructure; and 
cultural resources. The analysis will include an evaluation of direct 
and indirect impacts, and will account for cumulative impacts from 
other DON activities in the VACAPES Range Complex. No decision will be 
made to implement any alternative until the EIS/OEIS process is 
completed and a Record of Decision is signed by the Assistant Secretary 
of the Navy (Installations and Environment).
    The DON is initiating the scoping process to identify community 
concerns and local issues to be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Federal 
agencies, state agencies, local agencies, and interested persons are 
encouraged to provide oral and/or written comments to the DON to 
identify specific issues or topics of environmental concern that should 
be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Written comments must be postmarked by 
January 23, 2007, and should be mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command, Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23508-1278, 
Attention: Code EV21JS (Ms. Erin Swiader), telephone 757-322-4960, 
facsimile 757-322-4894.


[[Page 71145]]


    Dated: December 4, 2006.
M.A. Harvison,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-20846 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
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