[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 17 (Friday, January 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3806-3807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1120]


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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 Navy Atlantic Fleet 
Training in the Jacksonville 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 (Navy) announces its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas EIS 
to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with

[[Page 3807]]

naval training in the Jacksonville (JAX) Range Complex. The Navy 
proposes to support current and emerging training operations and 
research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities at 
the JAX 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 (FRTP); (3) 
accommodating mission requirements associated with force structure 
changes; and (4) implementing enhanced range complex capabilities. The 
EIS/OEIS study area is the JAX Range Complex which consists of targets 
and instrumented areas, airspace, surface and subsurface operations 
areas (OPAREAs), and land range facilities. Together the JAX Range 
Complex encompasses: 27 square miles of land area; 62,596 nm\2\ of 
special use airspace (SUA); and 50,090 nm\2\ of sea space. The scope of 
actions to be analyzed in this EIS/OEIS includes current and proposed 
future Navy training, and RDT&E activities, within Navy-controlled 
operating areas, airspace, and ranges. It also includes proposed Navy-
funded range capabilities enhancements, including infrastructure 
improvements that support range complex training and RDT&E activities. 
Training activities that involve the use of active sonar are conducted 
in the JAX 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 JAX Range Complex), and in 
the Gulf of Mexico. The results of this sonar EIS/OEIS will be 
incorporated into the JAX Range Complex EIS/OEIS to account for active 
sonar effects that could occur within the geographic area of the JAX 
Range Complex.
    Dates and Addresses: Public scoping meetings will be held to 
receive oral and written comments on environmental concerns that should 
be addressed in the EIS/OEIS in the following cities: Charleston, South 
Carolina; Beaufort, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and 
Jacksonville, Florida. Public scoping open houses will be held at the 
following dates, times, and locations: February 20, 2007, from 5 p.m. 
to 8 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Charleston, SC; February 21, 2007, 
from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the U.S. Army National Guard Armory in 
Beaufort, SC; February 22, 2007 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Coastal 
Georgia Center in Savannah, GA; and February 23, 2007 from 5 p.m. to 8 
p.m. at The Sea Turtle Inn, Atlantic Beach in Jacksonville, FL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Conway, Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command Southeast, 904-542-6159.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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. 5062 directs the Chief of Naval Operations to train all naval 
forces for combat. The Chief of Naval Operations meets that direction, 
in part, by conducting at-sea training exercises and ensuring naval 
forces 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 JAX Range Complex to support current, 
emerging, and future training operations and RDT&E operations; expand 
warfare missions; and upgrade/modernize existing range capabilities to 
enhance and sustain Navy 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. 5062. 
Specifically, maintain current levels of military readiness by training 
in the JAX Range Complex; accommodate future increases in operational 
training tempo in the JAX Range Complex and support the rapid 
deployment of naval units or strike groups; achieve and sustain 
readiness in ships and squadrons so that the Navy can quickly deploy 
significant combat power to multiple areas around the world at the same 
time in the event of a national crisis or contingency operation and 
consistent with the FRTP; support the testing and training needed for 
new vessels, aircraft, and weapons systems; and maintain the long-term 
viability of the JAX Range Complex while protecting human health and 
the environment.
    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, expanded warfare 
missions, accommodation of force structure changes including training 
resulting from the introduction of new vessels, aircraft, and weapons 
systems, and the implementation of enhancements to range 
infrastructure; and (3) Alternative 2, comprised of Alternative 1 plus 
additional increases in training, and implementation of enhancements 
that will optimize training throughput in support of future 
contingencies. 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 Navy activities in the 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 Navy 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 Navy to 
identify specific issues or topics of environmental concern that should 
be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Written comments must be postmarked by 
March 13, 2007 and should be mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command, Southeast, Building 135, PO Box 151, Ajax Street, 
Jacksonville, FL 32212-0151, Attention: Mr. John D. Conway, PG.

    Dated: January 18, 2007.
M.A. Harivson,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-1120 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am]
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