[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10186-10187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3800]



[[Page 10186]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) for the Relocation 
of U.S. Marine Corps Forces to Guam, Enhancement of Infrastructure and 
Logistic Capabilities, Improvement of Pier/Waterfront Infrastructure 
for Transient U.S. Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) at Naval Base 
Guam, and Placement of a U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Task 
Force in Guam

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy 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 EIS/
OEIS to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with 
relocating Command, Air, Ground, and Logistics units (which includes 
approximately 8,000 service members and 9,000 family members) from 
Okinawa, Japan to Guam. The EIS/OEIS will examine potential impacts 
from activities associated with the Marine Corps units' relocation to 
include operations, training, and infrastructure changes.
    DON also proposes to enhance the infrastructure, logistic 
capabilities, and improve pier/waterfront facilities to support 
transient CVN berthing at Naval Base Guam. The EIS/OEIS will examine 
potential impacts of the waterfront improvements associated with the 
proposed transient berthing.
    Finally, the proposed action will evaluate placing a BMD task force 
(approximately 630 service members and 950 family members) in Guam. The 
EIS/OEIS will examine potential impacts from activities associated with 
the task force to include operations, training, and infrastructure 
changes.
    The purpose and need of the proposed action is to fulfill U.S. 
government national security and alliance requirements in the Western 
Pacific Region. Guam's location as the westernmost part of the United 
States is critical to national security. The Department of Defense 
(DoD) national security strategy would increase the role of Guam and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) through the 
relocation of Marines to Guam, increased presence of a transient CVN, 
and enhanced capability to defend critical military assets.
    Mission critical, mission support, and community support 
infrastructure improvements are needed to ensure that Navy Region 
Marianas can provide expanded direct support of the DoD strategic 
mission and operational readiness in the Western Pacific Region. 
Infrastructure improvements would need to provide:
     Military training, subsequent garrison, operations, and 
infrastructure to support the U.S. Marines relocation to Guam.
     Port infrastructure for support to the transient presence 
of a CVN within Apra Harbor.
     Infrastructure to support the BMD task force, which can 
intercept missiles with potential to impact the critical military 
assets.
    The EIS/OEIS will consider reasonable alternatives for siting 
operational, training, and support facilities on Guam, in addition to 
the no-action alternative. The DON Joint Guam Program Office (JGPO) 
will seek the input of the public on siting alternatives during the 
scoping meetings described below.
    Seven Federal agencies will be invited to be cooperating agencies: 
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine 
Fisheries; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Wildlife Services; Department of Transportation Federal 
Highway Administration; Federal Aviation Administration; and the 
National Park Service.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Public scoping meetings will be held on Guam, 
Saipan, and Tinian to receive oral and/or written comments that should 
be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. The public scoping open houses will be 
held at the following dates, times, and locations:
    1. Tuesday, April 3, 2007, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., location TBD (Guam, in 
central business area);
    2. Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., location TBD (Saipan); 
and
    3. Thursday, April 5, 2007, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., location TBD (Tinian).
    Federal Agencies, Government of Guam agencies, Government of CNMI 
agencies, the public, and other interested parties are encouraged to 
provide oral and/or written comments to the DON to identify specific 
issues or topics for consideration in the EIS/OEIS. The DON will 
consider comments received in determining the scope of the EIS/OEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Captain Robert Lee, Commander, Navy 
Region Marianas, PSC 455 Box 152, FPO AP, Guam 96540, telephone 671-
339-6156, e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of the Secretary of Defense 
directed the DON to establish a JGPO to facilitate, manage, coordinate, 
and execute certain DoD actions in Guam. The proposed actions for 
consideration in the announced EIS/OEIS are under the cognizance of the 
JGPO, the DON action proponent.
    Guam is host to the westernmost U.S. military installation on U.S. 
soil, and is located 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) from the Western 
Pacific Rim. The location of Guam allows for rapid deployment of 
military units to areas of possible conflict in the Western Pacific 
Region. The proposed action is required to maintain the DON's 
capability to accomplish its mission in this critical geographic region 
in support of the U.S./Japan Alliance and consistent with the DoD 
Integrated Global Positioning and Basing Strategy and Quadrennial 
Defense Review.
    The proposed action would relocate an Air Combat Element, Command 
Element, Ground Combat Element, and Command Service Support Element of 
the U.S. Marines to Guam, provide enhanced CVN transient operational 
capability and logistics support at Guam Naval Base, and for defense, 
locate a U.S. Army BMD task force on Guam. The proposed action includes 
rehabilitation or construction of operational facilities, support 
facilities (such as housing), and training areas on Guam and other 
locations within the Mariana Islands.
    The EIS/OEIS will analyze a range of alternative sites for 
facilities needed to support the proposed actions. Administrative, 
housing, training, and operations functions will be evaluated to 
determine a range of reasonable alternative locations within the 
Marianas. Reasonable alternatives, including, but not limited to, 
alternative configurations within Guam and the CNMI, will be considered 
to accommodate the operations, training, and infrastructure 
requirements associated with the proposed relocation of service and 
family members, the enhancement of CVN transient operational 
capabilities, and the siting of a U.S. Army BMD task force with its 
service and family members. The EIS/OEIS also will analyze and consider 
the No Action alternative.
    Impacts and issues to be addressed in the EIS/OEIS include, but are 
not limited to, the following resource areas: Coral and coral reefs, 
marine and

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terrestrial natural resources, including threatened and endangered 
species, water quality, noise, land use, airspace management, fishing, 
navigation, recreation, historical and cultural resources, utilities, 
and socioeconomics. The EIS/OEIS will include an evaluation of the 
project's direct, indirect, short-term, long-term, and cumulative 
impacts. 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 JGPO 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 identifying specific 
issues or topics of environmental concern that should be addressed in 
the EIS/OEIS. Written comments must be postmarked by May 1, 2007, and 
should be mailed to: JGPO, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, 
HI 96860-3134, Attention: EV2.

    Dated: February 28, 2007.
M.A. Harvison,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-3800 Filed 3-6-07; 8:45 am]
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