[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 116 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33456-33457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11674]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Outdoor Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation Activities at Naval 
Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Site, King George County, VA and To 
Announce 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, and the regulations implemented by the 
Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the 
Department of the Navy (Navy) announces its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental consequences of expanding Naval Surface Warfare Center 
Dahlgren Site's (NSWCDL) research, development, test and evaluation 
(RDT&E) activities taking place outdoors on the Potomac River Test 
Range Complex, the Explosives Experimental Area, and Mission Areas. 
RDT&E activities are conducted in support of NSWCDL's mission 
requirements in surface warfare, surface ship combat systems, strategic 
systems, ordnance, and special warfare systems. These activities 
include outdoor operations that require the use of ordnance, lasers, 
electromagnetic fields, and chemical and biological simulants 
(imitations).

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Public scoping meetings will be held in King 
George, Westmoreland, and Northumberland counties, Virginia, and 
Charles and St. Mary's counties, Maryland, to receive oral and written 
comments on environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. 
The public scoping meetings will be held at the following dates, times, 
and locations:
    1. July 23, 2007, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Shiloh Baptist Church, 13457 Kings 
Highway, King George, VA.
    2. July 24, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 37497 
Zach Fowler Road, Chaptico, MD.
    3. July 25, 2007, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., LaPlata Volunteer Fire Department, 
911 Washington Street, LaPlata, MD.
    4. July 30, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Saint Mary's Episcopal Church, 203 
Dennison Street, Colonial Beach, VA.
    5. July 31, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Callao Rescue Squad Hall, 1348 
Northumberland Highway, Callao, VA.
    Anyone requiring special accommodations, such as a sign language 
interpreter, should contact Stacia Courtney, NSWCDL Public Affairs 
Office, by calling 540-653-8154 or by e-mailing 
[email protected] no later than three business days prior to the 
public meeting you wish to attend.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacia Courtney, Naval Surface 
Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Corporate Communications Office (C6), 
6509 Sampson Road, Suite 213, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5108; phone 540-653-
8154; fax 540-653-4679; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Action Proponent, NSWCDL, currently 
conducts outdoor RDT&E activities on the Potomac River Test Range 
(PRTR) Complex, the Explosives Experimental Area (EEA), and adjoining 
Mission Areas. The environmental consequences of conducting these 
activities to date have been addressed on a test-by-test or program-by-
program basis, which can lead to delays in carrying out RDT&E 
activities.
    The Proposed Action is to expand NSWCDL's RDT&E capabilities within 
the PRTR, the EEA, and Mission Areas. The purpose is to enable NSWCDL 
to meet mission-related warfare and force protection requirements by 
providing RDT&E for ordnance, surface ship combat systems, force level 
warfare, and force protection operations. The need for the Proposed 
Action is to enable the Navy and other stakeholders to successfully 
meet current and future national and global defense challenges by 
developing a robust capability to carry out assigned RDT&E activities 
on NSWCDL's PRTR, EEA, and Mission Areas.
    At this point in the planning process, NSWCDL foresees evaluating 
the impacts of three alternatives in the EIS. The No Action Alternative 
describes existing baseline RDT&E mission activities and includes 
documentation for such activities. The No Action Alternative addresses 
past and current mission activities within NSWCDL's PRTR, EEA and 
Mission Areas. Alternative 1 includes existing baseline mission 
activities, as well as future RDT&E mission activities to satisfy known 
workload requirements over approximately the next seven years. 
Alternative 1 provides for an increase in

[[Page 33457]]

the number of RDT&E mission activities as well as new applications of 
existing technology. Alternative 2 includes existing baseline RDT&E 
mission activities, known future RDT&E mission activities over 
approximately the next seven years, and projected increases in test 
activities over approximately the next 15 years, based on a continual 
trend. Alternative 2 generally provides for a 15 percent increase in 
the number of mission activities above Alternative 1 levels plus new 
applications of existing technology.
    The EIS will evaluate the potential environmental effects resulting 
from the identified alternatives. Issues to be addressed will include, 
but may not be limited to, the following areas: (1) Land use, plans, 
and coastal zone consistency; (2) Physical resources--air quality and 
water quality; (3) Noise from detonations and the firing of guns; (4) 
Biological resources including wildlife, submerged aquatic vegetation, 
threatened & endangered species and otherwise protected species (short-
nosed sturgeon, marine mammals and migratory birds), fisheries, 
including an analysis of essential fish habitat, riverine communities, 
and special biological resource areas; (5) Socioeconomic issues--
including recreational and commercial uses of the Potomac River and 
restricted airspace, property values, environmental justice, and risks 
to children; (6) Cultural resources--effects on sites on or near the 
Potomac River; (7) Safety--cleanup, handling, storage, and transport of 
hazardous materials, unexploded ordnance, lasers, electromagnetic 
fields, and chemical and biological simulants (imitations).
    The Navy is initiating the scoping process to identify community 
concerns and local issues that should be addressed in the EIS. Federal, 
state, and local agencies as well as interested persons are encouraged 
to provide oral and/or written comments to NWSCDL to identify specific 
issues or topics of environmental concern. The Navy will consider these 
comments in determining the scope of the EIS. Written comments on the 
scope of the EIS must be postmarked by August 14, 2007, and should be 
mailed to: Ms. Stacia Courtney, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren 
Division, Corporate Communications Office (C6), 6509 Sampson Road, 
Suite 213, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5108. Comments can be faxed to 540-653-
4679 or e-mailed to [email protected].

    Dated: 11 June 2007.
L.R. Almand,
Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Administrative Law 
Division, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-11674 Filed 6-15-07; 8:45 am]
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