[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61329-61330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21327]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Public Hearings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for the Shock Trial of the MESA 
VERDE (LPD 19)

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and regulations implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 C.F.R. Parts 1500-1508), and Presidential 
Executive Order 12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal 
Actions, the Department of the Navy (Navy) has prepared and filed with 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) on October 
19, 2007. This EIS/OEIS evaluates the environmental effects for the 
shock trial of the MESA VERDE (LPD 19) at a site offshore of either 
Norfolk, Virginia; Mayport, Florida; or Pensacola, Florida. A Notice of 
Intent for this DEIS/OEIS was published in the Federal Register on 
March 12, 2004. The Navy will conduct three public hearings to receive 
oral and written comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS. Federal, State, and 
local agencies and interested individuals are invited to be present or 
represented at the public hearings. This notice announces the dates and 
locations of the public hearings for this Draft EIS/OEIS.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Public hearings have been scheduled as follows:
    1. Tuesday, November 27, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Kirn Memorial Main 
Library, 301 East City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, VA.
    2. Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Pensacola Junior 
College, Hagler Auditorium, 1000 College Boulevard, Pensacola, FL.
    3. Thursday, November 29, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fletcher High 
School, 700 Seagate Avenue, Neptune Beach, FL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Don Shaver at 202-781-4864 during 
normal business hours Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MESA VERDE (LPD 19) is the third ship in 
the new SAN ANTONIO (LPD 17) Class of nine planned amphibious transport 
dock ships being acquired by the Navy to meet Marine Air-Ground Task 
Force lift requirements. The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the environmental 
consequences of conducting a proposed shock trial of the MESA VERDE at 
an offshore location. The ship would be subjected to a series of up to 
four 4,536 kilogram (kg) (10,000 pound [lb]) explosive charge 
detonations in the spring/summer of 2008.
    The Draft EIS/OEIS identifies and evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts of three alternative locations for conducting an 
at-sea shock trial offshore of Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; Naval 
Station Mayport, Florida; or Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. 
These alternatives are compared with respect to project purpose and 
need, operational criteria, and environmental impacts.
    The Notice of Intent (NOI) published for this EIS/OEIS in the 
Federal Register on 12 March 2004 identified the alternative location 
of offshore Pascagoula, in addition to the ``no action'' alternative, 
for analysis in this EIS/OEIS. The Base Realignment and Closure Act of 
2005 (BRAC) identified Naval Station Pascagoula for closure. After the 
2005 BRAC recommendation, the DON revisited the operational 
requirements for the Draft EIS/OEIS and identified offshore off 
Pensacola, Florida as an additional alternative shock trial location, 
removing the offshore Pascagoula alternative location from further 
study.
    Navy has identified the preferred alternative of conducting the 
shock trial offshore of Mayport, Florida. This alternative would meet 
the project purpose and need, satisfy operational requirements, and 
potentially minimize environmental impacts.
    The ``no action'' alternative does not meet the purpose and need 
because it would prevent the Navy from adequately assessing the 
survivability of this ship Class. The ship must undergo a shock trial 
because, although computer modeling and component testing have been 
undertaken, an at-sea shock trial would provide the best means to 
assess the shock response of the entire manned ship and the interaction 
of the ship's systems and components.
    Environmental impacts that may occur from the proposed action 
include minor or temporary impacts to the physical and biological 
environments and existing human uses of the area. Additionally, there 
is a risk of impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, which varies 
between proposed shock trial locations and seasons. However, protective 
measures will be established to minimize risk to marine mammals and sea 
turtles. The NMFS is concurrently evaluating Navy's request for a 
Letter of Authorization for the Incidental Take of Marine Mammals in

[[Page 61330]]

their regulatory role under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Navy has 
initiated early, formal consultation with the NMFS under Section 7 of 
the Endangered Species Act.
    The Draft EIS/OEIS has been distributed to various federal, state, 
and local agencies, elected officials, special interest groups, and 
interested parties. The Draft EIS/OEIS is available on the internet via 
the project Web site at: http://www.mesaverdeeis.com. The Draft EIS/
OEIS is also available for public review at the following local 
libraries: Beaches Branch Library, 600 3rd Street, Neptune Beach, FL; 
Kirn Memorial Main Library, 301 East City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, VA; 
Jacksonville Main Library, 303 Laura Avenue, Jacksonville, FL; 
Pascagoula Public Library, 3214 Pascagoula Street, Pascagoula, MS; 
Pensacola Public Library, 200 West Gregory Street, Pensacola, FL; and 
St. Mary's Public Library, 100 Herb Bauer Drive, St. Mary's, GA.
    Navy invites the general public, local governments, other federal 
agencies, and state agencies to submit written comments or suggestions 
concerning the alternatives and analysis addressed in the Draft EIS/
OEIS. The public and government agencies are invited to participate in 
the public meetings where oral and written comments will be received. 
As a cooperating agency, a NMFS representative will be participating at 
the public meetings.
    Comments should be sent to: MESA VERDE Shock Trial, Booz Allen 
Hamilton, Maritime Plaza, 1201 M St, SE., Washington, DC 20003. 
Comments may also be sent by electronic mail to the following address: 
[email protected].
    All written comments must be post marked or received by December 
10, 2007, to ensure they become part of the official record. All 
comments will be responded to in the Final EIS/OEIS.

    Dated: October 24, 2007.
T. M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-21327 Filed 10-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P