[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 217 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63562-63563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22039]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Access Between the Laurelwood Housing Area and an Adjacent State 
Primary or Secondary Road at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck, 
NJ and To Announce a Public Scoping Meeting

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 providing access between the Laurelwood 
housing area at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle and an adjacent state 
primary or secondary road. The requirement for this access in 2010 is a 
stipulation within the lease agreement between the Navy and the 
developer of Laurelwood. This developer may construct necessary road 
improvements to obtain access and rent any housing units to the general 
public through the year 2040.
    Dates and Addresses: Public scoping will be conducted in the form 
of an open-house style meeting to be held in Monmouth County, New 
Jersey to receive written comments on environmental concerns that 
should be addressed in the EIS. The public scoping meeting will be held 
on November 27, 2007, from 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., at Brookdale Community 
College, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, New Jersey.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick Fisher, Naval Weapons 
Station Earle, Public Affairs Officer, 201 Highway 34 South, Building 
C-2, Colts Neck, New Jersey 07722; telephone: 732-866-2171; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to provide unimpeded 
access in the year 2010 to the developer of the Laurelwood housing area 
across a portion of mainside NWS Earle connecting the Laurelwood 
housing area with a state primary or secondary road. The requirement 
for this access in 2010 is part of an existing lease agreement between 
the Navy and the developer of Laurelwood.
    In 1988 the Navy contracted with a developer to construct, own, and 
operate 300 military family housing units at NWS Earle, now known as 
the Laurelwood housing area. A 52-year lease agreement for the 
underlying land was executed between the Navy and the developer which 
included an in-lease and out-lease period. During the in-lease period, 
which runs from 1988 until 2010, the Navy guarantees rent payments to 
the developer for the occupancy of all 300 Laurelwood units. Only 
military and their dependents are allowed to occupy these housing units 
during the in-lease period. During the out-lease period of 2010 until 
2040 the developer may rent the units to the general public. However, 
the lease requires that the Navy provide ``reasonable access'' between 
the Laurelwood housing area and an adjacent State, primary, or 
secondary road. The lease agreement defines reasonable access as being 
on a paved road, constructed, operated, and maintained by the developer 
at its own cost. The Navy may satisfy this obligation by either (a) 
providing unimpeded access along existing roads of the installation or 
(b) providing an easement for alternate access adequate to allow the 
developer to construct a road from an adjacent primary or secondary 
road to Laurelwood that will provide unimpeded access. Road 
construction would be subject to Federal, State and local laws and 
regulations. While the developer must pay for construction of a new 
road and necessary improvements, the Navy is required to finance the 
construction of any road enhancements necessary to meet their security 
or operational requirements (e.g., security fencing, gates). In 
addition, the Navy is required

[[Page 63563]]

to obtain all necessary permits for road construction. In 2040, the 
lease agreement expires and the developer is obligated to demolish the 
300 housing units.
    During development of the EIS, the Navy will evaluate the no-action 
alternative and several alternative road alignments which will provide 
unimpeded access from the Laurelwood housing area to a State primary or 
secondary road without adversely impacting NWS Earle security or 
operational/mission capability.
    In addition to the natural and cultural environment located along 
the various road alignments, the Navy will evaluate the potential 
impacts to local school systems, base security, community services, and 
traffic impacts at proposed intersections to state roads. Since NWS 
Earle was acquired under exclusive federal jurisdiction, police, fire, 
and rescue services would continue to be provided by the Navy under the 
proposed action.
    The Navy is initiating the scoping process to identify community 
concerns and local issues to be addressed in this EIS. Navy 
representatives will be available at the public open-house scoping 
meeting to receive comments from the public regarding issues of 
concern. Federal, State, and local agencies and interested individuals 
are encouraged to take this opportunity to identify concerns that 
should be addressed during the preparation of the EIS. Agencies and the 
public are also invited and encouraged to provide written comments on 
scoping issues in addition to, or in lieu of, comments provided at the 
open-house meeting. Written comments must be postmarked by December 14, 
2007 and should be mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Atlantic, Attn: Code EV21LR, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 
23508. Comments can also be submitted no later than December 14, 2007 
via the project Web site: http://www.laurelwoodeis.com.

    Dated: October 31, 2007.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-22039 Filed 11-8-07; 8:45 am]
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