[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 1 (Friday, January 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 98-99]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-31200]



[[Page 98]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Hearings for the Swimmer Interdiction Security 
System at Naval Base Kitsap--Bangor, Kitsap County, WA Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement

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 (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321); the 
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for implementing the 
procedural provisions of NEPA (Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations 
[CFR] Parts 1500-1508); Department of the Navy Procedures for 
Implementing NEPA (32 CFR 775); Executive Order (EO)12114, 
Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions; and Department 
of Defense (DoD) regulations implementing EO 12114 (32 CFR Part 187), 
the Department of the Navy (Navy) has prepared and filed with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
on December 17, 2008.
    The DEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated 
with construction and operation of a Swimmer Interdiction Security 
System at Naval Base Kitsap--Bangor (NBK--Bangor). A Notice of Intent 
for this Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on February 
12, 2007 (volume 72, number 28).
    The Navy will conduct two public hearings to receive oral and 
written comments on the Draft EIS. Federal agencies, state agencies, 
Tribal Governments 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.
    An open house session will precede the scheduled public hearing at 
each of the locations listed below and will allow individuals to review 
the information presented in the Draft EIS. Navy representatives will 
be available during the open house sessions to clarify information 
related to the Draft EIS.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Both meetings will start with an open house 
session from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A presentation and formal public 
comment period will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Public hearings will 
be held on the following dates and at the following locations:
    1. February 11, 2009, Silverdale Community Center, 9729 Silverdale 
Way, NW, Silverdale, WA.
    2. February 12, 2009, Tyee High School, 4424 S. 188th, SeaTac, WA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Department of the Navy, SSC Pacific, 
53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA, 92152, Attn: Mike Rothe Fax: 619-221-
5251, e-mail: [email protected] or http://www.nbkeis.gcsaic.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to install and 
operate a Swimmer Interdiction Security System (SISS) along the 
waterfront on Hood Canal at NBK-Bangor.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to provide waterside security 
at NBK-Bangor capable of countering threats from intruders. The 
implemented system must be able to find, identify, and interdict 
surface and underwater intruders for engagement by harbor security 
forces. Several classified Navy instructions establish requirements for 
security and protection of assets at Navy bases, including NBK-Bangor. 
The project need is to comply with these Navy security requirements.
    Three action alternatives have been identified as well as a no 
action alternative:
     Marine Mammal Alternative: This alternative would be 
composed of human/marine mammal teams that would support Navy 
operations and respond rapidly to security alerts. The system would 
involve stationing California sea lions, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins 
and human teams at the site. The animals would reside within in-water, 
closed circuit enclosures attached to a dock that would be connected to 
an existing pier at the NBK-Bangor waterfront. Upland temporary 
buildings would house support personnel and equipment. The Navy marine 
mammals would be deployed along the waterfront in conjunction with 
humans aboard small power boats. The marine mammals would respond to 
security alerts by finding, identifying, and interdicting intruder(s).
     Sea Lions Only Alternative: This alternative would be 
composed of human/sea lion teams that would support Navy operations and 
respond rapidly to security alerts. The system would involve stationing 
California sea lions and human teams at the site. Upland temporary 
buildings would house support personnel and equipment. The sea lions 
would reside within in-water, closed-circuit enclosures attached to a 
dock that would be connected to an existing pier at the NBK-Bangor 
waterfront, and would be deployed along the waterfront in conjunction 
with humans aboard small power boats. The sea lions would respond to 
security alerts by finding, identifying, and interdicting intruder(s). 
This system lacks the biosonar of the dolphins and therefore this 
alternative would rely heavily on the initial NBK-Bangor detection and 
vectoring system to interdict intruders.
     Combat Swimmers Alternative: Combat swimmers would be 
stationed at an existing pier at the NBK-Bangor waterfront, and would 
be deployed along the waterfront aboard small power boats equipped with 
necessary dive support gear. Similar upland facilities would also be 
required. The Combat Swimmers would rely completely on the NBK-Bangor 
initial detection and vectoring system to arrive at a position to 
interdict the intruders.
     Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Alternative: ROVs would be 
stationed at an existing pier at the NBK-Bangor waterfront. In-water 
and upland facilities would be located at the same sites as the other 
action alternatives. ROVs would be deployed from a boat located and 
available for use at the waterfront and an operator would utilize sonar 
and bright lights on board the ROV to maneuver toward and interdict the 
intruder. The ROVs would rely completely on the NBK-Bangor initial 
detection and vectoring system to arrive at a position within range to 
interdict the intruders.
     No action alternative: Under this alternative, no SISS 
would be implemented. This would not meet the project purpose and need. 
No new facilities would be constructed. The existing initial detection 
and vectoring system would be used to alert for potential threats, and 
harbor security forces would find and attempt to apprehend intruders 
without the aid of an underwater interdiction system.
    The Navy conducted a literature review and held discussions with 
subject matter experts to identify alternatives for implementing the 
SISS. Nine action alternatives were identified. These alternatives were 
evaluated to determine their ability to meet the minimum operational 
selection criteria. All but three were eliminated from further 
consideration. The Sea Lions Only alternative was added for 
consideration following scoping.
    The Navy analyzed potential effects of its current and proposed 
activities on marine mammals, fish, sea turtles, marine flora and 
invertebrates, terrestrial wildlife, sediments and water quality, 
cultural resources, recreation, land and shoreline use, public health 
and safety, socioeconomics and environmental justice, and air quality.

[[Page 99]]

    No significant adverse impacts are identified for any resource 
area. In accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the 
Navy is seeking concurrence with NMFS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS) for ``may affect, not likely to adversely affect'' 
determinations for federally listed species. The Navy is coordinating 
with the Washington Department of Ecology for a Coastal Consistency 
Determination under the Coastal Zone Management Act. Navy analysis has 
indicated that under the Clean Air Act requirements, no significant 
impacts would occur to the regional air quality, and under the Clean 
Water Act there would be no significant impacts to water quality. 
National Historic Preservation Act analysis indicated that no 
significant impacts to cultural resources would occur if the proposed 
action or alternatives were implemented. Implementation of the No 
Action Alternative or any of the proposed action alternatives would not 
disturb, adversely affect, or result in any takes of bald eagles. None 
of the alternatives would result in a significant adverse effect on the 
population of a migratory bird species.
    The decision to be made by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy 
(Installations & Environment) is to determine which alternatives 
analyzed in the EIS best meet the needs of the Navy given that all 
reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts have been considered.
    The Draft EIS was distributed to Federal, State, and local 
agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and 
organizations on December 24, 2008. The public comment period will end 
on March 1, 2009. Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public 
review at the following libraries:
     Aberdeen Timberland Library, 121 E. Market St., Aberdeen, 
WA.
     Hoodsport Timberland Library, N. 40 Schoolhouse Hill Road, 
Hoodsport, WA.
     Jefferson County Rural Library District, 620 Cedar Avenue, 
Port Hadlock, WA.
     Kitsap Regional Library, 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton, WA.
     North Mason Timberland Library, 23801 NE State Rt. 3, 
Belfair, WA.
     Ocean Shores Public Library, 573 Pt. Brown Ave. NW, Ocean 
Shores, WA.
     Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St., Port 
Townsend, WA.
     Poulsbo Branch Library, 700 NE Lincoln St., Poulsbo, WA.
     Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave. Seattle, WA.
     Tacoma Main Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, WA.
     Quinault Indian Nation Tribal Library, P.O. Box 189, 
Taholah, WA.
     Skokomish Tribal Center, N 80 Tribal Center Road, Shelton, 
WA.
     Valley View Library, 17850 Military Rd. S., SeaTac, WA.
    The SISS Draft EIS is also available for electronic public viewing 
at: http://www.nbkeis.gcsaic.com. Additional information about access 
to the SISS DEIS is available by contacting Navy Region North West, 
Environmental Public Affairs Office, Attn: Sheila Murray, 1100 Hunley 
Road, Building 1100 Silverdale, WA, 98315, 360-396-4981.
    Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties are 
invited to be present or represented at the public hearing. Written 
comments can also be submitted during the open house sessions preceding 
the public hearings.
    Oral statements will be heard and transcribed by a stenographer; 
however, to ensure the accuracy of the record, all statements should be 
submitted in writing. All statements, both oral and written, will 
become part of the public record on the Draft EIS and will be responded 
to in the Final EIS. Equal weight will be given to both oral and 
written statements. In the interest of available time, and to ensure 
all who wish to give an oral statement have the opportunity to do so, 
each speaker's comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. If a long 
statement is to be presented, it should be summarized at the public 
hearing with the full text submitted either in writing at the hearing, 
or mailed or faxed to Department of the Navy, SSC Pacific, 53560 Hull 
St., San Diego, CA 92152, Attn: Mike Rothe, Fax: 619-221-5251, e-mail: 
[email protected] during the comment period. All written comments 
must be postmarked by March 1, 2009, to ensure they become part of the 
official record. All comments will be addressed in the Final EIS.

    Dated: December 22, 2008.
T. M. Cruz,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-31200 Filed 12-31-08; 8:45 am]
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