[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3573-3574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1099]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Record of Decision for Homeporting of Additional 
Surface Ships at Naval Station Mayport, FL

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DON), after carefully weighing the 
strategic, operational, and environmental consequences of the proposed 
action, announces its decision to homeport one nuclear-powered aircraft 
carrier (CVN) at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Mayport. Today's decision does 
not relocate a specific CVN to NAVSTA Mayport. It does initiate a 
multi-year process for developing operational, maintenance, and support 
facilities at NAVSTA Mayport to support homeporting of one CVN.
    This multi-year process includes implementing projects for dredging 
and dredged material disposal, construction of CVN nuclear propulsion 
plant maintenance facilities, wharf improvements, transportation 
improvements, and construction of a

[[Page 3574]]

parking structure to replace existing parking that would be displaced 
by development of the CVN nuclear propulsion plant maintenance 
facilities. The projects necessary to create the capacity to support 
CVN homeporting could be completed as early as 2014. No CVN homeport 
change will occur before operational, maintenance, and support facility 
projects are completed.
    Selection of the CVN to be homeported at NAVSTA Mayport would not 
occur until approximately one year prior to the ship's transfer to 
NAVSTA Mayport. Selection of a specific CVN for homeporting at NAVSTA 
Mayport will be based upon then current operational needs, strategic 
considerations, and maintenance cycles.
    The DON environmental analysis included extensive studies regarding 
impacts associated with dredging, facility construction, and homeport 
operations. The environmental analysis undertaken by the DON included 
lengthy and detailed consultations with regulatory agencies, such as 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS), regarding impacts to endangered and 
threatened species, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding dredging operations 
and the in-water disposal of dredged materials. Public awareness and 
participation were integral components of the Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) process.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Record of Decision (ROD) has been 
distributed to all those individuals who requested a copy of the Final 
EIS and agencies and organizations that received a copy of the Final 
EIS. The complete text of the Navy's ROD is available for public 
viewing on the project Web site at http://www.mayporthomeportingeis.com. along with copies of the FEIS and 
supporting documents. Single copies of the ROD will be made available 
upon request by contacting Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Southeast, Attn: Mr. Royce Kemp, Building 903, Naval Air Station, 
Jacksonville, FL 32212-0030 Phone: 904-542-6899.

    Dated: January 14, 2009.
A.M. Vallandingham,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-1099 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P