[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 24 (Friday, February 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6003-6004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2142]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
(PEIS) for the Stationing and Operation of Joint High Speed Vessels 
(JHSVs)

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Army intends to prepare a PEIS for the proposed stationing 
and operation of up to 12 JHSVs. The JHSV is a strategic transport 
vessel that is designed to support the rapid transport of Army 
Soldiers, other military personnel and equipment in the U.S. and 
abroad. The PEIS will assess the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed stationing of JHSVs at the following 
military port locations: Virginia Tidewater area; San Diego, CA area; 
Seattle-Tacoma, WA area; Pearl Harbor, HI area; and Guam. These 
locations were selected based on the following criteria: sites have 
existing military port facilities that do not require new 
infrastructure construction or improvements; sites have existing 
maintenance facilities for up to, but not including, depot level 
facilities for major JHSV repairs and maintenance; and sites are 
capable of supporting the strategic needs of the nation's Combatant 
Commanders. Not all of the proposed ports will receive JHSVs and other 
viable locations raised during public scoping may be considered as 
stationing sites. The Army's Record of Decision will make the 
determination as to which of the potential sites will serve as home 
port locations.
    The Army intends to consider the following alternatives in the 
PEIS: (1) The stationing and operation of an Army-wide total of five 
JHSVs at military port facilities in the U.S. or U.S. territories, with 
up to three JHSVs at any one of the aforementioned locations; (2) The 
stationing and operation of an Army-wide total of up to 12 JHSVs at 
military port facilities in the U.S. or U.S. territories and overseas 
locations operated by the U.S. military, with up to three JHSV's being 
stationed at any one location; and (3) The no action alternative which 
retains the Army's existing transport fleet and does not equip the Army 
with JHSVs. Under the no action alternative, the Army would not be able 
to increase its expeditionary capability as discussed as a key 
requirement in the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) nor would it meet 
the rapid deployment goals of Army Transformation.
    The JHSV will require fueling-at-sea training; aviation training 
(helicopter);

[[Page 6004]]

live fire training; and high-speed, open-water-craft training. It is 
anticipated that the vessel will spend 150 days or more away from the 
home station. These home-station sites would only be used to support 
JHSV berthing and training requirements in and around the stationing 
location for 170 days per year. An annual maintenance cycle of 
approximately 45 days would occur at the home station or at another 
location, if appropriate maintenance facilities are not on site. The 
PEIS will include evaluation of the different locations which could 
reasonably accommodate, support, and sustain the JHSV and meet its 
requirements for live-fire training.
    The proposed action will require the Army to balance strategic, 
sustainment, and environmental considerations to provide greater 
flexibility and responsiveness to meet today's evolving world 
conditions and threats to national defense and security. The PEIS will 
analyze the proposed action's impacts upon the natural, cultural, and 
manmade environments at the alternative home-stationing sites.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army 
Environmental Command, Attention: IMAE-PA, 5179 Hoadley Rd., Aberdeen 
Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Office at (410) 436-
2556; fax (410) 436-1693; or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The JHSV is a high-speed, shallow-draft 
vessel capable of rapid intratheater transport of Army units. JHSV 
stationing detachments consist of a 31 member crew and can accommodate 
up to 350 additional Soldiers. The vessel can reach speeds of 35-45 
knots and has an equipment carrying capacity of approximately 700 short 
tons. It has a shallow draft of 12.5 feet for enhanced port access for 
the types of austere piers and quay walls common in developing 
countries. The JHSV includes a weapons mount for crew served weapons, a 
flight deck for helicopter operations, and an off-load ramp that allows 
vehicles to drive off the ship quickly. These characteristics make the 
JHSV an extremely flexible asset, able to support a wide range of 
operations including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in 
small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key 
enabler for rapid transport.
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. & 
et seq.) and the Army NEPA procedures, Environmental Analysis of Army 
Action (32 CFR Part 651), require the Army to consider the 
environmental impacts of its actions and alternatives, and to solicit 
the views of the public so it can make an informed final decision 
regarding how to proceed. The Army is working in close coordination 
with the Navy (which is scheduled to receive 10 JHSVs) in coordinating 
NEPA evaluations for this action. The Navy is completing a separate 
NEPA document to evaluate its requirements for the JHSV. The Army's 
PEIS does not evaluate the direct and indirect environmental impacts of 
the Navy's JHSV program. The Army's PEIS will cumulatively consider the 
impacts of Navy JHSV stationing.
    The PEIS will assess, consider, and compare the direct, indirect, 
and cumulative environmental effects from the stationing of up to three 
Army JHSVs per site. The primary environmental issues to be analyzed 
will include potential impacts to air quality, airspace, cultural 
resources, noise, and marine life. In addition, the Army will consider 
those issues identified as the part of the scoping process.
    Scoping and Public Comment: All interested members of the public, 
including native communities and federally recognized Native American 
Tribes, Native Hawaiian groups, Guam Chamorro Groups, and federal, 
state, and local agencies, are invited to participate in the scoping 
process for the preparation of this PEIS. Written comments identifying 
environmental issues, concerns and opportunities to be analyzed in the 
PEIS will be accepted for 30 days following publication of the Notice 
of Intent in the Federal Register. There will be no on-site scoping 
meetings.

    Dated: January 25, 2010.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 2010-2142 Filed 2-4-10; 8:45 am]
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