[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 135 (Thursday, July 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41162-41163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17234]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Navy Hawaii-Southern 
California Training and Testing and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-
1508), and Executive Order 12114, the Department of the Navy (DON) 
announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
and Overseas EIS (OEIS) to evaluate the potential environmental effects 
associated with military readiness training and research, development, 
testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities (hereinafter referred to as 
``training and testing'' activities) conducted within the Hawaii-
Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT) study area. The HSTT 
study area combines the at-sea portions of the Hawaii Range Complex, 
the Southern California Range Complex (including the San Diego Bay); 
the Silver Strand Training Complex; areas where vessels transit between 
the Hawaii Range Complex and the Southern California Range Complex; and 
select Navy pierside locations. This EIS and OEIS is being prepared to 
renew and combine current regulatory permits and authorizations; 
address current training and testing not covered under existing permits 
and authorizations; and to obtain those permits and authorizations 
necessary to support force structure changes and emerging and future 
training and testing requirements.
    The DON will invite the National Marine Fisheries Service to be a 
cooperating agency in preparation of this EIS and OEIS.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Six public scoping meetings will be held between 4 
p.m. and 8 p.m., unless otherwise stated, on the following dates and at 
the following locations:
    1. Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Point Loma/
Hervey Branch Library, Community Room, 3701 Voltaire Street, San Diego, 
CA.
    2. Thursday, August 5, 2010, Lakewood High School, Room 922/924, 
4400 Briercrest Avenue, Lakewood, CA.
    3. Tuesday, August 24, 2010, Kauai Community College Cafeteria, 3-
1901 Kaumuali'i Highway, Lihue, HI.
    4. Wednesday, August 25, 2010, Disabled American Veterans Hall, 
Weinberg Hall, 2685 North Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI.
    5. Thursday, August 26, 2010, Hilo High School Cafeteria, 556 
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI.
    6. Friday, August 27, 2010, Maui Waena Intermediate School 
Cafeteria, 795 Onehee Avenue, Kahului, HI.
    Each of the six scoping meetings will consist of an informal, open 
house session with informational stations staffed by DON 
representatives. Meeting details will be announced in local newspapers. 
Additional information concerning meeting times is available on the EIS 
and OEIS Web page located at: http://www.HawaiiSOCALEIS.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Randall, Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command, Southwest. Attention: HSTT EIS/OEIS, 1220 Pacific 
Highway, Building 1, Floor 5, San Diego, CA

[[Page 41163]]

92132, or Meghan Byrne, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific. 
Attention: HSTT EIS/OEIS, 258 Makalapa Dr, Ste 100, Building 258, Floor 
3, Room 258C210, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DON's proposed action is to conduct 
training and testing activities that include the use of active sonar 
and explosives within the at-sea portions of existing DON training 
range complexes around the Hawaiian Islands and off the coast of 
Southern California (known as the HSTT study area). While the majority 
of these training and testing activities take place in operating and 
warning areas and/or on training and testing ranges, some training 
activities, such as sonar maintenance and gunnery exercises, are 
conducted concurrent with normal transits and may occur outside of DON 
operating and warning areas.
    The HSTT study area combines the at-sea portions of the following 
range complexes: Hawaii Range Complex, Southern California Range 
Complex, and Silver Strand Training Complex. The existing western 
boundary of the Hawaii Range Complex is being expanded 60 miles to the 
west to the International Dateline. The HSTT study area also includes 
the transit route between Hawaii and Southern California as well as DON 
and commercial piers at Pearl Harbor, HI and San Diego, CA where sonar 
may be tested.
    The proposed action is to conduct military training and testing 
activities in the HSTT study area. The purpose of the proposed action 
is to achieve and maintain Fleet Readiness to meet the requirements of 
Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which requires DON to ``maintain, train, and 
equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring 
aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas.'' The proposed action 
would also allow DON to attain compliance with applicable environmental 
authorizations, consultations, and other associated environmental 
requirements, including those associated with new platforms and weapons 
systems, for example, the Low Frequency Anti-Submarine Warfare 
capability associated with the Littoral Combat Ship.
    The alternatives that will be analyzed in the HSTT EIS and OEIS 
meet the purpose and need of the proposed action by providing the level 
of training that meets the requirements of Title 10, thereby ensuring 
that Sailors and Marines are properly prepared for operational success. 
Similarly, the level of RDT&E proposed for the HSTT study area is 
necessary to ensure that Sailors and Marines deployed overseas have the 
latest proven military equipment. Accordingly, the alternatives to be 
addressed in the HSTT EIS and OEIS are:
    1. No Action--The No Action Alternative continues baseline training 
and testing activities and force structure requirements as defined by 
existing DON environmental planning documents. This documentation 
includes the Records of Decision for the Hawaii and Southern California 
range complexes and the Preferred Alternative for the Silver Strand 
Training Complex Draft EIS and OEIS.
    2. Alternative 1--This alternative consists of the No Action 
alternative, plus expansion of the overall study area boundaries, and 
updates and/or adjustments to locations and tempo of training and 
testing activities. This alternative also includes changes to training 
and testing requirements necessary to accommodate force structure 
changes, and the development and introduction of new vessels, aircraft, 
and weapons systems.
    3. Alternative 2--Alternative 2 consists of Alternative 1 with an 
increased tempo of training and testing activities. This alternative 
also allows for additional range enhancements and infrastructure 
requirements.
    Resource areas that will be addressed because of the potential 
effects from the proposed action include, but are not limited to: Ocean 
and biological resources (including marine mammals and threatened and 
endangered species); air quality; airborne soundscape; cultural 
resources; transportation; regional economy; recreation; and public 
health and safety.
    The scoping process will be used to identify community concerns and 
local issues to be addressed in the EIS and OEIS. Federal agencies, 
state agencies, local agencies, Native American Indian Tribes and 
Nations, the public, and interested persons are encouraged to provide 
comments to the DON to identify specific issues or topics of 
environmental concern that the commenter believes the DON should 
consider. All comments provided orally or in writing at the scoping 
meetings, will receive the same consideration during EIS and OEIS 
preparation. Written comments must be postmarked no later than 
September 14, 2010, and should be mailed to: Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command, Southwest, 2730 McKean Street, Building 291, San 
Diego, CA 92136-5198, Attention: Mr. Kent Randall--HSTT EIS/OEIS.

    Dated: July 9, 2010.
D.J. Werner
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-17234 Filed 7-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P