[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47562-47564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19422]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Basing of MV-22 and H-1 Aircraft in Support of III Marine 
Expeditionary Force Elements in Hawaii

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 4332(2)(C)), as 
implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 
Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508), Department of the 
Navy (DoN) NEPA regulations (32 CFR Part 775), and United States Marine 
Corps (USMC) NEPA directives (Marine Corps Order P5090.2A, changes 1 
and 2), the DoN intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and conduct public scoping meetings for the proposed basing and 
operation of MV-22 tiltrotor (MV-22) Osprey aircraft and H-1 Cobra and 
Huey attack helicopters in support of III Marine Expeditionary Force 
(MEF) training and readiness operations in Hawaii. The EIS will 
evaluate a proposal to introduce up to two Marine Medium Tiltrotor 
(VMM) squadrons with a total of 24 MV-22 aircraft and one Marine Light 
Attack Helicopter (HMLA) squadron composed of 18 AH-1Z and 9 UH-1Y 
helicopters. Because the proposed squadrons will train on land 
currently owned or controlled by the Department of the Army (Army), the 
DoN has requested that the Army be a cooperating agency for the 
preparation of this EIS.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for public scoping meeting 
dates.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the proposed action and alternatives may 
be submitted during the 30-day public scoping comment period and should 
be submitted and postmarked no later than September 7, 2010. There are 
three ways to submit written comments: (1) Attending one of the public 
scoping open-houses, (2) Submitting through the project Web site at 
http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/mv22h1eis, or (3) Via mail. Comments submitted 
by mail should be sent to Department of the Navy, Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command, Pacific Division, Attn: EV21, MV-22/H-1 EIS 
Project Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-
3134.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please visit the project Web site or 
contact the MV-22/H-1 EIS Project Manager by telephone at 808-472-1196 
or by e-mail via the project Web site. Please submit requests for 
special assistance, sign language interpretation for the hearing 
impaired, or other auxiliary aids needed at the public scoping open 
house to the Project Manager by August 13, 2010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DoN is initiating a public scoping 
process to identify community concerns and specific issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. Federal, state, county agencies and

[[Page 47563]]

interested parties are invited to attend any of these meetings and are 
encouraged to provide comments. The DoN will consider these comments in 
determining the scope of the EIS. Five public scoping meetings, using 
an informal open-house format, will be held on the following dates and 
locations in Hawaii:
    1. Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Hilo High School 
Cafeteria, 556 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720.
    2. Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Waikoloa 
Elementary & Middle School Cafeteria, 68-1730 Hooko Street, Waikoloa, 
HI 96738.
    3. Thursday, August 26, 2010, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., King Intermediate 
School Cafeteria, 46-155 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744.
    4. Saturday, August 28, 2010, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Kaunakakai 
Elementary School Library, Ailoa Street, Kaunakakai, HI 96748.
    5. Monday, August 30, 2010, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Waimanalo Elementary 
& Intermediate School Cafeteria, 41-1330 Kalanianaole Highway, 
Waimanalo, HI 96795.
    The scoping sessions will have informational displays available for 
review. Representatives from the DoN and Army will be present to answer 
questions, and the public will have an opportunity to submit written 
comments.
    Over the next decade, the Marine Corps plans to restructure and 
rebase its forces in the Pacific. These initiatives will shape the 
future of Marine Corps aviation as adjustments are made to meet the 
diverse missions of today's and tomorrow's battlefields.
    The Marine Corps organizes for operations by forming Marine Air-
Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs). A MAGTF is a balanced, air-ground combined 
organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander and is the 
Marine Corps' principal organization for all missions across the range 
of military operations. All MAGTFs are expeditionary, comprising four 
core elements: A command element (CE), a ground combat element (GCE), 
an aviation combat element (ACE), and a logistics combat element (LCE).
    Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEFs) are the Marine Corps' largest 
MAGTFs, task-organized around permanent command elements and normally 
containing one or more Marine divisions, Marine aircraft wings, and 
Marine logistics groups. There are three standing MEFs across the 
Marine Corps. I MEF (Camp Pendleton, California) and III MEF (Okinawa, 
Japan) are assigned under Marine Forces Pacific. II MEF (Camp Lejeune, 
North Carolina) is assigned under Marine Forces Command.
    Although III MEF is headquartered in Okinawa, Japan, a smaller 
MAGTF that is part of the larger MEF is based at Marine Corps Base 
(MCB) Hawaii Kaneohe Bay. The Kaneohe Bay elements include a command 
element (CE), the 3d Regiment (a GCE), Marine Air Group (MAG) 24 (a 
partial ACE), 1/12 Artillery Battalion, 3rd Radio Battalion, Combat 
Logistics Battalion 3 (LCE), and 21st Dental Company, among others. The 
VMM and HMLA squadrons would complete the MAG 24 ACE by providing 
missing attack and medium lift capability that are currently supplied 
from other commands, hence the need to base these squadrons in Hawaii.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action would include the following:
     Basing and operation of up to two VMM squadrons and one 
HMLA squadron to service Marine Corps operations in Hawaii.
     Construction of facilities necessary to accommodate and 
maintain the VMM and HMLA squadrons, including new construction and 
replacement and/or renovation of taxiways, aprons, hangars, support 
facilities, and infrastructure such as roadways and utilities.
     Conducting VMM and HMLA training and readiness operations 
and special exercise operations to attain and maintain proficiency in 
the employment of the aircraft. These operations may occur at training 
facilities statewide and may include construction of new landing zones 
and improvements to existing landing zones at selected training 
facilities.

Purpose and Need

    The purpose of the proposed action is to ensure that the Hawaii 
MAGTF is capable of supporting the needs of the III MEF operational 
commander to carry out his Title X responsibilities. To accomplish 
this, a MAGTF must train as it fights, that is as a single unit 
combining all of the four elements of a MAGTF. Readiness can only be 
assured through frequent, integrated training between the command, 
logistics, ground, and air elements of the MAGTF. Of particular 
importance is the ability to coordinate air and ground elements. This 
training, is required to maximize operational effectiveness and teaches 
aircrews how to combine operations with other Marine or joint air and 
ground assets. The need for the proposed action is to eliminate the 
existing disaggregation of the Hawaii MAGTF--and the work-around 
through gap deployments--to ensure a single deployable fighting unit to 
support III MEF operations in the western Pacific by correcting the 
currently incomplete ACE capability within the Hawaii MAGTF.
    The purpose and need for the proposed action is to correct existing 
deficiencies in the Hawaii MAGTF force posture, which by necessity 
results in only three possibilities: Locate the needed assets in Hawaii 
(proposed action), move the entire MAGTF to another location, or the no 
action alternative of continuing to fill the missing capabilities from 
other sources. As explained above, the MAGTF is comprised of four 
elements. Three of these four elements are already located in Hawaii 
with all their attendant personnel and infrastructure. The fourth, the 
ACE, is partially located in Hawaii. Thus, fully 80% of the MAGTF's 
capacity is already located in Hawaii. Consequently, due to cost, 
timing and environmental and socioeconomic impacts, the option of 
relocating the entire MAGTF out of Hawaii was not considered a 
reasonable alternative.
    A screening process using operational requirements was applied to 
narrow various Hawaii basing alternatives for the VMM and HMLA 
squadrons to a range of reasonable, feasible alternatives to be 
evaluated in the EIS. After applying the selection criteria, it was 
determined that Marine Corps Base (MCB) Hawaii Kaneohe Bay is the only 
reasonable site to be brought forward for further study.
    Full implementation of the proposed action is planned for the year 
2018. Approximately 1,000 active duty personnel, 22 civilian personnel 
(contractors and government employees), and 1,106 dependents would be 
associated with the new squadrons. Personnel increases would occur from 
2012 through 2018, in phase with delivery of the aircraft.

Preliminary Alternatives

    A range of reasonable aviation facility alternatives was developed 
to meet specific requirements. They vary by development footprints, 
layouts, and locations for aviation facilities at MCB Hawaii Kaneohe 
Bay. Under the No Action Alternative, current/baseline operations and 
support of existing capabilities would continue and new aircraft would 
not be introduced in order to support mission readiness. All of the 
alternatives except No Action involve construction of aviation 
facilities at MCB Hawaii Kaneohe Bay, landing zone improvements at 
selected

[[Page 47564]]

sites such as Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (Bellows) in 
Waimanalo, and training and readiness operations by the VMM and HMLA 
squadrons at various training facilities statewide currently used by 
the Marine Corps. In addition to MCB Hawaii Kaneohe Bay and Bellows, 
VMM and HMLA squadrons may train at Wheeler Army Airfield, Dillingham 
Airfield, and various U.S. Army training areas on Oahu; Pohakuloa 
Training Area on the island of Hawaii; Molokai Training Support 
Facility and Kalaupapa Airfield on Molokai; and the Pacific Missile 
Range Facility on Kauai.

Environmental Issues and Resources To Be Examined

    After scoping is completed, the EIS analysis will evaluate 
potential environmental effects associated with each alternative 
selected for full analysis. Issues to be addressed include, but are not 
limited to, aircraft noise, cultural resources, traffic, 
socioeconomics, biological resources, geology and soils, water quality, 
air quality, safety, hazardous materials and waste, visual resources, 
and environmental justice.

Agency Consultations

    The DoN will undertake appropriate consultations with regulatory 
entities pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, National Historic 
Preservation Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, and other applicable 
laws or regulations. Consultation will include but is not limited to 
the following federal, state, and local agencies: U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, State Historic 
Preservation Office, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 
National Park Service, Native Hawaiian Organizations, Historic Hawaii 
Foundation, and State of Hawaii Office of Planning.

Schedule

    This Notice of Intent initiates a 30-day scoping comment period to 
identify issues to be addressed in the EIS and reasonable and feasible 
alternatives to implement the proposed action. The next opportunity for 
public input to the EIS process occurs with publication of a Notice of 
Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register and local media, announcing 
release of the Draft EIS and commencement of a 45-day public comment 
period. A notice will be published in local papers to advertise public 
meetings for the project during the 45-day comment period. The DoN will 
consider and respond to all comments received on the Draft EIS when 
preparing the Final EIS. The DoN intends to issue the Final EIS in late 
2011, at which time an NOA will be published in the Federal Register 
and local media. The NOA will initiate a 30-day waiting period, after 
which the Assistant Secretary of the Navy or Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of the Navy will issue a Record of Decision.

    Dated: July 29, 2010.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate Generals Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal 
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-19422 Filed 8-5-10; 8:45 am]
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