[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5144-5145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1964]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing and To Announce Public Scoping 
Meetings

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 of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500-
1508), the Department of the Navy (Navy) announces its intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify and 
evaluate the potential environmental consequences associated with 
providing facilities and functions to homebase the F-35C Joint Strike 
Fighter (JSF) aircraft on the West Coast of the United States. Under 
this proposal, a total of seven active-duty F/A-18C Hornet aircraft 
squadrons and one fleet replacement squadron (FRS) will progressively 
transition from F/A-18C Hornet aircraft to the more advanced F-35C JSF 
beginning in 2015. This transition will occur as a one-for-one 
replacement. The aging FA-18C Hornet aircraft are expected to be 
replaced with F-35C aircraft by 2025. The Navy will evaluate two basing 
options (plus a no action alternative) to efficiently and economically 
transition the F-35C aircraft into the fleet. This basing action is 
consistent with past Navy strike-fighter homebasing actions.
    Dates and Addresses: Public scoping meetings are scheduled to 
receive oral and/or written comments on environmental concerns that 
should be addressed in the EIS, as follows:
    1. Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at the Southwest High School, 2001 
Ocotillo Drive, El Centro, CA 92243 (located in Imperial County, 
California).
    2. Thursday, February 17, 2011, at Lemoore Senior Center, 789 South 
Lemoore Avenue (18th Avenue), Lemoore, CA (located in Kings County, 
California).
    Each meeting will occur from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meetings will be 
an open house format with informational displays and materials 
available for public review. The public will have an opportunity to 
submit written comments on environmental concerns that should be 
addressed in the U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing EIS. Navy staff 
will be present at these open houses to answer questions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing 
EIS Project Manager; Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest; 
619-532-2799.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a replacement for the Navy's aging F/A-
18C Hornet aircraft, the U.S. Congress has authorized and appropriated 
for the procurement of F-35C JSF, the next generation strike-fighter 
for the Navy. The F-35C is a highly advanced, single-engine, single-
seat, supersonic, multi-role strike-fighter aircraft that can operate 
from conventional runways and aircraft carriers and includes stealth 
features that makes it difficult to detect on radar. This aircraft will 
provide the Navy with enhanced war-fighting capabilities while 
achieving efficiencies in operations and support.
    The proposed action would provide facilities and functions to 
support homebasing a total of one hundred (100) F-35C aircraft (seven 
squadrons of 10 aircraft each, plus up to 30 aircraft in the FRS) at 
the selected West Coast homebasing location. By 2025, when the program 
is complete, the 109 F/A-18C aircraft currently homebased at Naval Air 
Station (NAS) Lemoore will have been replaced with 100 F-35C aircraft.
    The selected homebase installation may require some construction, 
facility renovations and utility upgrades in order to accommodate the 
new aircraft. Facility construction and modification would occur prior 
to and continue throughout the F-35C arrivals. The F-35C would operate 
within existing airspace and at existing training ranges.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to replace aging Pacific 
Fleet FA-18C Hornet aircraft with the F-35C while meeting the aircrews' 
associated training and readiness requirements. The need for the 
proposed action is to support the Navy's Maritime Strategy by 
maintaining strike fighter capability in the Pacific Fleet with the 
more advanced F-35C.
    During the initial planning process to identify suitable homebase 
locations for the F-35C, the Navy evaluated 134 Department of Defense 
installations against the operational and facilities requirements 
necessary to support the homebasing of the F-35C. Taking into account 
these requirements and the purpose of and need for the proposed action, 
the preliminary screening process identified two potential west coast 
homebasing locations: NAS Lemoore, located in Kings County, California 
and Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, located in Imperial County, 
California.
    In order to maximize efficiency of support facilities, simulation 
devices and on-site support personnel, the Navy intends to base all its 
west coast F-35C aircraft at one location. Accordingly, initial action 
alternatives to be considered are basing seven F-35C fleet squadrons 
and one F-35C FRS at either NAS Lemoore or NAF El Centro. Additionally, 
the U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing EIS will evaluate a No Action 
Alternative at each of the potential homebase locations to provide a 
baseline for comparison and analysis of the environmental consequences 
associated with the basing alternatives.

[[Page 5145]]

    No decision will be made to implement any alternative until the 
U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing EIS process is completed and a 
Record of Decision is signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy 
(Energy, Installations and Environment) or designee.
    Resource areas to be addressed in the U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast 
Homebasing EIS will include, but not be limited to: Air quality, noise 
environment, land use, socioeconomics, infrastructure and community 
services, natural resources, biological resources, cultural resources, 
safety and environmental hazards. The analysis will evaluate direct and 
indirect impacts, and will account for cumulative impacts from other 
relevant activities in the area of NAS Lemoore and NAF El Centro. 
Relevant and reasonable measures that could avoid or mitigate 
environmental effects will also be analyzed. Additionally, the Navy 
will undertake any consultations required by all applicable laws or 
regulations.
    The Navy is initiating the scoping process to identify community 
concerns and issues that should be addressed in the U.S. Navy F-35C 
West Coast Homebasing EIS. Federal, state, local agencies, and 
interested parties and persons are encouraged to provide comments on 
the proposed action that clearly describe specific issues or topics of 
environmental concern that the commenter believes that the Navy should 
consider.
    Public scoping comments may be submitted during the 45-day public 
comment period (from January 28, 2011 through March 14, 2011). All 
comments will receive the same attention and consideration in the 
preparation of the EIS. Comments may be submitted either orally or in 
writing at the two scheduled public scoping meetings; electronically 
through the project Web site at: http://www.navyf35cwestcoasteis.com; 
and/or may be mailed to: U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing EIS 
Project Manager; Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest (Code 
EV21/AK); 1220 Pacific Highway, Bldg. 1, San Diego, CA 92132. All 
public scoping comments on the U.S. Navy F-35 West Coast Homebasing 
EIS, both written and oral, must be submitted or postmarked no later 
than March 14, 2011.

    Dated: January 25, 2011.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-1964 Filed 1-27-11; 8:45 am]
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