[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59664-59665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24754]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement For 
Divert Activities and Exercises, Guam and Commomwealth of The Northern 
Mariana Islands

AGENCY: Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, United States Air Force, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and U.S. Air Force (USAF) 
Environmental Impact Analysis Process (32 CFR part 989), the USAF is 
issuing this notice to advise the public of its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Divert Activities and 
Exercises, Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    The proposed divert activities and exercises would involve airfield 
improvements designed to provide additional divert capability for 
various military aircraft operating as part of joint training 
exercises, humanitarian assistance activities, and disaster relief 
operations for northeast Asia. The proposed action would include the 
development and construction of facilities and infrastructure designed 
to support up to one tanker squadron of 12 KC-135 aircraft and its 
approximately 500 support personnel. This proposed action includes 
divert activities and exercises involving a tanker squadron, as well as 
USAF, U.S. Navy, or other military aircraft operating in the region, 
and ideally would require a 10,000-foot runway. Components of the 
proposal include a cargo pad; an expanded runway area; new taxiways, 
aprons, and shoulders; 6,000-square foot maintenance facility; jet fuel 
receiving, storage, and delivery capability; and associated pavement 
markings, lighting, security, and other related infrastructure.
    The possible alternatives for the divert airfield capability 
include the international airports on Saipan, Tinian, Rota, or other 
reasonable alternatives developed during the scoping process. Guam 
International Airport, as an existing divert location, will be 
considered in this EIS, as part of the no action alternative.
    The Air Force is in the process of inviting potential Cooperating 
Agencies to participate in aspects of the EIS development as 
appropriate or required.

[[Page 59665]]

    Scoping: In order to effectively define the full range of issues to 
be evaluated in the EIS, the USAF will sponsor a series of scoping 
meetings to determine the scope of the EIS and solicit comments from 
interested agencies and members of the public.

DATES: All scoping meetings will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 
The scheduled dates, times, and locations for the scoping meetings will 
be published in local media. Scoping meetings will be held in the 
following locations:

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                   Date                              Locations
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October 13, 2011.........................  Barrigada Mayor's Office,
                                            Barrigada, Guam.
October 14, 2011.........................  Dededo Mayor's Office/Senior
                                            Center, Dededo, Guam.
October 17, 2011.........................  Saipan Multi-Purpose Center,
                                            Beach Road, Susupe, Saipan.
October 18, 2011.........................  Tinian Elementary School, San
                                            Jose Village, Tinian.
October 20, 2011.........................  Sinapalo Elementary School
                                            Rota, Sinapalo, Rota.
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    Comments will be accepted at any time during the environmental 
impact analysis process. However, to ensure the USAF has sufficient 
time to consider public input in the preparation of the Draft EIS, 
comments should be submitted to the address below by November 10, 2011.
    Scoping comments may be submitted in writing to the address listed 
below. Verbal or written comments will also be accepted at each of the 
public scoping meetings. Scoping comments may also be submitted via the 
World Wide Web at http://www.PACAFDivertMarianasEIS.com. This Web site 
will be activated on October 1, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Capt Kimberly Bender, PACAF/PA, 25 E 
Street, Suite G-108, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI 96853, Attn: 
PACAF Divert Marianas EIS.

Bao-Anh Trinh,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-24754 Filed 9-26-11; 8:45 am]
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