[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51527-51528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20872]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period for the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Modernization and 
Expansion of Townsend Bombing Range, Georgia

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DoN) is extending the public 
comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
the Proposed Modernization and Expansion of Townsend Bombing Range 
(TBR), Georgia (GA) until September 27, 2012. A Notice of Availability 
(NOA) and a Notice of Public Meetings (NOPMs) for the Draft EIS were 
published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 13, 2012 (Federal 
Register/Vol. 77, No. 135, Pages 41385-41387 (NOPMs) and Page 41403 
(NOA)). Those notices announced the initial public comment period, 
including public meetings that took place on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 
and Thursday, August 9, 2012, and provided additional information on 
the background and scope of the Draft EIS. The initial public comment 
period requested the submission of all comments on the Draft EIS to the 
DoN by August 27, 2012. The DoN is extending the public comment period 
until September 27, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Capt. Cochran, 596 Geiger 
Blvd. MCAS Beaufort, SC 29904 at 843-228-6123.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DoN, as lead agency, has prepared and 
filed the Draft EIS for the Proposed Modernization and Expansion of 
TBR, GA in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 United States Code 4321 et seq.) 
and its implementing regulations (40 Code of Regulations parts 1500-
1508). The Draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of 
acquiring additional property and constructing the necessary 
infrastructure to allow the use of inert precision-guided munitions 
(PGMs) at TBR, GA.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide an air-to-ground 
training range capable of providing a wider variety of air-to-ground 
operations, including the use of PGMs, to meet current training 
requirements. The Proposed Action is needed to more efficiently meet 
current training requirements for the United States

[[Page 51528]]

Marine Corps aviation assets by significantly increasing air-to-ground 
training capabilities in the Beaufort, South Carolina Region. The Draft 
EIS has identified and considered four action alternatives and a No 
Action alternative.
    More information of the Draft EIS can be found in the previously 
published NOA and NOPM (see Federal Register on Friday, July 13, 2012 
(Federal Register/Vol. 77, No. 135, Pages 41385-41387 (NOPMs) and Page 
41403 (NOA)). Federal, State, and local agencies, elected officials, 
and other interested parties and individuals, are invited and 
encouraged to review and comment on the Draft EIS. Comments on the 
Draft EIS can be submitted via the project email address 
([email protected]), project Web site or submitted in 
writing to: Townsend Bombing Range EIS Project Manager, Post Office Box 
180458, Tallahassee, Florida, 32318. All comments must be postmarked or 
electronically dated on or before September 27, 2012 to be sure they 
become part of the public record.
    The Draft EIS has been distributed to various Federal, State, local 
agencies, and Native American Tribes, as well as other interested 
parties and individuals. In addition, copies of the Draft EIS are 
available for public review at the following public libraries: Ida 
Hilton Public Library, 1105 North Way, Darien, GA, 31305; Long County 
Public Library, 28 S. Main Street, Ludowici, GA, 31316; and Hog Hammock 
Public Library, 1023 Hillery Lane, Sapelo Island, GA, 31327.
    An electronic copy of the Draft EIS is also available for public 
viewing at http://www.townsendbombingrangeeis.com.
    To be considered, all comments on the Draft EIS must be received by 
September 27, 2012. The DoN will consider and respond to all comments 
received on the Draft EIS when preparing the Final EIS. The DoN expects 
to issue the Final EIS in spring 2013, at which time a NOA will be 
published in the Federal Register and local print media. A Record of 
Decision is expected in summer 2013.

    Dated: August 17, 2012.
C.K. Chiappetta,
Lieutenant Commander, U. S. Navy, Office of the Judge Advocate General, 
U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-20872 Filed 8-23-12; 8:45 am]
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