[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 69653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27806]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Cancellation of the Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement for Construction and Operation of an Outlying Landing 
Field To Support Carrier Air Wing Aircraft at Naval Air Station Oceana 
and Naval Station Norfolk, VA

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DoN) hereby cancels its Notice of 
Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
Construction and Operation of an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) in 
northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. The purpose of 
the OLF was to support carrier-based air wing aircraft squadrons 
stationed at and transient to Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana and Naval 
Station (NS) Norfolk, VA. Navy Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress remains 
the single, local DoN OLF for Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) 
training for all fixed-wing, carrier-based air wing aircraft operating 
from NAS Oceana and NS Norfolk Chambers Field.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a Notice of Intent published on April 9, 
2008 (73 FR 19196), the DoN announced its intent to prepare an EIS to 
evaluate the potential environmental consequences of constructing and 
operating an OLF to support FCLP training requirements for carrier-
based fixed-wing aircraft at NAS Oceana and NS Norfolk Chambers Field, 
Virginia. On August 28, 2009, the DoN delayed release of the Draft OLF 
EIS in order to allow inclusion of a noise analysis for the F-35C 
(Joint Strike Fighter) in the EIS. The DoN suspended the Draft OLF EIS 
on January 27, 2011 pending better defined East Coast F-35C homebasing 
and training requirements.
    The current decision to cancel the suspended OLF EIS does not 
address the future requirement for an additional DoN East Coast OLF. 
When the DoN identifies East Coast F-35C homebasing and training 
requirements, the future long-term need for an additional OLF will be 
determined. At present, an EIS to support the East Coast homebasing of 
the F-35C is anticipated to begin no earlier than 2017, rather than 
2014 as was announced in 2011. If a decision is made at some future 
date to pursue an additional OLF in conjunction with the East Coast F-
35C homebasing, a new siting study would also have to be conducted. It 
is unknown at this time whether any, or all, of the five sites 
considered in the canceled OLF EIS would be considered in the future.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ted Brown, Public Affairs Office, 
Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, 1562 Mitcher Avenue, Suite 250, 
Norfolk, VA 23551-2487, telephone 757-836-3600; facsimile 757-836-3601.

    Dated: November 14, 2013.
N.A. Hagerty-Ford,
Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal 
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-27806 Filed 11-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P