[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8076-8078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03046]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Land-Water Interface and 
Service Pier Extension, Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Silverdale, WA

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) and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations 
for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500 
through 1508), the Department of the Navy (Navy) has prepared and filed 
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for Land-Water Interface (LWI) and Service Pier 
Extension (SPE) on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Silverdale, WA. The Draft 
EIS evaluates the potential environmental effects of two proposed 
actions: (1) The proposed construction and operation of LWI structures 
and (2) the proposed construction and operation of a SPE and associated 
support facilities, both on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor.
    With the filing of the Draft EIS, the Navy is initiating a 60-day 
public comment period and has scheduled two public meetings to provide 
information and receive comments on the Draft EIS. This notice 
announces the dates and locations of the public meetings and provides 
information about the environmental planning effort.

DATES: Dates and Addresses: Public meetings will be held from 5:00 p.m. 
to 8:00 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates 
and locations: March 3, 2015, at the Chimacum High School Commons, 91 
West Valley Road, Chimacum, WA 98325; March 4, 2015, at the North 
Kitsap High School Commons, 1780 NE Hostmark Street, Poulsbo, WA 98370.
    The 60-day public review and comment period for the Draft EIS is 
from February 13, 2015 through April 13, 2015. The Navy will hold two 
public meetings to inform the public about the proposed actions and 
potential environmental impacts, and to provide an opportunity for the 
public to comment on the adequacy and accuracy of the environmental 
analysis. The public meetings will include an open house information 
session, followed by a presentation by the Navy, and a verbal comment 
session. Navy representatives will be available during the open house 
information sessions to clarify information related to the Draft EIS. 
Federal, state, and local agencies and officials, as well as interested 
organizations and individuals, are encouraged to provide comments in 
writing during the public review period or in person at one of the 
scheduled public meetings.
    Attendees will be able to submit verbal and/or written comments 
during the public meetings. A court reporter will record comments from 
the public during the verbal comment session. In the interest of 
available time, and to ensure all who wish to provide a verbal 
statement to the court reporter have the opportunity to do so, each 
speaker's comments will be limited to three (3) minutes, which may be 
extended if meeting attendance and time permits. Equal weight will be 
given to verbal and written comments.
    Comments may also be submitted via mail to Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command Northwest, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, 
Silverdale, WA 98315-1101, Attn: Mr. Thomas Dildine, LWI/SPE EIS 
Project Manager, via Email at [email protected], or via the project Web 
site at: http://www.nbkeis.com/lwi. All comments, verbal or written, 
submitted during the public comment period will become part of the 
public record. All comments will be considered and acknowledged or 
responded to in the Final EIS. The Navy may address the comments 
directly, or the Navy may respond to public comments by modifying the 
analysis in the EIS as appropriate. Comments must be postmarked or 
received online by April 13, 2015, to ensure they are considered in the 
Final EIS. No decision will be made to implement any alternative until 
the NEPA process is complete and a Record of Decision is signed by the 
Navy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command 
Northwest, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, Silverdale, WA 98315-1101, 
Attn: Mr. Thomas Dildine, LWI/SPE EIS Project Manager, Email: 
[email protected], or project Web site: http://www.nbkeis.com/lwi.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to prepare the Land-Water 
Interface and Service Pier Extension EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on February 1, 2013 (78 FR 7416). Two public scoping meetings 
were held on the following dates and locations:
    1. February 20, 2013, Chimacum High School Commons, 91 West Valley 
Road, Chimacum, WA 98325; and
    2. February 21, 2013, North Kitsap High School Commons, 1780 
Northeast Hostmark Street, Poulsbo, WA 98370.
    The LWI proposed action is to complete the perimeter of the 
Waterfront Restricted Area at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor by constructing 
and operating barrier structures connecting the existing on-water Port 
Security Barrier system to the existing on-land Waterfront Security 
Enclave. The purpose of the LWI proposed action is to comply with 
Department of Defense directives to protect OHIO Class ballistic 
missile (TRIDENT) submarines from increased and evolving threats and to 
prevent the seizure, damage, or destruction of military assets. The LWI 
is needed to enhance security within the Waterfront Restricted Area and 
comply with security requirements. Three alternatives were carried 
forward for analysis: No Action (Alternative 1), Pile-Supported Pier 
(Alternative 2), and Port Security Barrier Modifications (Alternative 
3). Alternative 3 is the preferred alternative.
    The SPE proposed action is to extend and operate the existing 
Service Pier and construct and operate support facilities to 
accommodate the transfer of two SEAWOLF Class submarines from Naval 
Base Kitsap Bremerton to Naval Base Kitsap Bangor. The purpose of the 
SPE proposed action is to eliminate deployment constraints and improve 
maintenance of the SEAWOLF Class submarine fleet. The SPE is needed to 
avoid restrictions at Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton on navigating SEAWOLF 
Class submarines through Rich Passage under certain tidal conditions; 
improve long-term operational effectiveness for the three SEAWOLF Class 
submarines on Naval Base Kitsap; provide berthing and logistical 
support for SEAWOLF, LOS ANGELES, and VIRGINIA Class submarines at the 
Navy's submarine

[[Page 8077]]

research, development, test, and evaluation hub, located at Naval Base 
Kitsap Bangor; and improve submarine crew training and readiness 
through co-location of SEAWOLF Class submarines with command functions 
on the Naval Base Kitsap Bangor submarine training center. Three 
alternatives were carried forward for analysis: No Action (Alternative 
1), Short Pier (Alternative 2), and Long Pier (Alternative 3). 
Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative.
    The LWI and SPE are independent actions, but are analyzed in the 
same EIS because their geographic proximity results in the potential 
for the two projects to have overlapping environmental impacts. The 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) are cooperating agencies for this EIS.
    The Navy analyzed potential impacts from the proposed actions on 
environmental resources, including marine water resources (hydrography, 
water quality, sediment quality); marine vegetation and invertebrates; 
plankton; fish; marine mammals; marine birds; terrestrial biological 
resources (vegetation and habitats; wetlands; threatened, endangered, 
and sensitive species; and wildlife); geology, soils, and water 
resources; land use and recreation; airborne acoustic environment; 
aesthetics and visual quality; socioeconomics; environmental justice 
and protection of children; cultural resources; American Indian 
traditional resources; traffic; and air quality.
    For the LWI structures constructed under Alternative 2, impacts 
would include in-water pile-driving noise, including effects on fish 
and wildlife; turbidity; and habitat impacts. Impacts from operation 
and maintenance would include loss and shading of marine habitat, 
including eelgrass, macroalgae, and the benthic (bottom-dwelling) 
community, as well as potential interference with migration of some 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) protected juvenile salmon. LWI Alternative 
2 has the potential to impact fish and bird species protected under the 
ESA and marine mammals protected under the ESA and the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA). For the LWI structures constructed under 
Alternative 3, impacts would include airborne pile-driving noise, 
including effects on fish and wildlife, and habitat impacts. Impacts 
from operation and maintenance would include loss of marine habitat, 
including eelgrass. LWI Alternative 3 has the potential to impact fish 
and bird species protected under the ESA.
    Upland construction for both Alternatives 2 and 3 would result in 
permanent and temporary vegetation disturbance, but no wetland impacts 
would occur. No terrestrial animals or plants protected under the ESA 
or Migratory Bird Treaty Act would be affected; however, bald eagles 
foraging along the shoreline could be disturbed during construction. 
Project construction would have overall positive impacts on the local 
economy. Tribal access to some shellfish beds would be restricted 
during construction and, in the long term, a small area of these beds 
would be lost. During construction, vessel traffic would result in more 
openings of the Hood Canal Bridge, causing traffic delays on State 
Route 104 between the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas. Construction 
impacts on air and water quality would be minor and localized.
    For the SPE, construction impacts would include in-water pile-
driving noise and its effects on fish, wildlife, and neighboring 
communities; turbidity; and habitat impacts. Impacts from operation and 
maintenance would include loss and shading of marine habitat, but there 
would be minimal interference with the migration of juvenile salmon. 
SPE alternatives 2 and 3 could potentially impact fish and bird species 
protected under the ESA and marine mammals protected under the ESA and 
the MMPA. Upland impacts would include both permanent and temporary 
vegetation disturbance; however, no wetland impacts would occur. No 
terrestrial animals or plants protected under the ESA would be 
affected. Bald Eagles foraging along the shoreline could be disturbed 
during construction. Residential areas south of the base would 
experience increased noise levels during project construction. 
Construction would have an overall positive impact on the local 
economy. During construction, vessel traffic would result in more 
openings of the Hood Canal Bridge, causing traffic delays on State 
Route 104 between the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas. Construction 
impacts on air and water quality would be minor and localized.
    The Navy is consulting with NMFS in compliance with the MMPA 
permitting process regarding the potential behavioral disturbance of 
marine mammals associated with SPE construction. In accordance with 
ESA, the Navy is consulting with NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service on the potential impacts of construction and operation on 
federally listed species and critical habitat for both LWI and SPE 
projects. The Navy is also consulting with NMFS regarding impacts on 
essential fish habitat. Other permitting and consultation will also 
occur.
    Past, present, and other reasonably foreseeable future actions are 
expected to result in cumulative impacts on marine habitats and species 
in Hood Canal. However, through the implementation of proposed 
compensatory aquatic mitigation actions described in the Mitigation 
Action Plan, the LWI and SPE contribution to cumulative impacts would 
not be significant. The LWI and SPE would contribute to regional 
cumulative impacts on nearshore terrestrial habitats. Construction of 
the LWI and SPE could possibly overlap with one another and 
construction of other waterfront structures on Naval Base Kitsap 
Bangor, resulting in increased pile-driving noise impacts on marine and 
terrestrial species. During construction, marine vessel traffic from 
LWI and SPE projects would increase the frequency of openings of the 
Hood Canal Bridge, resulting in impacts to travelers on State Route 104 
between the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas. Additionally, noise impacts 
on nearby residential and recreational areas would increase slightly. 
Construction of multiple projects may also increase traffic impacts on 
base roads and delays at the gates entering the base, leading to 
increased traffic impacts on adjacent roads. The projects would also 
have cumulative economic benefits.
    The Draft EIS was distributed to federal, state, and local 
agencies, elected officials, and other interested organizations and 
individuals. Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public review at 
the following public libraries:

    1. Jefferson County Library (Port Hadlock), 620 Cedar Ave., Port 
Hadlock, WA 98339;
    2. Kitsap Regional Library (Poulsbo), 700 NE Lincoln Road, 
Poulsbo, WA 98370;
    3. Kitsap Regional Library--Sylvan Way (Bremerton), 1301 Sylvan 
Way, Bremerton, WA 98310;
    4. Kitsap Regional Library (Silverdale), 3450 NW Carlton St., 
Silverdale, WA 98383;
    5. Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St., Port 
Townsend, WA 98368; and
    6. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104.

    The Draft EIS is also available for electronic viewing at 
www.nbkeis.com/lwi. A compact disc of the Draft EIS will be made 
available upon written request by contacting: Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command Northwest, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, 
Silverdale, WA 98315-1101, Attn: Mr. Thomas Dildine, LWI/SPE EIS 
Project Manager, Email: [email protected], or project Web site: http://www.nbkeis.com/lwi.


[[Page 8078]]


    Authority:  35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR part 404.

    Dated: February 5, 2015.
N. A. Hagerty-Ford,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-03046 Filed 2-12-15; 8:45 am]
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