[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 175 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54556-54557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22773]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to 
Transition Six FA-18C Strike Fighter Squadrons to FA-18E Strike Fighter 
Squadrons at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia 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 parts 1500-1508), 
the Department of the Navy (DoN) announces its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental consequences of transitioning six FA-18C (Hornet) strike 
fighter squadrons to FA-18E (Super Hornet) strike fighter squadrons at 
Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia. The EIS will also include a 
comprehensive analysis of NAS Oceana operations, addressing

[[Page 54557]]

overall air operations at the main base and Field Carrier Landing 
Practice (FCLP) operations at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) 
Fentress.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Two public scoping meetings will be held from 5:00 
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on:
    1. Tuesday, September 29, 2015, at the Columbian Club, 1236 
Prosperity Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451; and
    2. Wednesday, 30 September, 2015, at Centerville Baptist Church, 
908 Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake, VA 23322.
    The two public scoping meetings will be informal, using an open 
house format to obtain verbal or written comments on the scope of the 
EIS and to identify specific environmental concerns or topics for 
consideration. Each information station will be staffed by DoN 
representatives. Additional information concerning each public scoping 
meeting is available on the EIS Web page located at: http://www.oceanastrikefightereis.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NAS Oceana EIS Project Manager (Code 
EV21/TW); Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, 6506 
Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23508.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since 2002, FA-18C Hornet aircraft have been 
used in support of world-wide operations at higher rates than 
originally projected. The result of this higher use has been greater 
airframe fatigue, which in turn is rapidly accelerating the date at 
which the Hornet aircraft will reach the end of their service life and 
need to be retired. While the DoN plan had been to replace Hornet 
aircraft with the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft, the entry 
of the F-35C into the U.S. Navy inventory has been delayed and it will 
not be available on the East Coast before the current inventory of 
Hornet aircraft based at NAS Oceana will be retired.
    The combination of the accelerated retirement of the Hornet 
aircraft and delays in the availability of replacement F-35C aircraft 
warrants an interim measure to ensure the requisite number of strike 
fighter aircraft remain at NAS Oceana to meet operational and training 
needs. Therefore, the DoN proposes to transition the six NAS Oceana 
squadrons that still operate the FA-18C Hornet, and the NAS Oceana-
based Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), to the FA-18E Super Hornet 
aircraft. The proposed transition would involve a one-for-one aircraft 
replacement, occur at NAS Oceana, and begin no earlier than 2018. The 
proposed action will provide newer, more capable, and more reliable 
aircraft to the NAS Oceana-based strike fighter community using 
existing assets until the replacement F-35C aircraft are available for 
East Coast operations. No other aircraft carrier (CVN)-capable strike 
fighter aircraft exist to cover the gap until the introduction of the 
F-35C.
    Since Super Hornet flight training is nearly identical to Hornet 
flight training, the type and quantity of flight training operations at 
NAS Oceana, NALF Fentress, and the local operating areas are not 
expected to be affected by the proposed transition and the subsequent 
retirement of the Hornet. Other than minor modifications to aircraft 
auxiliary power utilities in hangars, and installation of Super Hornet-
compatible electrical distribution on the flight line, no major 
construction or facility modifications are planned.
    Recognizing that noise will be an important environmental concern 
associated with the transition, the EIS will include a comprehensive 
analysis of NAS Oceana air operations, including noise impacts, at the 
main base and FCLP operations at NALF Fentress. In addition, the DoN 
will use the EIS scoping period to conduct a thorough review of 
existing flight procedures to determine if any reasonable adjustments 
can be made to mitigate potential noise impacts of the proposed action. 
Following scoping, the DoN will also consider input from the public to 
help identify reasonable noise mitigation alternatives not already 
implemented to carry forward for analysis in the Draft EIS.
    Federal, state, and local agencies, the public and interested 
persons are encouraged to provide comments to the DoN during the public 
scoping period to identify environmental concerns that the commenter 
believes should be addressed in the EIS. To be most effective, scoping 
comments should clearly describe the specific issues(s) or topic(s) 
that the EIS should address. Mailed comments must be postmarked by (30 
Days).
    In addition to the proposed action, the EIS will address the No 
Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the DoN would not 
transition six NAS Oceana Hornet squadrons and the NAS Oceana based FRS 
from Hornet aircraft to Super Hornet aircraft. The shortage of Hornet 
airframes that would result under this alternative would have an 
immediate and growing impact on the operational readiness of the strike 
fighter squadrons at NAS Oceana.
    The DoN will analyze the potential environmental effects of 
transitioning the remaining Hornet aircraft to the Super Hornet 
aircraft. Resource areas to be addressed in the EIS will include, but 
not be limited to: noise, air quality, land use, socioeconomics, 
natural resources, biological resources, cultural resources, and safety 
and environmental hazards. The analysis will evaluate direct and 
indirect impacts, and will account for cumulative impacts from other 
relevant activities near the installation. Relevant and reasonable 
measures that could avoid or mitigate environmental effects will also 
be analyzed. Additionally, the DoN will undertake any consultations 
required by law or regulation.
    The DoN will not release the names, street addresses, email 
addresses and screen names, telephone numbers, or other personally 
identifiable information of individuals who provide comments during 
scoping unless required by law. However, the DoN may release the city, 
state, and 5-digit zip code of individuals who provide comments. Each 
commenter making oral comments at the public scoping meetings will be 
asked by the stenographer if he/she otherwise elects to authorize the 
release of their personally identifiable information prior to providing 
their comments. Commenters submitting written comments, either using 
comment forms or via the project Web site, may elect to authorize 
release of personally identifiable information by checking a 
``release'' box on the comment form.
    To be included on the DoN's mailing list for the EIS (or to receive 
a copy of the Draft EIS, when released), electronic requests can be 
made on the project Web site at www.oceanastrikefightereis.com. 
Requests via the U.S. Postal Service should be submitted to: NAS Oceana 
EIS Project Manager (Code EV21/TW); Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 
23508. The same policy for release of personally identifiable 
information as identified above for scoping comments will be maintained 
by DoN for individuals requesting to be included on the EIS mailing 
list.

    Dated: August 27, 2015.
N. A. Hagerty-Ford,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-22773 Filed 9-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P