[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 223 (Friday, November 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81748-81750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27827]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for EA-18G ``Growler'' Airfield Operations at the Naval Air 
Station Whidbey Island Complex, Washington

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 and regulations implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500-1508), 
the Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts of adding up to 36 
Growler aircraft at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island complex, 
and continuing and increasing Growler airfield operations. The NAS 
Whidbey Island complex is located in Island County, Washington, on 
Whidbey Island, in the northern Puget Sound region. The complex 
includes the main air station (Ault Field), which is in the north-
central part of the island, adjacent to the city of Oak Harbor, and 
Outlying Landing Field (OLF) Coupeville. The OLF is approximately 10 
miles south of Ault Field and is dedicated primarily to Field Carrier 
Landing Practice (FCLP).
    With the filing of the Draft EIS, the DoN is initiating an extended 
public comment period of 75 days, beginning on November 10, 2016 and 
ending on January 25, 2017. Public meetings are scheduled to inform the 
public and receive comments on the environmental analysis presented in 
the Draft EIS. This notice announces the dates, times, and

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locations of the public meetings and provides supplementary information 
about the Draft EIS.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: The DoN will hold public meetings to inform the 
public about the Draft EIS and the proposed action and alternatives 
under consideration and to provide opportunities for the public to 
comment on the Draft EIS. Federal, state, and local agencies and 
officials, Native American Indian Tribes and Nations, and interested 
organizations and individuals are encouraged to provide comments in 
person at the public meetings or in writing during the 75-day public 
review period. Public meetings will be held at the following dates, 
times, and locations:
    1. Monday, December 5, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the 
Fort Worden State Park Conference Center, USO Hall, 200 Battery Way, 
Port Townsend, Washington 98368.
    2. Tuesday, December 6, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the 
Oak Harbor Elks Lodge Grande Hall, 155 NE Ernst Street, Oak Harbor, 
Washington 98277.
    3. Wednesday, December 7, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the 
Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, 204 Village Road, Lopez 
Island, Washington 98261.
    4. Thursday, December 8, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the 
Seafarers' Memorial Park Building, 601 Seafarers Way, Anacortes, 
Washington 98221.
    5. Friday, December 9, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the 
Coupeville High School Commons, 501 South Main Street, Coupeville, 
Washington 98239.
    The public meetings will be open house sessions with informational 
poster stations. Members of the public will have the opportunity to ask 
questions of DoN representatives and subject matter experts. Attendees 
will also be able to provide verbal comments to a stenographer or 
submit written comments during the public meetings. In addition to 
participating in the public meetings, members of the public may submit 
comments via the U.S. Postal Service using the mailing address 
identified in the contact information later in this notice or 
electronically using the project Web site (http://www.whidbeyeis.com). 
All comments made at the public meetings or postmarked or received 
online by January 25 will become part of the public record and be 
considered in the Final EIS.
    The DoN may release the city, state, and 5-digit zip code of 
individuals who provide comments during the Draft EIS public review 
period. However, the names, street addresses, email addresses and 
screen names, telephone numbers, or other personally identifiable 
information of those individuals will not be released by the DoN unless 
required by law. Prior to each commenter making verbal comments to the 
stenographer at the public meetings the commenter will be asked whether 
he/she agrees to a release of their personally identifiable 
information. Those commenters submitting written comments, either using 
comment forms or via the project Web site, will be asked whether they 
authorize release of personally identifiable information by checking a 
``release'' box.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: EA-18G EIS Project Manager, Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, Attention: Code EV21/
SS; 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23508.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 5, 2013, the DoN published a 
notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal Register (78 FR 54635) to analyze 
the potential addition of 13 Growler aircraft to the existing Growler 
community stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. A revised NOI was published 
in the Federal Register on October 10, 2014 (79 FR 61296), which 
modified the proposed action by increasing the number of aircraft 
analyzed to 36 in order to account for the possible procurement of 
additional aircraft. Comments received during the two scoping periods 
were used to shape the analysis contained in the Draft EIS.
    The DoN's proposed action is to: (1) Continue and expand existing 
Growler operations at Ault Field and OLF Coupeville; (2) increase 
capabilities to accommodate up to 36 additional aircraft, including the 
construction and renovation of facilities at Ault Field; (3) support 
flight operations of other aircraft, and (4) station additional 
personnel in the region.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to augment the DoN's existing 
Electronic Attack community at NAS Whidbey Island by operating 
additional Growler aircraft as appropriated by Congress. The DoN needs 
to effectively and efficiently increase electronic attack capabilities 
in order to counter increasingly sophisticated threats and provide more 
aircraft per squadron in order to give operational commanders more 
flexibility in addressing future threats and missions. The need for the 
proposed action is to maintain and expand Growler operational readiness 
to support national defense requirements under Title 10, United States 
Code (U.S.C.), Section 5062.
    In developing the proposed range of alternatives that meet the 
purpose of and need for the proposed action, the DoN carefully reviewed 
important considerations unique to the Growler community that is 
single-sited at NAS Whidbey Island, as well as Growler squadron 
training in light of Title 10 responsibilities; existing training 
requirements and regulations; existing DoN infrastructure; and Chief of 
Naval Operations guidance to support operating Naval Forces. 
Furthermore, the DoN evaluated past home basing decisions, reconsidered 
alternatives previously eliminated from analysis, and thoughtfully 
considered basing and training options suggested by the public during 
the two scoping periods. The Draft EIS explains the DoN's reasons for 
eliminating some alternatives and suggested options from further 
consideration. In addition, the Draft EIS explains why some 
alternatives presented in the October 10, 2014 revised NOI were not 
carried forward.
    The action alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIS vary in terms of 
force structure and operations to accommodate the proposed increase in 
Growler aircraft. In addition, three operational scenarios (sub-
alternatives) are evaluated, all of which focus on the distribution of 
annual FCLP airfield operations between Ault Field and OLF Coupeville.
    In addition to the action alternatives, the DoN evaluated the 
potential environmental effects of the No Action Alternative. Under 
this alternative, the proposed action would not occur. Although the No 
Action Alternative would not meet the purpose of or need for the 
proposed action, the conditions associated with the No Action 
Alternative serve as reference points for describing and quantifying 
the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed action 
alternatives. For this Draft EIS, the DoN is using the year 2021 for 
the No Action Alternative because it represents conditions when events 
at Ault Field affecting aircraft loading, facility and infrastructure 
assets, personnel levels, and number of aircraft are expected to be 
fully implemented and complete from previous aircraft home basing, 
aircraft retirement, and other related decisions.
    The Draft EIS provides an analysis of the potential environmental 
effects of the proposed action on the following resources: Airspace and 
airfield operations; noise; public health and safety; air quality; land 
use; cultural resources; American Indian traditional resources; 
biological resources; water resources; socioeconomics; environmental 
justice; transportation;

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infrastructure; geological resources; hazardous materials and wastes; 
and climate change and greenhouse gases. Consultation with the 
Washington State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act is pending. The Navy will also 
engage in consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, Washington State Department of 
Ecology, and Native American Tribes and Nations.
    The Draft EIS was distributed to federal, state, and local agencies 
and elected officials, Native American Indian Tribes and Nations, and 
other interested individuals and organizations. The Draft EIS is 
available for public electronic viewing or download at the project Web 
site (http://www.whidbeyeis.com). A paper copy of the Draft EIS may be 
reviewed at 22 public libraries in the northern Puget Sound region. The 
full list of and addresses for each of the libraries may be found at 
the project Web site.
    To be included on the DoN's mailing list for future updates on the 
EIS, submit a request electronically using the project Web site or 
submit a written request to the address previously identified for 
further information. The same policy for release of personally 
identifiable information as identified above will be maintained by the 
DoN for individuals requesting to be included on the EIS mailing list.

    Dated: November 9, 2016.
C.D. Mora,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-27827 Filed 11-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P