[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34863-34865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11852]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Bremerton Waterfront Infrastructure Improvements, Bremerton, Kitsap 
County, WA, and To Announce a Virtual Public Scoping Meeting

AGENCY: Department of the Navy (DON), Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations, the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the 
potential environmental impacts associated with construction, 
modification, replacement, demolition,

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and operation of multiple waterfront infrastructure and facilities at 
the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility 
(PSNS & IMF) at Naval Base (NAVBASE) Kitsap Bremerton, Washington. The 
DON is initiating a 30-day public scoping period to receive comments on 
the scope of the EIS including identification of potential 
alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the Proposed 
Action, identification of environmental concerns, issues the public 
would like to see addressed in the EIS, and the project's potential to 
affect historic properties pursuant to Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966.

DATES: The public 30-day scoping period begins on June 8, 2022, and 
extends to July 11, 2022. Comments must be postmarked or submitted 
electronically via email or the website no later than 11:59 p.m. 
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on July 11, 2022, for consideration in the 
Draft EIS.
    The DON will hold a virtual public scoping meeting, consisting of 
presentations and a question-and-answer session. The meeting will be 
held on June 23, 2022, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. PDT. Information about 
how to participate in the meeting, including how to submit questions to 
be discussed at the meeting, is available at the DON project website 
address below. The DON will also publish participation details for the 
virtual public scoping meeting in local newspapers and in press 
releases.

ADDRESSES: The DON invites all interested parties to submit scoping 
comments on the Bremerton Waterfront Infrastructure Improvements EIS to 
the physical and electronic addresses listed in the section below. 
Please visit the project website at 
www.BremertonWaterfrontImprovementsEIS.com for further information.
    Comments may be received:
     electronically via email: 
[email protected];
     electronically via the project website: 
www.BremertonWaterfrontImprovementsEIS.com; or
     by mail, postmarked no later than July 11, 2022, to the 
following address: Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command 
Northwest, Attn: Bremerton EIS Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, 
Room 210, Silverdale, WA 98315.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Systems 
Command Northwest, Attn: Ms. Christine Stevenson, Bremerton EIS Project 
Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Room 210, Silverdale, WA 98315, 
[email protected], 360-396-0080.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to 
address critical deficiencies in dry dock capability, capacity, and 
seismic survivability at NAVBASE Kitsap Bremerton to enable PSNS & IMF 
to meet its mission to support the DON's nuclear fleet. The Proposed 
Action is needed because PSNS & IMF does not have the dry dock 
capability to support the DON's newest class of nuclear-powered 
aircraft carrier (CVN), USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78); PSNS & IMF does 
not have the dry dock and pier capacity to conduct the required future 
overhauling, refueling, inactivating, and recycling of submarines; and 
Dry Dock (DD) 6, the only dry dock on the West Coast that can 
accommodate a CVN, and other existing infrastructure do not meet 
current Department of Defense Unified Facilities Criteria design 
standards for seismic performance.
    The Proposed Action will address critical deficiencies in dry dock 
capability, capacity, and seismic survivability at NAVBASE Kitsap 
Bremerton to enable PSNS & IMF to meet its mission to support the DON's 
nuclear fleet. The DON considers an EIS the appropriate document for 
comprehensively analyzing the Proposed Action, which will affect 
existing facilities and construct new infrastructure and facilities at 
PSNS & IMF.
    The Proposed Action would occur along the PSNS & IMF waterfront, 
beginning as early as 2026. Components include: construction of a new 
multi-mission dry dock (M2D2) at PSNS & IMF that can accommodate all 
classes of CVNs along the PSNS & IMF waterfront; seismic upgrade of 
existing DD6; and modification, demolition, and/or replacement of other 
piers, wharves, quay walls, buildings, cranes, and utilities. Although 
the majority of the Proposed Action is expected to occur at NAVBASE 
Kitsap Bremerton, the DON could replace some demolished facilities at 
other NAVBASE Kitsap installations.
    The DON has identified two preliminary action alternatives to carry 
forward for analysis in the EIS along with the No Action alternative. 
These alternatives will be further refined based on input received from 
the public and resource agencies during scoping.
    Under Alternative 1 (No Action Alternative), there would be no 
change from the status quo. The DON would not build an M2D2, upgrade 
DD6 to meet current seismic standards, or take other component actions. 
However, the DON would continue to rely on, maintain, and repair 
existing facilities to perform its mission.
    Under Alternative 2, the DON would construct a new M2D2 on the east 
side of PSNS & IMF, at the location of existing DD3. Additionally, the 
DON would seismically upgrade DD6 and construct a new Forge Shop at 
NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor. The DON would also demolish Piers 4, 5, 6, and 
7, including the Hammerhead Crane on Pier 6, and construct a new Pier 
2. The DON would replace Piers 4 and 6 with new piers. The DON would 
dredge bottom sediments to create entrance channels and provide 
adequate draft at wharves and piers.
    Under Alternative 3, the DON would construct an M2D2 in the center 
of the PSNS & IMF waterfront, at the current location of Mooring A. 
Additionally, the DON would seismically upgrade DD6. The DON would also 
demolish Mooring A, the Hammerhead Crane on Pier 6, and Pier 4. The DON 
would replace Pier 4 with a new pier. The DON would dredge bottom 
sediments to create entrance channels and adequate draft at wharves and 
piers.
    The environmental issues and resource areas the DON would examine 
in the EIS include, but are not limited to, the following: Air Quality, 
Water Quality, Geological Resources, Biological Resources, Cultural 
Resources, American Indian Traditional Resources, Land Use and 
Recreation, Visual Resources, Noise, Infrastructure and Utilities, 
Transportation and Traffic, Marine Navigation, Public Health and 
Safety, Hazardous Materials and Waste, Socioeconomics, and 
Environmental Justice. The EIS will also analyze measures that would 
avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental effects.
    Additionally, the DON will conduct all coordination, consultation, 
and permitting activities required by the Clean Water Act, Rivers and 
Harbors Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, NHPA, Coastal 
Zone Management Act, and other laws and regulations applicable to the 
project. Since project components would be phased over multiple years, 
the DON will coordinate with each agency regarding timing of 
consultations and permitting.
    The DON encourages federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, and 
interested persons to provide comments concerning potential 
alternatives and environmental issues for analysis in the EIS, as well 
as to identify specific

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environmental resources that the DON should consider when developing 
the Draft EIS. Additionally, the DON encourages interested persons to 
submit comments concerning historic resources under Section 106 of the 
NHPA. The DON will prepare the Draft EIS, including analysis of 
potential effects on those resources that the DON and the public 
identify. The DON will consider all comments received during the public 
scoping period during EIS preparation.
    The project website is available at 
www.BremertonWaterfrontImprovementsEIS.com. The project website 
provides information on the Proposed Action, NEPA process and schedule, 
and includes a document library. The public can use this website to 
submit scoping comments electronically between June 8, 2022, and July 
11, 2022. In addition, the public can submit substantive questions for 
discussion with DON representatives at the virtual public meeting. 
Questions should be submitted by email to 
[email protected] or by completing the form 
at www.BremertonWaterfrontImprovementsEIS.com between June 8, 2022, and 
June 22, 2022.
    Additional opportunities for public comment will occur after the 
release of the Draft EIS. The DON intends to publish the Draft EIS in 
spring 2023, publish the Final EIS in spring 2024, and sign a Record of 
Decision following the 30-day Final EIS wait period.

    Dated: May 27, 2022.
J.M. Pike,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-11852 Filed 6-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P