Notice of Intent To Prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Extension of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range Land Withdrawal, 58370-58372 [2010-23984]
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properties. USACE Detroit District, and
Wayne County, MI acting as the nonfederal sponsor, have formed a
partnership to reevaluate the flooding
issues along the NBEC. The GRR/EIS,
will update a feasibility study and EIS
completed by USACE in 1988. The
purpose of this GRR/EIS is reanalysis of
the federal interest in developing flood
risk management measures on the
NBEC. The analysis will include
reformulation of the authorized plan
from the 1988 study for applicability.
The GRR/EIS will incorporate a review
of developments in the floodplain
during the last 22 years, consideration
of changing needs of the local
communities, and current
environmental conditions. When
complete, the GRR/EIS will recommend
if flood mitigation measures should
occur with federal assistance. Federal
funding for the GRR/EIS phase
originates from American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act funds, which requires
the GRR/EIS to be developed on an
accelerated schedule.
Project Authority: The GRR/EIS is
being completed based on authorization
by Section 102 of the River and Harbor
Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89–789). The
original study Feasibility Report and
Environmental Impact Statement for
Flood Protection in the Ecorse Creek
Drainage Basin, Wayne County,
Michigan, 1987 (Revised 1988)
recommended the development of a
retention basin as the selected plan.
Construction of the selected plan from
the 1988 feasibility study was further
authorized by Section 101(a) (14) of the
Water Resources Development Act
(WRDA) of 1990. Construction never
occurred. Project authorization was
extended in Section 3179 of the WRDA
of 2007 to conduct the GRR.
Project Alternatives: A number of
flood risk management alternatives will
be evaluated as part of the GRR/EIS
including retention basins, stream
widening and restoration, flood walls
and levees, along with non-structural
measures such as management plans,
warning systems and property
acquisition.
Draft EIS Scoping Process: The
scoping process for public input will
involve Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with affected Indian
tribes, other interested parties and
entities. Coordination with natural
resources and environmental agencies
will be conducted under the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act, Endangered
Species Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air
Act, and the National Historic
Preservation Act. A public meeting will
be held (see DATES) to include
discussion of environmental issues
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associated with potential flood risk
management alternatives.
Issues to be considered during the
development of the Draft EIS and public
review and input process include:
aesthetics, dredged material disposal,
water quality, air and noise quality,
hazardous, toxic and radiological waste,
threatened and endangered species,
environmental justice, wetlands,
historic properties, recreation,
cumulative impacts, natural resource
mitigation and other issues that may
affect public health and welfare. It is
estimated the Draft EIS will be available
for public review and comment in late
2011.
John M. Niemiec,
Project Manager.
[FR Doc. 2010–23934 Filed 9–23–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Extension
of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial
Gunnery Range Land Withdrawal
Lead Agency: Department of the Navy,
DoD.
Cooperating Agency: Bureau of Land
Management, Department of the
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969 and regulations
implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 Code of
Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500–
1508), the Department of the Navy
(DoN) and the United States Marine
Corps (USMC), with the cooperation of
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
intends to prepare a Legislative
Environmental Impact Statement
(L–EIS) and conduct public scoping
meetings for the proposed extension of
the withdrawal of approximately
226,711 acres of public land in Imperial
and Riverside counties, California, for
continued military use of the Chocolate
Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range
(CMAGR).
The California Military Lands
Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1994
(Pub. L. 103–433) withdrew 226,711
acres of public land to DoN, reserving
these lands for defense-related purposes
for a period of 20 years (until October
31, 2014). The Act provides that the
DoN may seek extension of the CMAGR
withdrawal. As part of the withdrawal
SUMMARY:
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process, the Secretary of the Navy is
required to publish a Draft L–EIS
addressing legislative alternatives and
the effects of continued withdrawal. The
CMAGR Draft L–EIS will evaluate the
environmental effects of the proposal to
extend the land withdrawal for an
additional 25 years (through 2039) and
will evaluate alternative actions to
restructure the existing range boundary
for improved efficiency in the
management of the CMAGR and
adjacent lands.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: DoN is initiating
a 90-day public scoping process to
identify community interests and
specific issues to be addressed in the
L–EIS, which starts with the publication
of this Notice of Intent (NOI). Four
public scoping meetings have been
scheduled to enlist written and oral
comments regarding the scope of the
Draft L–EIS analysis:
1. Monday, December 6, 2010, 5:30
p.m. to 8 p.m., Yuma County Library,
Rooms B–C, 2951 S. 21st Drive, Yuma,
Arizona 85364;
2. Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 5:30
p.m. to 8 p.m., Holiday Inn Express—El
Centro, Conference Room B, 350
Smoketree Drive, El Centro, California
92243;
3. Wednesday, December 8, 2010, 5:30
p.m. to 8 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1800 E.
Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, California
92264; and
4. Thursday, December 9, 2010, 5:30
p.m. to 8 p.m., San Diego Planning
Commission Hearing Room, 5201 Ruffin
Road, Suite B, San Diego, California
92123.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
CMAGR L–EIS Project Manager (Attn:
Kelly Finn), NAVFAC Southwest, 1220
Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92132–
5190; phone 619–532–4452. Additional
supplementary information regarding
the CMAGR Draft L–EIS is available at
https://
www.chocolatemountainrenewal.com.
Please submit requests for special
assistance, sign language interpretation
for the hearing impaired, or other
auxiliary aids needed at the scoping
meeting to the L–EIS Project Manager by
November 26, 2010.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public
scoping meeting schedules and
locations will also be published in local
newspapers. The public is invited to
attend these meetings to view projectrelated displays, speak with DoN and
USMC representatives, and submit
public comment forms at information
stations. A court reporter will be
available at the meetings to accept oral
comments. The scoping meetings will
be conducted in an informal, open
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house style meeting format. All
comments regarding the scope of issues
that should be considered in the Draft
L–EIS must be received within 90 days
of the publication date of this notice to
ensure full consideration in the Draft
L–EIS analysis.
Submitting Comments: Federal, state,
and local agencies and interested parties
are encouraged to provide oral and/or
written comments regarding the scope
of the L–EIS, reasonable alternatives
and/or specific issues or topics of
interest to the public. Comments may be
submitted by: (1) Attending one of the
public scoping open houses and
providing oral or written comments, (2)
submitting a comment form on the
project’s public website at https://
www.chocolatemountainrenewal.com,
or (3) mail. Written comments should be
submitted to the L–EIS Project Manager
listed below under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. All written
comments on the scope of the L–EIS
should be submitted and/or postmarked
no later than December 23, 2010.
The USMC will consider all
comments received during the scoping
period. A mailing list has been
assembled to facilitate preparation of
the L–EIS. Those on this list will receive
notices and information related to L–EIS
preparation. This list includes local,
state, and federal agencies with
jurisdiction or other interests in the
alternatives. In addition, the mailing list
includes affected municipalities and
other interested parties. Anyone
wishing to be added to the mailing list
may request to be added by contacting
the L–EIS project manager at the address
provided below.
Before including your address,
telephone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information
in your comment, please be aware that
your entire comment—including any
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
Although requests can be made to
withhold personal identifying
information from public review, it may
not be possible to keep this information
from disclosure.
The CMAGR has served as an aerial
bombing and gunnery training range
since the 1940s. The CMAGR currently
provides more than 700 square miles
(459,000 acres) of land, and overlying
and adjacent special-use airspace that
extends laterally for several thousands
of square miles that, among other
activities, supports training in air
combat maneuvering and tactics; close
air support (where air-to-ground
ordnance is fired to directly support
friendly forces engaged in ground
combat); airborne laser system
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operations; air-to-air gunnery; and airto-ground bombing, rocketry, and
strafing. Artillery, demolitions, small
arms, and Navy Special Warfare training
are also conducted within the range.
The CMAGR is a centerpiece in a much
larger training complex that
incorporates adjacent and nearby
special use airspaces and ranges to
support full-spectrum combat
operations so that Marines can
realistically train as they will fight.
Purpose and Need: The purpose of
and need for the proposed CMAGR
renewal is for the DoN to retain a
military aircrew training range for nearand long-term preparedness of United
States tactical air forces. Extending the
land withdrawal will provide for the
continued effective implementation of
ongoing aircrew training while
maintaining the flexibility to adapt to
the training needs of new technologies
as they develop. The performance of air
operations in combat is directly related
to the quality and depth of training. The
CMAGR provides a unique combination
of attributes that serve this training
requirement, including the favorable
location and flying weather; sufficient
land and airspace; diverse terrain; and
developed training support facilities.
The CMAGR consists of
approximately 459,000 acres of desert
mountain terrain in Imperial and
Riverside counties, California. The land
jurisdiction map of the CMAGR closely
resembles a checkerboard where every
other section (640 acres or 1 square
mile) is managed by either the DoN or
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The DoN owns 232,116 acres of the
checkerboard, while the alternate
sections of the range (226,711 acres) are
made up of withdrawn lands managed
by the BLM.
Since the CMAGR comprises DoNowned and BLM-managed public lands,
environmental stewardship for the
CMAGR is implemented through the
Sikes Act for DoN land and the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act for
BLM land. Because the management
goals and procedures of these acts differ,
two separate regulatory schemes are
required to administer the checkerboard
land jurisdiction pattern of the range.
Currently, DoN has full administrative
jurisdiction to manage military training
and resource management on DoNowned lands within the CMAGR, and
the BLM is responsible for resource
management on the alternating sections
of public lands withdrawn and reserved
for DoN use.
Preliminary Alternatives: A range of
alternatives, including the no-action
alternative required by NEPA, will be
considered. The L–EIS will also
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58371
consider other reasonable alternatives
that are identified during scoping or the
preparation of the L–EIS. Four
preliminary action alternatives have
been identified. Alternatives 2, 3 and 4
would include restructuring the
CMAGR boundaries to more closely
follow certain prominent geographic
features, such as aligning part of the
CMAGR boundary to closely parallel but
no longer cross features such as the
Bradshaw Trail and Coachella Canal.
1. Alternative 1 would extend the
current withdrawal with no boundary or
jurisdictional changes, for a period of 25
years.
2. Alternative 2 would extend the
land withdrawal for a period of 25 years
with restructured boundaries and would
allocate full administrative jurisdiction
for resource management to DoN, in
addition to the military activities.
3. Alternative 3 would extend the
land withdrawal for a period of 25 years
and transfer all custody and
accountability for the real property
within both the current withdrawal and
the restructured boundaries from BLM
to DoN. All responsibility for resource
management and use of the lands would
then reside with DoN.
4. Alternative 4 would extend the
land withdrawal for a period of 25 years
with the restructured boundaries;
management of the military activities
would remain with DoN and the
resource management would remain
with BLM.
5. Under Alternative 5, the No Action
Alternative, the existing land
withdrawal for the CMAGR, provided
by the California Military Lands
Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1994,
would expire. The capability to support
existing and future training activities at
the CMAGR that rely on these lands
would cease. No alternative range is
located in the operational region that
has the weapons training capacity of the
CMAGR. Consequently, aircrew and
other training terminated at the CMAGR
by the No Action Alternative would
have to be relocated to ranges elsewhere
in the country or curtailed. Range cleanup operations at CMAGR would be
required.
Environmental Issues and Resources
To Be Examined: The Draft L–EIS will
evaluate the potential environmental
effects associated with each of the above
alternatives and any additional
alternatives developed during the
scoping period. Issues to be addressed
include, but are not limited to,
biological resources, cultural resources,
geology and soils, hydrology, noise, air
quality, safety, hazardous materials and
waste, socioeconomics and
environmental justice. Relevant and
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reasonable measures that would avoid
or mitigate environmental effects will
also be analyzed. Additionally, the
USMC will undertake any consultations
required by the Endangered Species Act,
Clean Water Act, National Historic
Preservation Act, and any other
applicable law or regulation.
In accordance with the Engle Act of
1958, and the Federal Lands Policy and
Management Act of 1976, the DoN is
required to file an application with the
BLM requesting the Secretary of the
Interior process a proposed legislative
withdrawal and reservation of public
land to continue military training
exercises at the CMAGR. The proposed
alternatives would withdraw at least
222,041 but not more than 242,058 acres
of public land. As a result of the
proposed boundary restructuring,
approximately 15,347 acres of public
land not in the existing 226,711 acre
withdrawal would be withdrawn. The
restructured boundary would offer the
best opportunities to define and manage
a secure boundary for the CMAGR,
safeguard public use of adjacent public
land, and consolidate holdings for more
efficient environmental stewardship.
The public land would be withdrawn
from all forms of appropriation under
the public land laws, including surface
entry, mining, mineral leasing, and the
Materials Act of 1947.
L–EIS Schedule: This notice is the
first phase of the L–EIS process and
announces the 90-day public comment
period and public scoping meetings to
identify community concerns and local
issues that should be addressed in the
L–EIS. The next phase occurs when a
Notice of Availability (NOA) is
published in the Federal Register and
local media to publicly announce the
release of the Draft L–EIS. A minimum
45-day public comment period for the
Draft L–EIS will commence upon
publication of the NOA in the Federal
Register. The USMC will consider and
respond to all comments received on the
Draft L–EIS when preparing the Final L–
EIS. After publication of the Draft L–
EIS, one or more public hearings will be
held, and public notice will be given
regarding the time and place of the
hearing(s). The Draft L–EIS will be
available for public and agency review
and comment before the public
hearing(s).
Dated: September 17, 2010.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge
Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010–23984 Filed 9–23–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
Skokomish General Investigation
Study, Mason County, WA
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
will prepare an Integrated Feasibility
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
(FR/EIS) for proposed ecosystem
restoration and flood risk management
in the Skokomish River Basin which
empties into Hood Canal, near Shelton,
Washington. The Skokomish Indian
Tribe and Mason County are the nonFederal sponsors for the project.
The Skokomish River General
Investigation (GI) Feasibility Study for
the Skokomish River Basin is being
conducted under the authority of
Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of
1962 (Pub. L. 87–874).
The Skokomish River channel has
been filling with sediment for several
decades, resulting in frequent flooding
and decreasing natural ecosystem
structures, functions, and processes
necessary to support critical fish and
wildlife habitat throughout the
Skokomish River Basin. Increased
sediment load, reduced flows, and
encroachment of the floodplain by manmade structures are leading to
continued degradation of natural
ecosystem functions and habitat. The
degraded riverine and estuarine aquatic
habitat has caused a decline in the
population of critical fish and wildlife
species, including multiple ESA listed
species. Additionally, the channel
capacity of the Skokomish River varies
significantly. Limited channel capacity
causes floodwater to leave the banks at
various locations, ultimately causing
frequent flooding of local roads, two
state highways, agricultural fields,
residences, and other structures.
The Skokomish River GI is a basinwide study; however, work by others,
constrain the limit of Corps’
involvement to actions primarily in the
lower Skokomish River Valley.
Problems, opportunities, and objectives
will be examined within the context of
the entire watershed. Recognizing the
relationships between the upper and
lower watershed will ensure a
comprehensive study overview.
SUMMARY:
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The purpose of the FR/EIS and
feasibility study is to evaluate if there is
a federal interest in aquatic ecosystem
restoration and flood risk management
in the Skokomish River Basin.
DATES: Submit comments by October 25,
2010 on the scope of issues to be
addressed in the draft FR/EIS.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments
concerning this notice to Mr. Patrick
Cagney, Environmental Resources
Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Seattle District, P.O. Box 3755, Seattle,
WA 98124–3755. Submit electronic
comments and supporting data to
patrick.t.cagney@usace.army.mil
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding the scoping process
or preparation of the draft EIS may be
directed to Mr. Patrick Cagney,
telephone (206) 764–3654, e-mail
patrick.t.cagney@usace.army.mil
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Study Area: The Skokomish River
Basin (Basin) is located in northwest
Washington, predominantly in Mason
County. The project study area is
comprised of the entire drainage basin,
including the estuary at Annas Bay. The
river collects drainage from an
approximate 240 square mile drainage
basin, and eventually flows into
southern Hood Canal, an arm of Puget
Sound. The river flows out of three subbasins (South Fork, North Fork, and
Vance Creek) into a broad, flat alluvial
plain known as the Skokomish River
Valley. The Skokomish Indian
Reservation is located within the lower
valley and extends along the southeast
portion of the Olympic Peninsula. The
Basin is defined by the Water Resource
Inventory Area (WRIA) 16 and is located
within U.S. Congressional District #6 of
Washington State.
2. Alternatives: The EIS will
separately evaluate alternatives for
aquatic ecosystem restoration and flood
risk management. Alternatives that will
be evaluated under aquatic ecosystem
restoration will include an alternative
that uses physical actions to restore the
Basin’s habitat-forming processes and/or
create habitats that have been lost as a
result of historic alterations. Example of
actions that could occur under this
alternative include: increasing
floodplain habitat and connectivity,
restoring off-channel habitat for juvenile
fish, improving estuarine functions and
processes, and increasing emergent and
riparian vegetation. Another alternative
that will be considered will focus on
benefits to the several aquatic species
listed under the Endangered Species
Act. Actions under this alternative
could include creation of spawning and
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58370-58372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23984]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Extension of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial
Gunnery Range Land Withdrawal
Lead Agency: Department of the Navy, DoD.
Cooperating Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and regulations implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-
1508), the Department of the Navy (DoN) and the United States Marine
Corps (USMC), with the cooperation of the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), intends to prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact Statement
(L-EIS) and conduct public scoping meetings for the proposed extension
of the withdrawal of approximately 226,711 acres of public land in
Imperial and Riverside counties, California, for continued military use
of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR).
The California Military Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act of
1994 (Pub. L. 103-433) withdrew 226,711 acres of public land to DoN,
reserving these lands for defense-related purposes for a period of 20
years (until October 31, 2014). The Act provides that the DoN may seek
extension of the CMAGR withdrawal. As part of the withdrawal process,
the Secretary of the Navy is required to publish a Draft L-EIS
addressing legislative alternatives and the effects of continued
withdrawal. The CMAGR Draft L-EIS will evaluate the environmental
effects of the proposal to extend the land withdrawal for an additional
25 years (through 2039) and will evaluate alternative actions to
restructure the existing range boundary for improved efficiency in the
management of the CMAGR and adjacent lands.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: DoN is initiating a 90-day public scoping process
to identify community interests and specific issues to be addressed in
the L-EIS, which starts with the publication of this Notice of Intent
(NOI). Four public scoping meetings have been scheduled to enlist
written and oral comments regarding the scope of the Draft L-EIS
analysis:
1. Monday, December 6, 2010, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Yuma County
Library, Rooms B-C, 2951 S. 21st Drive, Yuma, Arizona 85364;
2. Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Holiday Inn
Express--El Centro, Conference Room B, 350 Smoketree Drive, El Centro,
California 92243;
3. Wednesday, December 8, 2010, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Holiday Inn,
1800 E. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, California 92264; and
4. Thursday, December 9, 2010, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., San Diego
Planning Commission Hearing Room, 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite B, San Diego,
California 92123.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CMAGR L-EIS Project Manager (Attn:
Kelly Finn), NAVFAC Southwest, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA
92132-5190; phone 619-532-4452. Additional supplementary information
regarding the CMAGR Draft L-EIS is available at https://www.chocolatemountainrenewal.com. Please submit requests for special
assistance, sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired, or
other auxiliary aids needed at the scoping meeting to the L-EIS Project
Manager by November 26, 2010.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public scoping meeting schedules and
locations will also be published in local newspapers. The public is
invited to attend these meetings to view project-related displays,
speak with DoN and USMC representatives, and submit public comment
forms at information stations. A court reporter will be available at
the meetings to accept oral comments. The scoping meetings will be
conducted in an informal, open
[[Page 58371]]
house style meeting format. All comments regarding the scope of issues
that should be considered in the Draft L-EIS must be received within 90
days of the publication date of this notice to ensure full
consideration in the Draft L-EIS analysis.
Submitting Comments: Federal, state, and local agencies and
interested parties are encouraged to provide oral and/or written
comments regarding the scope of the L-EIS, reasonable alternatives and/
or specific issues or topics of interest to the public. Comments may be
submitted by: (1) Attending one of the public scoping open houses and
providing oral or written comments, (2) submitting a comment form on
the project's public website at https://www.chocolatemountainrenewal.com, or (3) mail. Written comments should
be submitted to the L-EIS Project Manager listed below under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All written comments on the scope of the
L-EIS should be submitted and/or postmarked no later than December 23,
2010.
The USMC will consider all comments received during the scoping
period. A mailing list has been assembled to facilitate preparation of
the L-EIS. Those on this list will receive notices and information
related to L-EIS preparation. This list includes local, state, and
federal agencies with jurisdiction or other interests in the
alternatives. In addition, the mailing list includes affected
municipalities and other interested parties. Anyone wishing to be added
to the mailing list may request to be added by contacting the L-EIS
project manager at the address provided below.
Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, please be aware
that your entire comment--including any personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. Although
requests can be made to withhold personal identifying information from
public review, it may not be possible to keep this information from
disclosure.
The CMAGR has served as an aerial bombing and gunnery training
range since the 1940s. The CMAGR currently provides more than 700
square miles (459,000 acres) of land, and overlying and adjacent
special-use airspace that extends laterally for several thousands of
square miles that, among other activities, supports training in air
combat maneuvering and tactics; close air support (where air-to-ground
ordnance is fired to directly support friendly forces engaged in ground
combat); airborne laser system operations; air-to-air gunnery; and air-
to-ground bombing, rocketry, and strafing. Artillery, demolitions,
small arms, and Navy Special Warfare training are also conducted within
the range. The CMAGR is a centerpiece in a much larger training complex
that incorporates adjacent and nearby special use airspaces and ranges
to support full-spectrum combat operations so that Marines can
realistically train as they will fight.
Purpose and Need: The purpose of and need for the proposed CMAGR
renewal is for the DoN to retain a military aircrew training range for
near- and long-term preparedness of United States tactical air forces.
Extending the land withdrawal will provide for the continued effective
implementation of ongoing aircrew training while maintaining the
flexibility to adapt to the training needs of new technologies as they
develop. The performance of air operations in combat is directly
related to the quality and depth of training. The CMAGR provides a
unique combination of attributes that serve this training requirement,
including the favorable location and flying weather; sufficient land
and airspace; diverse terrain; and developed training support
facilities.
The CMAGR consists of approximately 459,000 acres of desert
mountain terrain in Imperial and Riverside counties, California. The
land jurisdiction map of the CMAGR closely resembles a checkerboard
where every other section (640 acres or 1 square mile) is managed by
either the DoN or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The DoN owns
232,116 acres of the checkerboard, while the alternate sections of the
range (226,711 acres) are made up of withdrawn lands managed by the
BLM.
Since the CMAGR comprises DoN-owned and BLM-managed public lands,
environmental stewardship for the CMAGR is implemented through the
Sikes Act for DoN land and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
for BLM land. Because the management goals and procedures of these acts
differ, two separate regulatory schemes are required to administer the
checkerboard land jurisdiction pattern of the range. Currently, DoN has
full administrative jurisdiction to manage military training and
resource management on DoN-owned lands within the CMAGR, and the BLM is
responsible for resource management on the alternating sections of
public lands withdrawn and reserved for DoN use.
Preliminary Alternatives: A range of alternatives, including the
no-action alternative required by NEPA, will be considered. The L-EIS
will also consider other reasonable alternatives that are identified
during scoping or the preparation of the L-EIS. Four preliminary action
alternatives have been identified. Alternatives 2, 3 and 4 would
include restructuring the CMAGR boundaries to more closely follow
certain prominent geographic features, such as aligning part of the
CMAGR boundary to closely parallel but no longer cross features such as
the Bradshaw Trail and Coachella Canal.
1. Alternative 1 would extend the current withdrawal with no
boundary or jurisdictional changes, for a period of 25 years.
2. Alternative 2 would extend the land withdrawal for a period of
25 years with restructured boundaries and would allocate full
administrative jurisdiction for resource management to DoN, in addition
to the military activities.
3. Alternative 3 would extend the land withdrawal for a period of
25 years and transfer all custody and accountability for the real
property within both the current withdrawal and the restructured
boundaries from BLM to DoN. All responsibility for resource management
and use of the lands would then reside with DoN.
4. Alternative 4 would extend the land withdrawal for a period of
25 years with the restructured boundaries; management of the military
activities would remain with DoN and the resource management would
remain with BLM.
5. Under Alternative 5, the No Action Alternative, the existing
land withdrawal for the CMAGR, provided by the California Military
Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1994, would expire. The
capability to support existing and future training activities at the
CMAGR that rely on these lands would cease. No alternative range is
located in the operational region that has the weapons training
capacity of the CMAGR. Consequently, aircrew and other training
terminated at the CMAGR by the No Action Alternative would have to be
relocated to ranges elsewhere in the country or curtailed. Range clean-
up operations at CMAGR would be required.
Environmental Issues and Resources To Be Examined: The Draft L-EIS
will evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with each
of the above alternatives and any additional alternatives developed
during the scoping period. Issues to be addressed include, but are not
limited to, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and
soils, hydrology, noise, air quality, safety, hazardous materials and
waste, socioeconomics and environmental justice. Relevant and
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reasonable measures that would avoid or mitigate environmental effects
will also be analyzed. Additionally, the USMC will undertake any
consultations required by the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act,
National Historic Preservation Act, and any other applicable law or
regulation.
In accordance with the Engle Act of 1958, and the Federal Lands
Policy and Management Act of 1976, the DoN is required to file an
application with the BLM requesting the Secretary of the Interior
process a proposed legislative withdrawal and reservation of public
land to continue military training exercises at the CMAGR. The proposed
alternatives would withdraw at least 222,041 but not more than 242,058
acres of public land. As a result of the proposed boundary
restructuring, approximately 15,347 acres of public land not in the
existing 226,711 acre withdrawal would be withdrawn. The restructured
boundary would offer the best opportunities to define and manage a
secure boundary for the CMAGR, safeguard public use of adjacent public
land, and consolidate holdings for more efficient environmental
stewardship. The public land would be withdrawn from all forms of
appropriation under the public land laws, including surface entry,
mining, mineral leasing, and the Materials Act of 1947.
L-EIS Schedule: This notice is the first phase of the L-EIS process
and announces the 90-day public comment period and public scoping
meetings to identify community concerns and local issues that should be
addressed in the L-EIS. The next phase occurs when a Notice of
Availability (NOA) is published in the Federal Register and local media
to publicly announce the release of the Draft L-EIS. A minimum 45-day
public comment period for the Draft L-EIS will commence upon
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register. The USMC will consider
and respond to all comments received on the Draft L-EIS when preparing
the Final L-EIS. After publication of the Draft L-EIS, one or more
public hearings will be held, and public notice will be given regarding
the time and place of the hearing(s). The Draft L-EIS will be available
for public and agency review and comment before the public hearing(s).
Dated: September 17, 2010.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-23984 Filed 9-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
