Record of Decision for the Guam and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Military Relocation: Relocating Marines from Okinawa, Visiting Aircraft Carrier Berthing, and Air and Missile Defense Task Force, 60438-60440 [2010-24478]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Navy
• Navy Department

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60438-60440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24478]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Record of Decision for the Guam and Commonwealth of Northern 
Mariana Islands Military Relocation: Relocating Marines from Okinawa, 
Visiting Aircraft Carrier Berthing, and Air and Missile Defense Task 
Force

    Lead Agency: Department of the Navy, DoD.
    Cooperating Agency: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DoN) and the Department of the 
Army (Army), after carefully weighing the environmental consequences of 
the proposed action, as well as considering operational and training 
requirements, strategic requirements, obligations under treaties and 
other international agreements, and cost, announce their decision to 
proceed with Guam and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) 
Military Relocation.
    As a result of redefining the United States (U.S.) defense posture 
in the Pacific region and the U.S. alliance with Japan, a portion of 
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) forces currently located in Okinawa, Japan 
will be relocated to Guam. This relocation of USMC forces will meet 
international agreement and treaty requirements and fulfill U.S. 
national security policy requirements to provide mutual defense, deter 
aggression, and dissuade coercion in the Western Pacific Region in 
response to the evolving security environment in the Pacific region, as 
identified through the Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy 
and the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). The redefining of the U.S. 
defense posture in the Pacific also calls for greater availability of 
aircraft carrier strike groups in the Pacific to support engagement, 
presence, and deterrence. Finally, in support of the proposed military 
relocation, the stationing of an Air and Missile Defense Task Force 
(AMDTF) is also being considered. A significant number of countries 
have ballistic missile capabilities which can deliver conventional, 
nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Other countries are working 
to establish these capabilities and missile systems. The effective 
strike range of defensive ballistic missile systems dictates that they 
must be located in the proximity of the protected assets. The need for 
the proposed AMDTF is to protect the territory of Guam, its citizens, 
U.S. and allied forces on Guam from the threat of harm from ballistic 
missile attacks from other countries and enemies of the U.S.
    Implementing the military relocation analyzed in the Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) will be a multi-agency, multi-year effort 
undertaken by the DoN, Army, Department of Transportation's Federal 
Highway Administration (FHWA), Guam utilities, Guam agencies, and 
various private entities. Implementation includes several components:
    (1) Marine Corps: (a) Development and construction of facilities 
and infrastructure to support approximately 8,600 Marines and their 
9,000 dependents being relocated from Okinawa to Guam. (b) Development 
and construction of facilities and infrastructure to support training 
and operations on Guam and Tinian (located in the CNMI).
    DoN has elected to defer selection of a specific site for the 
construction and operation of a live fire training range complex in the 
Route 15 area in Guam pending completion of the Section 106 
consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA). Likewise, a selection regarding implementation of a roadway 
improvement project calling for a realignment of Route 15 is hereby 
deferred pending selection of a specific site for the construction.

[[Page 60439]]

    (2) Navy: Construction of a new deep-draft wharf with shoreside 
infrastructure improvements creating the capability in Apra Harbor, 
Guam to support a transient nuclear powered aircraft carrier.
    DoN has elected to defer selection of a specific site for the 
construction and operation of a transient aircraft carrier berth within 
Apra Harbor for the near term. However, the analysis presented in the 
EIS, including the marine resources impacts analysis, provides 
sufficient information to allow the DoN to fully consider the direct, 
indirect and cumulative environmental impacts of locating a transient 
aircraft carrier berth and make a programmatic decision to locate a 
transient aircraft carrier berth generally within Apra Harbor, which is 
the only deep draft harbor on the island of Guam that could support 
such a berth.
    (3) Army: Development of facilities and infrastructure on Guam to 
support relocating approximately 600 military personnel and their 900 
dependents to establish and operate an Air and Missile Defense Task 
Force (AMDTF).
    As of the date of this Record of Decision (ROD), the Department of 
Defense (DoD) has not decided to construct and operate an AMDTF on 
Guam. The decision on whether to assign this mission to the Army will 
be made pending the results of the ongoing regional and global 
Ballistic Missile Defense architectural and capability studies. It will 
also be based in part on the EIS for this proposed action with Guam as 
one site that is under consideration for an AMDTF mission. The EIS was 
prepared noting that if the mission were assigned to Army, the 
alternatives presented in the EIS represent how Army could implement 
the action on Guam. Army has selected the preferred alternatives 
described in Volume 5 of the EIS as the appropriate manner to implement 
the proposed action if and when the mission is assigned.
    (4) Utilities: Renovation and development of additional capacity 
for power, water, and wastewater systems, both on base and off base, to 
support the increased demand from the new Marine Corps Base and 
associated growth in DoD and civilian population caused by the 
Relocation.
    (5) Off-base Roadways: Improvements to off base roads, bridges, and 
intersections to support increased traffic and offset significant 
impacts caused by the Relocation.
    Each of the major actions noted above encompasses several 
construction projects to provide required facilities and 
infrastructure. Most of the major actions and their supporting projects 
have alternative sites located throughout the island of Guam. This ROD 
will document and demonstrate why DoD has chosen to implement the 
preferred alternatives for each of the actions described in the EIS, 
except as noted above.
    Because DoN and Army are preparing this ROD as a joint effort, both 
concur and support the decisions expressed within it. The ROD includes 
descriptions and discussions of the proposed actions and their impacts. 
It also includes descriptions and discussions of all related actions 
and their impacts. Combined, these two elements--proposed and related 
actions, with associated impacts--provide the context for consideration 
of the collective and cumulative impacts associated with all actions 
addressed in the EIS.
    While this ROD represents the decisions of DoN and Army regarding 
the proposed actions, Federal agencies have greatly contributed to 
formulating and refining the approach to implementing actions and 
associated mitigation measures. Led by Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) facilitated discussions, DoD reached major agreements with 
various Federal regulatory agencies regarding key issues, refined 
action alternatives for Guam's potable water and wastewater systems, 
committed to the use of force flow reduction and Adaptive Program 
Management (APM) as mitigation measures, and established a Civil-
Military Coordination Council (CMCC) to implement APM. All of these 
actions are discussed with greater detail within the ROD. DoN would 
like to recognize the efforts of CEQ, the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA), the Department of Interior (DOI), the National 
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Government 
of Guam Agencies and thank them for their participation and assistance 
in seeking resolution to the many challenges confronting DoD in the 
completion of the NEPA process for this proposed action. It is also 
recognized that as the military construction projects necessary to 
implement the actions move forward, each of these agencies will have a 
continuing role through either a regulatory, permitting, or advisory 
capacity and will continue to partner in the implementation of the 
actions.
    This ROD was prepared in accordance with CEQ Regulations for 
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA 40 CFR parts 1500 to 
1508 and specifically, 40 CFR 1505.2--Record of decision in cases 
requiring environmental impact statements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Darrell Molzan, Environmental 
Director, Joint Guam Program Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary 
of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment), 1000 Navy 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (Section 
101 et seq. of NEPA); the regulations of the President's Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) that implement NEPA procedures (40 CFR 
Parts 1500-1508); Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 4715.9, 
Environmental Planning and Analysis; and applicable DoN environmental 
regulations and instructions that implement these laws and regulations, 
the DoN announces its decision to relocate U.S. Marines Corps forces 
from Okinawa, Japan to Guam, construct the infrastructure to support 
this relocation effort, and conduct training and operations on Guam and 
Tinian with the relocated Marine Corps forces. Additionally, the Navy 
announces its decision to construct and operate a berth for a transient 
nuclear aircraft carrier in Guam. The Army announces its decision 
regarding construction and operation of AMDTF facilities on Guam if 
tasked in the future with the mission of providing ballistic missile 
defense for Guam. Additionally, DoN announces it decision regarding the 
preferred solutions for roadway and utility system improvements on Guam 
to support the military buildup.
    To implement the actions necessary for relocating U.S. Marine Corps 
forces from Okinawa to Guam, the DoN has decided to select all of the 
preferred alternatives described in Volumes 2, 3 and 6 of the EIS and 
to implement all mitigation measures noted in this ROD, except as noted 
below. Relative to Volume 2 and the construction and operation of 
facilities on Guam, the major actions and decisions include the 
following: (1) For a main cantonment area DoN selects Alternative 2. 
Implementation of this alternative would involve utilizing DoD-owned 
lands at NCTS Finegayan and South Finegayan Navy Housing and acquiring 
non-DoD-owned land known as the former FAA parcel. (2) For access to 
the Naval Munitions Site (NMS) DoN selects Alternative B, which 
involves the use of the existing hiking trail as the access road. (3) 
For the location of additional ammunition storage at NMS DoN selects 
Alternative A, the use of Parson's Road. (4) For airfield functions DoN 
selects the following actions: beddown of the Marine Corps Air Combat 
Element (ACE) and construction

[[Page 60440]]

of associated facilities at Andersen AFB North Ramp, construction of 
air embarkation facilities at Andersen AFB South Ramp, and construction 
of the North Gate and access road at Andersen AFB. (5) For Marine Corps 
embarkation facilities DoN selects to refurbish various wharfs and 
upgrade utilities to support waterfront functions and operations at 
Naval Base Guam, associated dredging and dredge disposal management 
(with a priority for beneficial reuse of dredge material), relocation 
of military working dog kennels at Naval Base Guam, and construction of 
a medical/dental clinic at Naval Base Guam.
    Relative to the construction and operation of a live-fire training 
range complex on Guam, DoN has elected to defer selection of a specific 
site in the Route 15 area pending completion of the Section 106 
consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA). Alternative A remains DoN's preferred alternative. Upon 
completion of the Section 106 consultation process, should DoN select 
this alternative it would involve the acquisition of approximately 
1,090 acres of non-DoD owned lands on a plateau across from Andersen 
AFB South along Route 15.
    Relative to Volume 3 and actions on Tinian, DoN selects Alternative 
1, which will involve the construction and operation of Known Distance 
(KD) rifle, Pistol/MP, Platoon, and Field live fire training ranges on 
north/northeast, north, or northeast alignments respectively.
    Relative to Volume 6 and solutions to meet required utilities 
improvements necessary to support the military build-up on Guam: (1) 
For power DoN selects solutions that will include reconditioning up to 
five (5) existing GPA combustion turbine (CT) power generation units. 
Additionally, the power solution will involve power transmission and 
distribution line upgrades to provide the appropriate level of 
reliability to serve military needs at Apra Harbor, NCTS Finegayan, and 
Andersen AFB. (2) For potable water DoN selects solutions that will 
include the provision of an additional potable water capacity of 11.3 
million gallons per day (MGd) through the establishment of up to 22 new 
DoD water wells at Andersen AFB, rehabilitation of existing wells, 
interconnects with the GWA water system, and construction of associated 
treatment, storage and transmission systems. (3) For wastewater DoN 
selects solutions that will include repairs and upgrades to primary 
treatment capabilities at the Northern District Waste Water Treatment 
Plant (NDWWTP), improvements to the NDWWTP to achieve secondary 
treatment standards and expansion of the plant beyond the current 
design capacity of 12 MGd, improvements to the Northern and Central 
wastewater collection systems, and improvements to the 
Hag[aring]t[ntilde]a WWTP to achieve secondary treatment standards. (4) 
For solid waste DoN selects solutions that will continue the use of 
existing Navy Apra Harbor landfill until the new GovGuam public 
landfill at Layon is completed.
    Relative to Volume 6 and roadway improvements DoN selects 
Alternative 2, Limited Roadway Improvements, which involves a limited 
number of off-base roadway and intersection improvement projects that 
have received DAR certification or that have been deemed DAR-eligible. 
These projects include roadway widening, intersection improvements, 
bridge replacements, pavement strengthening at specific locations 
island-wide, and military access points as well as the realignment of a 
portion of Route 15.
    Based on the level of concern expressed in comments on the Draft 
EIS, continued discussions with cooperating agencies under NEPA, and 
the DoN's continuing commitment to environmental stewardship, the DoN 
has elected to defer selection of a specific site for the construction 
and operation of a transient aircraft carrier berth within Apra Harbor 
for the near term. However, the analysis presented in the EIS, 
including the marine resources impacts analysis, provides sufficient 
information to allow the DoN to fully consider the direct, indirect and 
cumulative environmental impacts of locating a transient aircraft 
carrier berth and make a programmatic decision to locate a transient 
aircraft carrier berth generally within Apra Harbor, which is the only 
deep draft harbor on the island of Guam that could support such a 
berth.
    Discussions with the EPA, NOAA, and the DOI identified additional 
data these agencies would prefer were available for use in analyzing 
specific sites for placement of the transient nuclear aircraft carrier 
wharf. The Navy will voluntarily collect additional data on marine 
resources in Apra Harbor at the alternative transient aircraft carrier 
berth sites still under consideration by the Navy as set out in Volume 
4 of the EIS. The type and scope of the additional data to be collected 
has been developed cooperatively with EPA, NOAA, and DOI and is 
described in the ``Final Scope of Work Elements for Marine Surveys of 
the CVN Transient Berth Project Area, Potential Mitigation sites, and 
Habitat Equivalency Analysis'' included in Volume 9, Appendix J of the 
EIS. The additional data collected, associated analysis, and any other 
data that may be required by the United States Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) during the Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting process, will be 
used in the future to inform the subsequent selection of a specific 
site for the transient aircraft carrier berth and to support any future 
CWA permitting decisions for the selected site, including compensatory 
mitigation.
    As of the signatory date of this ROD, the DoD has not decided to 
assign this mission to the Army nor to construct and operate an AMDTF 
on Guam. The decision on whether to assign this mission to the Army, 
and subsequently construct and operate an AMDTF on Guam, will be made 
pending the results of the ongoing regional and global Ballistic 
Missile Defense architectural and capability studies. Guam is one site 
that is under consideration for an AMDTF mission. The EIS was prepared 
noting that if the mission were assigned to Army, the alternatives 
presented in the EIS best represent how Army will implement the action 
on Guam. Army has selected the preferred alternatives described within 
Volume 5 of the EIS as the appropriate and desired manner to implement 
the proposed action if and when the mission is assigned.
    The full text of the ROD is available at https://www.guambuildupeis.us. Hard copies of the ROD will be available at the 
following locations: University of Guam Robert F. Kennedy Memorial 
Library, Government Documents Tan Siu Lin Building, UOG Station, 
Mangilao, GU 96923; Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library, 254 Martyr 
Street, Hag[aring]t[ntilde]a, GU 96910; Tinian Public Library, P.O. Box 
520704, Tinian, MP 96952; Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, P.O. Box 501092, 
Saipan, MP 96950; Olympio T. Borja Memorial Library, P.O. Box 501250, 
Saipan, MP 96950.

    Dated: September 23, 2010.
D.J. Werner
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-24478 Filed 9-29-10; 8:45 am]
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