Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for Renewal of the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Public Land Withdrawal, California and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings, 34066-34068 [2011-14449]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 112 / Friday, June 10, 2011 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
In Accordance With Section 10(a)(2) of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App 2.), Announcement Is Made
of the Following Committee Meeting:
Western Hemisphere Institute for
Security Cooperation Board of
Visitors; Meeting
Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
schedule and summary agenda for the
annual meeting of the Board of Visitors
(BoV) for the Western Hemisphere
Institute for Security Cooperation
(WHINSEC). Notice of this meeting is
required under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463). The
Board’s charter was renewed on March
18, 2010 in compliance with the
requirements set forth in Title 10 U.S.C.
2166.
DATES: Tuesday–Wednesday, September
27–28, 2011.
Time: Tuesday—8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and
Wednesday—8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: 7161 Richardson Circle,
Fort Benning, Georgia.
Proposed Agenda: The WHINSEC
BoV will be briefed on activities at the
Institute since the last Board meeting on
December 3rd, 2010, as well as receive
other information appropriate to its
interests.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
WHINSEC Board of Visitors Secretariat
at (703) 614–8721.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
meeting is open to the public. Pursuant
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act
of 1972 and 41 CFR 102–3.140(c),
members of the public or interested
groups may submit written statements
to the advisory committee for
consideration by the committee
members. Written statements should be
no longer than two type-written pages
and sent via fax to (703) 614–8920 by 5
p.m. E.ST. on Monday, September 19th,
2011, for consideration at this meeting.
In addition, public comments by
individuals and organizations may be
made from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. during the
meeting on 27 September. Public
comments will be limited to three
minutes each. Anyone desiring to make
an oral statement must register by
sending a fax to (703) 614–8920 with
his/her name, phone number, email
address, and the full text of his/her
comments (no longer than two
typewritten pages) by 5 p.m. E.S.T. on
Monday, September 19th, 2011. The
first five requestors will be notified by
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SUMMARY:
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5 p.m. E.S.T. on Friday, September
23rd, 2011, of their time to address the
Board during the public comment
forum. All other comments will be
retained for the record. Public seating is
limited and will be available on a firstcome, first-served basis.
Scott P. Caldwell,
Executive Secretary, Department of the Army
Civilian, WHINSEC Board of Visitors.
[FR Doc. 2011–14293 Filed 6–9–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE M
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement/
Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement for Renewal of the Naval Air
Weapons Station China Lake Public
Land Withdrawal, California and To
Announce Public Scoping Meetings
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Pursuant to section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by
the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 Code of Federal
Regulations [CFR] parts 1500–1508), the
Department of the Navy (DoN), with the
cooperation of the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), announces its
intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Legislative
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/
LEIS) to evaluate the potential
environmental effects associated with
the continued withdrawal of
approximately 1.1 million acres of
public land in Kern, Inyo, and San
Bernardino counties, California. This
public land withdrawal comprises the
current North and South ranges at Naval
Air Weapons Station China Lake
(NAWSCL). The proposed land
withdrawal extension will allow the
DoN to continue defense-related
research, development, test and
evaluation (RDT&E) and training
missions at NAWSCL, in addition to
other land uses.
The California Military Lands
Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1994
(Pub. L. 103–433, part of the California
Desert Protection Act) withdrew and
reserved the lands known then as the
China Lake Naval Weapons Center
(subsequently renamed NAWSCL) for
defense-related purposes for a period of
20 years (until October 14, 2014). The
Act provides that the DoN may seek
extension of the withdrawal of such
lands. As a part of the withdrawal
SUMMARY:
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process, the Secretary of the Navy is
required to publish a draft EIS
addressing the effects of continued
withdrawal and hold public hearings in
order to receive public comments on the
proposal by October 12, 2012. The
NAWSCL EIS/LEIS will examine
current and proposed land uses in
support of the DoN’s military mission.
The EIS/LEIS will specifically focus on
those military land uses granted to the
DoN under Public Law 103–433 that
include: (1) Use as an RDT&E
laboratory; (2) use as a range for air
warfare weapons and weapons systems;
(3) use as a high hazard training area for
aerial gunnery, rocketry, electronic
warfare and countermeasures, and
tactical maneuvering and air support;
(4) geothermal leasing and development,
and related power production activities;
and, (5) other defense-related purposes.
The environmental analysis in the EIS/
LEIS will be incorporated in an update
to the May 2005 NAWSCL
Comprehensive Land Use Management
Plan (CLUMP). The CLUMP facilitates
NAWSCL in planning for and managing
land use and environmental resources
on the withdrawn public lands in
accordance with the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976
(FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1701). The updated
CLUMP will include an examination of
both military land uses authorized
under Public Law 103–433 and those
mission-compatible non-military land
uses authorized in the 2005 CLUMP.
Dates and Addresses: The DoN is
initiating a 90-day public scoping
process to identify community interests
and specific issues to be addressed in
the EIS/LEIS. This public scoping
process starts with the publication of
this Notice of Intent. Three public
scoping meetings will be held to receive
oral and/or written comments on issues
to be addressed in the EIS/LEIS:
1. Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 6 p.m. to
8 p.m., Historic USO Building, 230 West
Ridgecrest Boulevard, Ridgecrest,
California 93555;
2. Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m., Statham Hall, 138 Jackson
Street, Lone Pine, California 93545; and
3. Thursday, July 21, 2011, 6 p.m. to
8 p.m., Trona Community Senior
Center, 13187 Market Street, Trona,
California 93562.
Additional information concerning
meeting times and locations is available
on the NAWSCL EIS/LEIS Web site at
https://www.ChinalakeLEIS.com. Public
scoping meeting schedules and
locations will also be announced in
local newspapers.
Each of the public scoping meetings
will consist of an informal, open house
session with information stations staffed
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 112 / Friday, June 10, 2011 / Notices
by DoN and BLM representatives.
Comments, both written and oral, will
be collected at each of the three public
scoping meetings and on the project
Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
NAWSCL Land Withdrawal EIS/LEIS
Project Manager (Attn: Ms. Jo Ellen
Anderson), NAVFAC Southwest, 1220
Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92132–
5178, telephone number: 619–532–2633.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
NAWSCL North and South ranges are
located in the western Mojave Desert,
approximately 150 miles northeast of
Los Angeles, California. These ranges
encompass approximately 1.1 million
acres and are located in portions of
Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino
counties. The DoN has been operating
the NAWSCL land ranges for nearly 70
years.
The California Military Lands
Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1994
authorized the withdrawal of the public
lands associated with the NAWSCL
ranges for a period of 20 years (until
October 14, 2014). The military land
uses specifically allowed under the Act
included: (1) Use as an RDT&E
laboratory; (2) use as a range for air
warfare weapons and weapons systems;
(3) use as a high hazard training area for
aerial gunnery, rocketry, electronic
warfare and countermeasures, and
tactical maneuvering and air support;
(4) use for geothermal leasing and
development, and related power
production activities; and, (5) use for
other defense-related purposes.
In May 2005, pursuant to the
requirements of Public Law 103–433
and FLPMA, NAWSCL completed and
endorsed a comprehensive land use
management plan for the withdrawn
public lands. This land use management
plan is referred to as the NAWSCL
CLUMP. In addition to the military land
uses granted to the DoN in Public Law
103–433, the 2005 CLUMP authorized
the following non-military, but missioncompatible land uses, on the ranges: (1)
Native American access; (2) education
and research projects; (3) limited
recreation; and (4) limited commercial
uses, including geothermal leasing and
development, and related power
production activities.
The military land uses authorized by
Public Law 103–433 and the nonmilitary uses authorized by the 2005
CLUMP are consistent with the mission
of NAWSCL, which is to conduct
weapons RDT&E for weapon systems
associated with air warfare, aircraft
weapons integration, missiles and
missile subsystems, and assigned
airborne electronic warfare systems and
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related training within a safe, secure,
and operationally diverse land range
test environment. Combat relevant test
and evaluation, as well as training for
operational compatibility, is the primary
means to ensure readiness and prepare
our military to fight and win in combat.
To be effective in its mission, the
NAWSCL ranges must provide sufficient
land and airspace to conduct test and
evaluation at distances and scenarios
with fidelity to combat uses. Access to
a variety of conditions (e.g., simulated
threats, operational space, topographic
relief, and safety constraints) and
scheduling availability are important
characteristics that must be preserved
and enhanced. The DoN’s continuing
need for RDT&E and training range
capability balances maximum use of the
range with maintaining stewardship
responsibilities for the lands and their
resources.
In accordance with the Engle Act of
1958 (Pub. L. 85–337) and FLPMA, the
DoN is required to file an application
with BLM requesting the Secretary of
the Interior process a proposed
legislative withdrawal and reservation
of public land to continue military
RDT&E and training activities on the
NAWSCL ranges. The proposed action
would continue the existing withdrawal
of 1.1 million acres of public land for
military use. 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.
Purpose and Need: Given the primary
mission of the NAWSCL land ranges, to
provide a safe, secure, and highly
instrumented volume of land and
airspace in which to conduct controlled
tests, operations and training with
fidelity to combat uses, the purpose of
the proposed action is to retain a
military range for RDT&E and training
activities for a period of 25 years. The
proposed action will meet the need to
support the application of current and
evolving technology to solve theatrerelevant problems for the warfighter and
ensure necessary training readiness,
while ensuring appropriate management
of land use and environmental
resources; revise and implement the
installation’s CLUMP; and, maintain
DoN readiness by accommodating
current and evolving state-of-the-art
RDT&E and training requirements at
NAWSCL.
Alternatives: The EIS/LEIS addresses
three alternatives, including the no
action alternative:
1. Alternative 1 (Withdrawal with
Increased Tempo) consists of: (1)
Congressional renewal of the current
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34067
land withdrawal of approximately 1.1
million acres of public land for
continued military use; (2) revision to
and implementation of the NAWSCL
CLUMP to reflect current and future
land uses, both military and nonmilitary; and (3) an increase of up to
25% in the tempo of military RDT&E,
training activities (including ground and
air training by DoN special operations
forces and other Services), and
expansion of unmanned aerial and
surface systems, as well as the
expansion of existing and the
introduction of evolving directed energy
weapons development at NAWSCL.
2. Alternative 2 (Withdrawal with
Baseline Tempo) consists of: (1)
Renewing (through Congressional
action) the land withdrawal; (2) revising
and implementing the NAWSCL
CLUMP; and, (3) maintaining current
levels of RDT&E and training use (type,
tempo, location).
3. Alternative 3 (No Action
Alternative) would allow the public
land withdrawal to expire, with
administrative control of the withdrawn
land returning to the BLM. Withdrawn
lands would comprise 92% of all
NAWSCL lands. Limited RDT&E and
training activities at NAWSCL would
continue on 8% of remaining NAWSCL
fee-owned/leased land and within
managed airspace.
Environmental Issues and Resources
To Be Examined: Environmental issues
that will be addressed in the EIS/LEIS
include, but are not limited to, the
following: Air quality; biological
resources (including threatened and
endangered species); cultural resources;
geology and soils; hazardous materials
and hazardous waste management;
health and safety; noise; socioeconomics
(including environmental justice);
transportation; and water resources.
Relevant and reasonable measures that
would avoid or mitigate environmental
effects will also be analyzed.
Additionally, the DoN will undertake
any consultations required by the
Endangered Species Act, National
Historic Preservation Act, Clean Water
Act, and any other applicable law or
regulation.
Submitting Comments: The DoN
encourages interested persons to submit
comments concerning the proposed
extension of the public land
withdrawal, the alternatives proposed
for study, and environmental impacts to
be analyzed. Federal, state, and local
agencies, Native Americans and
Federally Recognized Tribes, and
interested persons are encouraged to
provide oral and/or written comments
to the DoN to identify specific
environmental issues or topics of
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34068
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 112 / Friday, June 10, 2011 / Notices
environmental concern that the DoN
should consider. The DoN will prepare
the draft LEIS incorporating issues
identified by the commenting public.
All comments on the EIS/LEIS, whether
provided orally or in writing at the
scoping meetings, or provided to the
DoN during the public commenting
period, will receive the same
consideration during EIS/LEIS
preparation.
Written comments on the scope of the
EIS/LEIS should be postmarked no later
than September 8, 2011. Comments may
be mailed to NAWSCL Land
Withdrawal EIS/LEIS Project Manager
(Attn: Ms. Jo Ellen Anderson), NAVFAC
Southwest, 1220 Pacific Highway, San
Diego, California 92132–5178.
Comments may also be submitted via
the EIS/LEIS Web site located at
https://www.ChinalakeLEIS.com.
Dated: June 3, 2011.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge
Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Alternate
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011–14449 Filed 6–9–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Availability of GovernmentOwned Inventions; Available for
Licensing
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice.
The invention listed below is
assigned to the United States
Government as represented by the
Secretary of the Navy and is available
for domestic and foreign licensing by
the Department of the Navy.
The following patent is available for
licensing: U.S. Patent application Serial
Number 12/550,684: Fire Fighting
System, filed on August 31, 2009.
SUMMARY:
Requests for copies of the
invention cited should be directed to
Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons
Division, Code 498400D, 1900 N. Knox
Road Stop 6312, China Lake, CA 93555–
6106 and must include the Navy Case
number.
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ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael D. Seltzer, Ph.D., Head,
Technology Transfer Office, Naval Air
Warfare Center Weapons Division, Code
498400D, 1900 N. Knox Road Stop 6312,
China Lake, CA 93555–6106, telephone
760–939–1074, FAX 760–939–1210, Email: michael.seltzer@navy.mil.
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Dated: June 3, 2011.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge
Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Alternate
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011–14399 Filed 6–9–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Advisory Commission on Accessible
Instructional Materials in
Postsecondary Education for Students
with Disabilities
U. S. Department of Education,
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Advisory
Commission on Accessible Instructional
Materials in Postsecondary Education
for Students with Disabilities.
ACTION: Notice of an open meeting via
conference call.
AGENCY:
The notice sets forth the
schedule and agenda of the meeting of
the Advisory Commission on Accessible
Instructional Materials in Postsecondary
Education for Students with Disabilities.
The notice also describes the functions
of the Commission. Notice of the
meeting is required by section 10(a)(2)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
and is intended to notify the public of
its opportunity to attend.
DATES: June 24, 2011.
Time: 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., Eastern
Standard Time.
ADDRESSES: The Commission will meet
via conference call on June 24, 2011.
Members of the public have the option
of participating in the open meeting
remotely. Remote access will be
provided via an Internet webinar service
utilizing VoiP (Voice Over Internet
Protocol). The login address for
members of the public is https://
aimpsc.ilinc.com/join/wwfvyhk. This
login information is also provided via
the Commission’s public listserv at
pscpublic@lists.cast.org and posted at
the following site: https://www2.ed.gov/
about/bdscomm/list/aim/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Shook, Program Specialist,
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, United States
Department of Education, 550 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20202;
telephone: (202) 245–7642, fax: 202–
245–7638.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Advisory Commission on Accessible
Instructional Materials in Postsecondary
Education for Students with Disabilities
(the Commission) is established under
Section 772 of the Higher Education
SUMMARY:
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Opportunity Act, Public Law 110–315,
dated August 14, 2008. The Commission
is established to (a) Conduct a
comprehensive study, which will—(I)
Assess the barriers and systemic issues
that may affect, and technical solutions
available that may improve, the timely
delivery and quality of accessible
instructional materials for
postsecondary students with print
disabilities, as well as the effective use
of such materials by faculty and staff;
and (II) make recommendations related
to the development of a comprehensive
approach to improve the opportunities
for postsecondary students with print
disabilities to access instructional
materials in specialized formats in a
time frame comparable to the
availability of instructional materials for
postsecondary nondisabled students.
In making recommendations for the
study, the Commission shall consider—
(I) How students with print disabilities
may obtain instructional materials in
accessible formats within a time frame
comparable to the availability of
instructional materials for nondisabled
students; and to the maximum extent
practicable, at costs comparable to the
costs of such materials for nondisabled
students; (II) the feasibility and
technical parameters of establishing
standardized electronic file formats,
such as the National Instructional
Materials Accessibility Standard as
defined in Section 674(e)(3) of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act, to be provided by publishers of
instructional materials to producers of
materials in specialized formats,
institutions of higher education, and
eligible students; (III) the feasibility of
establishing a national clearinghouse,
repository, or file-sharing network for
electronic files in specialized formats
and files used in producing
instructional materials in specialized
formats, and a list of possible entities
qualified to administer such
clearinghouse, repository, or network;
(IV) the feasibility of establishing
market-based solutions involving
collaborations among publishers of
instructional materials, producers of
materials in specialized formats, and
institutions of higher education; (V)
solutions utilizing universal design; and
(VI) solutions for low-incidence, highcost requests for instructional materials
in specialized formats.
During the meeting, the Commission
will discuss the first draft of the final
report. In particular, the Commission
will discuss its proposed
recommendations and identify issues
for further discussion at the next inperson meeting on July 11–12, 2011 in
Seattle, Washington.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34066-34068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14449]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for Renewal of the Naval Air
Weapons Station China Lake Public Land Withdrawal, California and To
Announce Public Scoping Meetings
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR]
parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy (DoN), with the
cooperation of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), announces its
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Legislative
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/LEIS) to evaluate the potential
environmental effects associated with the continued withdrawal of
approximately 1.1 million acres of public land in Kern, Inyo, and San
Bernardino counties, California. This public land withdrawal comprises
the current North and South ranges at Naval Air Weapons Station China
Lake (NAWSCL). The proposed land withdrawal extension will allow the
DoN to continue defense-related research, development, test and
evaluation (RDT&E) and training missions at NAWSCL, in addition to
other land uses.
The California Military Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act of
1994 (Pub. L. 103-433, part of the California Desert Protection Act)
withdrew and reserved the lands known then as the China Lake Naval
Weapons Center (subsequently renamed NAWSCL) for defense-related
purposes for a period of 20 years (until October 14, 2014). The Act
provides that the DoN may seek extension of the withdrawal of such
lands. As a part of the withdrawal process, the Secretary of the Navy
is required to publish a draft EIS addressing the effects of continued
withdrawal and hold public hearings in order to receive public comments
on the proposal by October 12, 2012. The NAWSCL EIS/LEIS will examine
current and proposed land uses in support of the DoN's military
mission. The EIS/LEIS will specifically focus on those military land
uses granted to the DoN under Public Law 103-433 that include: (1) Use
as an RDT&E laboratory; (2) use as a range for air warfare weapons and
weapons systems; (3) use as a high hazard training area for aerial
gunnery, rocketry, electronic warfare and countermeasures, and tactical
maneuvering and air support; (4) geothermal leasing and development,
and related power production activities; and, (5) other defense-related
purposes. The environmental analysis in the EIS/LEIS will be
incorporated in an update to the May 2005 NAWSCL Comprehensive Land Use
Management Plan (CLUMP). The CLUMP facilitates NAWSCL in planning for
and managing land use and environmental resources on the withdrawn
public lands in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1701). The updated CLUMP will include an
examination of both military land uses authorized under Public Law 103-
433 and those mission-compatible non-military land uses authorized in
the 2005 CLUMP.
Dates and Addresses: The DoN is initiating a 90-day public scoping
process to identify community interests and specific issues to be
addressed in the EIS/LEIS. This public scoping process starts with the
publication of this Notice of Intent. Three public scoping meetings
will be held to receive oral and/or written comments on issues to be
addressed in the EIS/LEIS:
1. Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Historic USO Building,
230 West Ridgecrest Boulevard, Ridgecrest, California 93555;
2. Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Statham Hall, 138
Jackson Street, Lone Pine, California 93545; and
3. Thursday, July 21, 2011, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Trona Community
Senior Center, 13187 Market Street, Trona, California 93562.
Additional information concerning meeting times and locations is
available on the NAWSCL EIS/LEIS Web site at https://www.ChinalakeLEIS.com. Public scoping meeting schedules and locations
will also be announced in local newspapers.
Each of the public scoping meetings will consist of an informal,
open house session with information stations staffed
[[Page 34067]]
by DoN and BLM representatives. Comments, both written and oral, will
be collected at each of the three public scoping meetings and on the
project Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NAWSCL Land Withdrawal EIS/LEIS
Project Manager (Attn: Ms. Jo Ellen Anderson), NAVFAC Southwest, 1220
Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92132-5178, telephone number: 619-532-
2633.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NAWSCL North and South ranges are
located in the western Mojave Desert, approximately 150 miles northeast
of Los Angeles, California. These ranges encompass approximately 1.1
million acres and are located in portions of Inyo, Kern, and San
Bernardino counties. The DoN has been operating the NAWSCL land ranges
for nearly 70 years.
The California Military Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act of
1994 authorized the withdrawal of the public lands associated with the
NAWSCL ranges for a period of 20 years (until October 14, 2014). The
military land uses specifically allowed under the Act included: (1) Use
as an RDT&E laboratory; (2) use as a range for air warfare weapons and
weapons systems; (3) use as a high hazard training area for aerial
gunnery, rocketry, electronic warfare and countermeasures, and tactical
maneuvering and air support; (4) use for geothermal leasing and
development, and related power production activities; and, (5) use for
other defense-related purposes.
In May 2005, pursuant to the requirements of Public Law 103-433 and
FLPMA, NAWSCL completed and endorsed a comprehensive land use
management plan for the withdrawn public lands. This land use
management plan is referred to as the NAWSCL CLUMP. In addition to the
military land uses granted to the DoN in Public Law 103-433, the 2005
CLUMP authorized the following non-military, but mission-compatible
land uses, on the ranges: (1) Native American access; (2) education and
research projects; (3) limited recreation; and (4) limited commercial
uses, including geothermal leasing and development, and related power
production activities.
The military land uses authorized by Public Law 103-433 and the
non-military uses authorized by the 2005 CLUMP are consistent with the
mission of NAWSCL, which is to conduct weapons RDT&E for weapon systems
associated with air warfare, aircraft weapons integration, missiles and
missile subsystems, and assigned airborne electronic warfare systems
and related training within a safe, secure, and operationally diverse
land range test environment. Combat relevant test and evaluation, as
well as training for operational compatibility, is the primary means to
ensure readiness and prepare our military to fight and win in combat.
To be effective in its mission, the NAWSCL ranges must provide
sufficient land and airspace to conduct test and evaluation at
distances and scenarios with fidelity to combat uses. Access to a
variety of conditions (e.g., simulated threats, operational space,
topographic relief, and safety constraints) and scheduling availability
are important characteristics that must be preserved and enhanced. The
DoN's continuing need for RDT&E and training range capability balances
maximum use of the range with maintaining stewardship responsibilities
for the lands and their resources.
In accordance with the Engle Act of 1958 (Pub. L. 85-337) and
FLPMA, the DoN is required to file an application with BLM requesting
the Secretary of the Interior process a proposed legislative withdrawal
and reservation of public land to continue military RDT&E and training
activities on the NAWSCL ranges. The proposed action would continue the
existing withdrawal of 1.1 million acres of public land for military
use. 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.
Purpose and Need: Given the primary mission of the NAWSCL land
ranges, to provide a safe, secure, and highly instrumented volume of
land and airspace in which to conduct controlled tests, operations and
training with fidelity to combat uses, the purpose of the proposed
action is to retain a military range for RDT&E and training activities
for a period of 25 years. The proposed action will meet the need to
support the application of current and evolving technology to solve
theatre-relevant problems for the warfighter and ensure necessary
training readiness, while ensuring appropriate management of land use
and environmental resources; revise and implement the installation's
CLUMP; and, maintain DoN readiness by accommodating current and
evolving state-of-the-art RDT&E and training requirements at NAWSCL.
Alternatives: The EIS/LEIS addresses three alternatives, including
the no action alternative:
1. Alternative 1 (Withdrawal with Increased Tempo) consists of: (1)
Congressional renewal of the current land withdrawal of approximately
1.1 million acres of public land for continued military use; (2)
revision to and implementation of the NAWSCL CLUMP to reflect current
and future land uses, both military and non-military; and (3) an
increase of up to 25% in the tempo of military RDT&E, training
activities (including ground and air training by DoN special operations
forces and other Services), and expansion of unmanned aerial and
surface systems, as well as the expansion of existing and the
introduction of evolving directed energy weapons development at NAWSCL.
2. Alternative 2 (Withdrawal with Baseline Tempo) consists of: (1)
Renewing (through Congressional action) the land withdrawal; (2)
revising and implementing the NAWSCL CLUMP; and, (3) maintaining
current levels of RDT&E and training use (type, tempo, location).
3. Alternative 3 (No Action Alternative) would allow the public
land withdrawal to expire, with administrative control of the withdrawn
land returning to the BLM. Withdrawn lands would comprise 92% of all
NAWSCL lands. Limited RDT&E and training activities at NAWSCL would
continue on 8% of remaining NAWSCL fee-owned/leased land and within
managed airspace.
Environmental Issues and Resources To Be Examined: Environmental
issues that will be addressed in the EIS/LEIS include, but are not
limited to, the following: Air quality; biological resources (including
threatened and endangered species); cultural resources; geology and
soils; hazardous materials and hazardous waste management; health and
safety; noise; socioeconomics (including environmental justice);
transportation; and water resources. Relevant and reasonable measures
that would avoid or mitigate environmental effects will also be
analyzed. Additionally, the DoN will undertake any consultations
required by the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation
Act, Clean Water Act, and any other applicable law or regulation.
Submitting Comments: The DoN encourages interested persons to
submit comments concerning the proposed extension of the public land
withdrawal, the alternatives proposed for study, and environmental
impacts to be analyzed. Federal, state, and local agencies, Native
Americans and Federally Recognized Tribes, and interested persons are
encouraged to provide oral and/or written comments to the DoN to
identify specific environmental issues or topics of
[[Page 34068]]
environmental concern that the DoN should consider. The DoN will
prepare the draft LEIS incorporating issues identified by the
commenting public. All comments on the EIS/LEIS, whether provided
orally or in writing at the scoping meetings, or provided to the DoN
during the public commenting period, will receive the same
consideration during EIS/LEIS preparation.
Written comments on the scope of the EIS/LEIS should be postmarked
no later than September 8, 2011. Comments may be mailed to NAWSCL Land
Withdrawal EIS/LEIS Project Manager (Attn: Ms. Jo Ellen Anderson),
NAVFAC Southwest, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 92132-
5178. Comments may also be submitted via the EIS/LEIS Web site located
at https://www.ChinalakeLEIS.com.
Dated: June 3, 2011.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-14449 Filed 6-9-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
