Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for Renewal of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Public Land Withdrawal, California, 49784-49786 [2012-20279]
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49784
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2012 / Notices
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
on which they are providing additional
information.
Procurement List; Proposed Additions
The following services are proposed
for addition to the Procurement List for
production by the nonprofit agencies
listed:
End of Certification
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Proposed Additions to the
Procurement List.
AGENCY:
The Committee is proposing
to add services to the Procurement List
that will be provided by nonprofit
agencies employing persons who are
blind or have other severe disabilities.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before: 9/17/2012.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259.
For Further Information or to Submit
Comments Contact: Barry S. Lineback,
Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703)
603–0655, or email
CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice is published pursuant to 41
U.S.C. 8503(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its
purpose is to provide interested persons
an opportunity to submit comments on
the proposed actions.
SUMMARY:
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Additions
If the Committee approves the
proposed additions, the entities of the
Federal Government identified in this
notice will be required to procure the
services listed below from nonprofit
agencies employing persons who are
blind or have other severe disabilities.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. If approved, the action will not
result in any additional reporting,
recordkeeping or other compliance
requirements for small entities other
than the small organizations that will
provide the services to the Government.
2. If approved, the action will result
in authorizing small entities to provide
the services to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) in
connection with the services proposed
for addition to the Procurement List.
Comments on this certification are
invited. Commenters should identify the
statement(s) underlying the certification
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Services
Service Type/Location: Custodial Service,
Customs and Border Protection, Port
Angeles Station, 110 South Penn St., Port
Angeles, WA
NPA: Morningside, Olympia, WA
Contracting Activity: Dept. of Homeland
Security, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, Procurement Directorate,
Washington, DC
Service Type/Location: Custodial and
Grounds Maintenance Services, Austin
Courthouse, 501 West 5th Street, Austin,
TX
NPA: Crossroads Diversified Service, Inc.,
Sacramento, CA
Contracting Activity: General Services
Administration, Public Buildings
Service, Building Services Team, Fort
Worth, TX
Service Type/Locations: Custodial and
Grounds Maintenance Services, Border
Patrol Sector HDQ, 3819 Patterson Road,
New Orleans, LA
Federal Supply Service (FSS) Depot, 400
Edwards Avenue, Harahan, LA
NPA: Louisiana Industries for the Disabled,
Inc., Baton Rouge, LA
Contracting Activity: General Services
Administration, Public Buildings
Service, Building Services Team, Fort
Worth, TX
Service Type/Location: Base Operations
Support Services, Department of Public
Works (DPW), 453 Novosel Street, Fort
Rucker, AL
NPA: PRIDE Industries, Roseville, CA
Contracting Activity: Dept. of the Army,
W6QM MICC-Ft. Rucker, Fort Rucker,
AL
Barry S. Lineback,
Director, Business Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012–20253 Filed 8–16–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement for Renewal of Naval Air
Weapons Station China Lake Public
Land Withdrawal, California
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 and regulations
SUMMARY:
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implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500–
1508), and in accordance with the
requirements of the California Military
Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act
of 1994 (Pub. L. 103–433, part of the
California Desert Protection Act), the
Department of the Navy (DoN), in
cooperation with the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), has prepared and
filed with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/
Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement (LEIS). Separately, and in
accordance with the Engle Act of 1958
(Pub. L. 85–337) and 43 CFR part 2310,
the DoN submitted a land withdrawal
renewal application to BLM.
The Draft EIS/LEIS evaluates the
potential environmental effects
associated with the proposed
Congressional reauthorization of the
current land withdrawal of
approximately 1.03 million acres of
public land in Kern, Inyo, and San
Bernardino counties, California. The
proposed 25-year withdrawal would
comprise the current North and South
ranges at Naval Air Weapons Station
China Lake (NAWSCL), California. The
Draft EIS/LEIS also addresses an
increase of up to 25 percent in the
tempo of military activity within current
land use areas approved for designated
uses, and the implementation of an
update of the installation’s
Comprehensive Land Use Management
Plan (CLUMP). The proposed action
would enable the DoN to meet its
mission to support state-of-the-art air
warfare weapons systems testing and
evaluation, and the readiness of the
military services, using existing
facilities and infrastructure, and on safe,
operationally realistic, and
instrumented land ranges.
With the filing of the Draft EIS/LEIS
and submission of the application to
renew the public land withdrawal, the
DoN and BLM are initiating a 90-day
public comment period and have
scheduled three public open house
meetings to receive oral and written
comments on the Draft EIS/LEIS and the
proposed renewal of the public land
withdrawal. This notice announces the
dates and locations of the public
meetings and provides supplementary
information.
Dates and Addresses: The 90-day
public comment period for the Draft
EIS/LEIS began on August 10, 2012 and
will end on November 8, 2012. The DoN
and BLM will hold three public
meetings, using an open house format,
to inform the public about the Draft EIS/
LEIS and the public land withdrawal
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2012 / Notices
renewal process. Representatives from
the DoN and BLM will be available to
discuss and answer questions on the
proposed action and alternatives, the
land withdrawal renewal, the
environmental planning process, and
the findings presented in the Draft EIS/
LEIS. Public open house meetings will
be held at each location between 6:00
p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the following
dates:
1. Tuesday, October 2, 2012,
SpringHill Suites, 113 East Sydnor
Avenue, Ridgecrest, California 93555.
2. Wednesday, October 3, 2012, Trona
Community Senior Center, 13187
Market Street, Trona, California 93562.
3. Thursday, October 4, 2012, Statham
Hall, 138 North Jackson Street, Lone
Pine, California 93545.
Federal, state and local agencies and
officials, and interested groups and
individuals are encouraged to provide
oral or written comments in person at
any of the public meetings. A
stenographer will be present to
transcribe oral comments. Comments
also may be submitted in writing
anytime during the public comment
period to: Naval Facilities Engineering
Command Southwest, ATTN: NAWSCL
Land Withdrawal Renewal EIS/LEIS
Project Manager (Mr. Gene Beale), 1220
Pacific Highway, San Diego, California
92132–5190. In addition, comments
may be submitted any time during the
public comment period via the project
Web site: https://www.chinalakeleis.com.
All statements, whether oral, oral
transcription, written, or submitted via
the web site during the public review
period will become part of the public
record on the Draft EIS/LEIS and be
considered in preparing the Final EIS/
LEIS if postmarked or received by
November 8, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
Southwest, ATTN: NAWSCL Land
Withdrawal Renewal EIS/LEIS Project
Manager (Mr. Gene Beale), 1220 Pacific
Highway, San Diego, California 92132–
5190.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
California Military Lands Withdrawal
and Overflights Act of 1994, withdrew
and reserved approximately 1.03
million acres of public lands comprising
the NAWSCL for defense-related
purposes for a period of 20 years (until
October 14, 2014). The Secretary of the
DoN is seeking to extend the withdrawal
of these public lands and is required to
publish a draft EIS addressing the
effects of continued withdrawal by
October 31, 2012. On June 10, 2011, the
DoN published a Notice of Intent to
prepare this EIS/LEIS in the Federal
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Register (76 FR 34066) and on June 13,
2011 submitted a land withdrawal
application to BLM. This notice
announces the availability of the Draft
EIS/LEIS for public review and the dates
and locations of public meetings to
receive comments on the Draft EIS/LEIS.
The purpose of the proposed action is
to support the renewal of the 1994
withdrawal at NAWSCL by an Act of
Congress in order to continue to support
DoN and Department of Defense (DoD)
DoD use of 1.03 million acres of fully
instrumented land ranges for Research,
Development, Acquisition, Test, and
Evaluation (RDAT&E) and military
readiness training activities. NAWSCL
is the DoN’s full-spectrum RDAT&E
center for weapons systems associated
with air warfare, aircraft weapons
integration, missiles and missile
subsystems, and assigned airborne
electronic warfare systems. RDAT&E
activities are needed to develop new
weapons systems and ensure that these
systems perform to their designed
specifications. The NAWSCL land
ranges provide the safe, operationally
realistic, and instrumented environment
needed to fulfill DoN and DoD RDAT&E
requirements. Tenant commands
supported are the Naval Air Warfare
Center Weapons Division and other DoD
RDAT&E and training activities.
The proposed action will also support
the revision, update, and
implementation of NAWSCL’s CLUMP,
which meets the land, cultural, natural,
and environmental resources
management requirements of the
California Desert Protection Act and the
Sikes Act (16 U.S. Code 670a–670o, as
amended in 1997). The updated CLUMP
will ensure no loss in the capability of
the installation to support its military
mission and facilitate environmentally
sound resource management decisions
when responding to planned increases
in emerging military readiness needs. It
would also support the warfighter by
ensuring the land use management
supports current and evolving
technology, allowing for solutions to
theater-relevant problems and to
maintain readiness.
The Draft EIS/LEIS evaluates the
potential environmental impacts of two
action alternatives and the No Action
Alternative. Alternative 1 (Withdrawal
and Increased Tempo) is the DoN’s
preferred alternative and provides
NAWSCL the greatest flexibility to
accommodate current and evolving DoN
and DoD military readiness activities.
Alternative 1 includes: (1)
Congressional renewal of the land
withdrawal for a period of 25 years; (2)
revise and implement the CLUMP; and
(3) increase mission activities by up to
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49785
25 percent, expand unmanned aerial
and surface systems, and expand
existing and introduce evolving directed
energy weapons development.
Alternative 2 (Withdrawal and
Baseline Tempo) provides for the
Congressional renewal of the land
withdrawal (25 year renewal) and
continuation of military activities at
current levels. Nonmilitary activities
would continue according to current
patterns of use. The existing CLUMP
would be revised, as appropriate, and
implemented to manage land use and
environmental resources at NAWSCL.
Under the No Action Alternative
(Alternative 3), the renewal of the
withdrawal of public lands at NAWSCL
would not occur; administrative control
of the withdrawn land would remain
with the DoN until environmental
remediation and health and safety
concerns were addressed to allow the
return of the land to BLM. The
expiration of the public land
withdrawal would terminate the DoN’s
authority to use approximately 92
percent of the NAWSCL-managed lands.
Although the DoN would continue to be
responsible for the remaining feeowned/leased land and managed
airspace, these land resources would not
be sufficient to accommodate the hazard
patterns, targets, maneuvering areas,
special equipment, explosive areas, and
other features associated with RDAT&E
and training events. As a result, there
would be a probable dramatic reduction
in, or potentially the eventual cessation
of, RDAT&E activities at NAWSCL.
The Draft EIS/LEIS provides an
analysis of the potential environmental
effects of the proposed action on the
following resources: Land use, noise, air
quality, biological resources, cultural
resources, geology and soils, water
resources, socioeconomics (including
environmental justice), utilities and
public services, public health and
safety, hazardous materials and waste,
and traffic and circulation.
Specific findings within the Draft EIS/
LEIS indicate that ongoing aircraft flight
events at Armitage Field would exceed
noise compatibility thresholds at certain
off-installation noise sensitive receptors.
However, the continued implementation
of the land use management
recommendations identified in the 2011
Air Installation Compatibility Use Zones
Update would minimize noise impacts
to surrounding areas.
Potential brush fires associated with
the proposed testing and training
activities may result in significant
impacts to biological resources.
Implementation of mitigation and
conservation measures as described in
the NAWSCL Integrated Natural
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2012 / Notices
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Resources Management Plan would
reduce these potential impacts. On
March 9, 2012, the DoN initiated
consultation with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service in accordance with
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
for the potential impacts to Federallylisted species present at NAWSCL
(specifically, desert tortoise, Mojave tui
chub, southwestern willow flycatcher,
least Bell’s vireo, and Inyo California
towhee).
Impacts to cultural resources from the
proposed action would not be
significant and would be further
reduced by implementation of the
standard operating procedures for the
treatment of cultural resources
described in the Integrated Cultural
Resources Management Plan. In
accordance with Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act, the
DoN initiated consultation with the
State Historic Preservation Officer for on
March 9, 2012. Native American access
to the Coso Hot Springs and Prayer Site
would continue to be conducted in
accordance with the existing
Memorandum of Agreement between
NAWSCL and Native American tribes.
The Draft EIS/LEIS was distributed to
Federal, state, and local agencies,
elected officials, and other interested
individuals and organizations. Copies of
the Draft EIS/LEIS are available for
public review at the following libraries:
1. Ridgecrest Public Library, 131 East
Las Flores Avenue, Ridgecrest,
California 93555.
2. Trona Branch Library, 82805 Mount
View, Trona, California 93562.
3. Lone Pine Branch Library, 127
Bush Street, Lone Pine, California
93545.
4. Barstow Branch Library, 304 East
Buena Vista Street, Barstow, California
92311.
5. Mojave Public Library, 16916–1/2
State Highway 14, Space D2, Mojave,
California 93501.
6. Lancaster Public Library, 601 West
Lancaster Boulevard, Lancaster,
California 93534.
The Draft EIS/LEIS is also available
for electronic viewing or download at
the project Web site at https://
www.chinalakeleis.com. A paper copy
of the Executive Summary or a single
compact disc of the Draft EIS/LEIS will
be made available upon written request.
Dated: August 14, 2012.
C.K. Chiappetta,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge
Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–20279 Filed 8–16–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Advisory Committee on
Institutional Quality and Integrity
(NACIQI)
National Advisory Committee
on Institutional Quality and Integrity,
Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S.
Department of Education.
ACTION: Announcement of an open
meeting of the National Advisory
Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity (NACIQI) and information
pertaining to members of the public
submitting third-party written and oral
comments.
AGENCY:
U.S. Department of
Education, Office of Postsecondary
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room
8072, Washington, DC 20006.
NACIQI’S Statutory Authority and
Function: The NACIQI is established
under Section 114 of the HEA of 1965,
as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1011c. The
NACIQI advises the Secretary of
Education about:
• The establishment and enforcement
of the criteria for recognition of
accrediting agencies or associations
under Subpart 2, Part H, Title IV, of the
HEA, as amended.
• The recognition of specific
accrediting agencies or associations or a
specific State approval agency.
• The preparation and publication of
the list of nationally recognized
accrediting agencies and associations.
• The eligibility and certification
process for institutions of higher
education under Title IV, of the HEA,
together with recommendations for
improvement in such process.
• The relationship between (1)
accreditation of institutions of higher
education and the certification and
eligibility of such institutions, and (2)
State licensing responsibilities with
respect to such institutions.
• Any other advisory function
relating to accreditation and
institutional eligibility that the
Secretary may prescribe.
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the
agenda for the December 11–12, 2012,
meeting of the National Advisory
Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity (NACIQI); and provides
information to members of the public on
submitting written comments and on
requesting to make oral comments at the
meeting. The notice of this meeting is
required under Section 10(a)(2) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA) and Section 114(d)(1)(B) of the
Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as
amended.
Meeting Date and Place: The NACIQI
meeting will be held on December 11–
ADDRESSES:
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12, 2012, from approximately 8:00 a.m.
to approximately 5:30 p.m. at a location
to be determined in the Washington, DC
area. The exact location will be
published in the Federal Register and
on the Department’s Web site at http:
//www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/
naciqi.html#meetings by November 2,
2012.
Meeting Agenda: The meeting will
include a review of accrediting and
State agencies seeking a renewal of
recognition and a policy discussion
session on NACIQI’s potential for
addressing HEA-related accreditation
issues and recommendations currently
being discussed within the higher
education community. Below is a list of
agencies, including their current and
requested scopes of recognition,
scheduled for review during the
December 11–12, 2012, meeting:
Petitions for Continued Recognition
Accrediting Agencies
1. Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics, Accreditation Council for
Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
(ACEND) (Current and Requested Scope:
The accreditation and pre-accreditation,
within the United States, of Didactic
and Coordinated Programs in Dietetics
at both the undergraduate and graduate
level, post-baccalaureate Dietetic
Internships, and Dietetic Technician
Programs at the associate degree level,
and for its accreditation of such
programs offered via distance
education.)
2. American Physical Therapy
Association, Commission on
Accreditation in Physical Therapy
Education (CAPTE) (Current and
Requested Scope: The accreditation and
preaccreditation (‘‘Candidate for
Accreditation’’) in the United States of
physical therapist education programs
leading to the first professional degree at
the master’s or doctoral level and
physical therapist assistant education
programs at the associate degree level
and for its accreditation of such
programs offered via distance
education.)
3. American Veterinary Medical
Association, Council on Education
(AVMA–COE) (Current and Requested
Scope: The accreditation and
preaccreditation (‘‘Reasonable
Assurance’’) in the United States of
programs leading to professional
degrees (D.V.M. or D.M.D.) in veterinary
medicine.)
4. Liaison Committee on Medical
Education (LCME) (Current and
Requested Scope: The accreditation of
medical education programs within the
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49784-49786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20279]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement/Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for Renewal of
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Public Land Withdrawal, California
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 and regulations implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-
1508), and in accordance with the requirements of the California
Military Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-433,
part of the California Desert Protection Act), the Department of the
Navy (DoN), in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Legislative Environmental
Impact Statement (LEIS). Separately, and in accordance with the Engle
Act of 1958 (Pub. L. 85-337) and 43 CFR part 2310, the DoN submitted a
land withdrawal renewal application to BLM.
The Draft EIS/LEIS evaluates the potential environmental effects
associated with the proposed Congressional reauthorization of the
current land withdrawal of approximately 1.03 million acres of public
land in Kern, Inyo, and San Bernardino counties, California. The
proposed 25-year withdrawal would comprise the current North and South
ranges at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWSCL), California.
The Draft EIS/LEIS also addresses an increase of up to 25 percent in
the tempo of military activity within current land use areas approved
for designated uses, and the implementation of an update of the
installation's Comprehensive Land Use Management Plan (CLUMP). The
proposed action would enable the DoN to meet its mission to support
state-of-the-art air warfare weapons systems testing and evaluation,
and the readiness of the military services, using existing facilities
and infrastructure, and on safe, operationally realistic, and
instrumented land ranges.
With the filing of the Draft EIS/LEIS and submission of the
application to renew the public land withdrawal, the DoN and BLM are
initiating a 90-day public comment period and have scheduled three
public open house meetings to receive oral and written comments on the
Draft EIS/LEIS and the proposed renewal of the public land withdrawal.
This notice announces the dates and locations of the public meetings
and provides supplementary information.
Dates and Addresses: The 90-day public comment period for the Draft
EIS/LEIS began on August 10, 2012 and will end on November 8, 2012. The
DoN and BLM will hold three public meetings, using an open house
format, to inform the public about the Draft EIS/LEIS and the public
land withdrawal
[[Page 49785]]
renewal process. Representatives from the DoN and BLM will be available
to discuss and answer questions on the proposed action and
alternatives, the land withdrawal renewal, the environmental planning
process, and the findings presented in the Draft EIS/LEIS. Public open
house meetings will be held at each location between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00
p.m. on the following dates:
1. Tuesday, October 2, 2012, SpringHill Suites, 113 East Sydnor
Avenue, Ridgecrest, California 93555.
2. Wednesday, October 3, 2012, Trona Community Senior Center, 13187
Market Street, Trona, California 93562.
3. Thursday, October 4, 2012, Statham Hall, 138 North Jackson
Street, Lone Pine, California 93545.
Federal, state and local agencies and officials, and interested
groups and individuals are encouraged to provide oral or written
comments in person at any of the public meetings. A stenographer will
be present to transcribe oral comments. Comments also may be submitted
in writing anytime during the public comment period to: Naval
Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, ATTN: NAWSCL Land Withdrawal
Renewal EIS/LEIS Project Manager (Mr. Gene Beale), 1220 Pacific
Highway, San Diego, California 92132-5190. In addition, comments may be
submitted any time during the public comment period via the project Web
site: https://www.chinalakeleis.com.
All statements, whether oral, oral transcription, written, or
submitted via the web site during the public review period will become
part of the public record on the Draft EIS/LEIS and be considered in
preparing the Final EIS/LEIS if postmarked or received by November 8,
2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
Southwest, ATTN: NAWSCL Land Withdrawal Renewal EIS/LEIS Project
Manager (Mr. Gene Beale), 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California
92132-5190.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The California Military Lands Withdrawal and
Overflights Act of 1994, withdrew and reserved approximately 1.03
million acres of public lands comprising the NAWSCL for defense-related
purposes for a period of 20 years (until October 14, 2014). The
Secretary of the DoN is seeking to extend the withdrawal of these
public lands and is required to publish a draft EIS addressing the
effects of continued withdrawal by October 31, 2012. On June 10, 2011,
the DoN published a Notice of Intent to prepare this EIS/LEIS in the
Federal Register (76 FR 34066) and on June 13, 2011 submitted a land
withdrawal application to BLM. This notice announces the availability
of the Draft EIS/LEIS for public review and the dates and locations of
public meetings to receive comments on the Draft EIS/LEIS.
The purpose of the proposed action is to support the renewal of the
1994 withdrawal at NAWSCL by an Act of Congress in order to continue to
support DoN and Department of Defense (DoD) DoD use of 1.03 million
acres of fully instrumented land ranges for Research, Development,
Acquisition, Test, and Evaluation (RDAT&E) and military readiness
training activities. NAWSCL is the DoN's full-spectrum RDAT&E center
for weapons systems associated with air warfare, aircraft weapons
integration, missiles and missile subsystems, and assigned airborne
electronic warfare systems. RDAT&E activities are needed to develop new
weapons systems and ensure that these systems perform to their designed
specifications. The NAWSCL land ranges provide the safe, operationally
realistic, and instrumented environment needed to fulfill DoN and DoD
RDAT&E requirements. Tenant commands supported are the Naval Air
Warfare Center Weapons Division and other DoD RDAT&E and training
activities.
The proposed action will also support the revision, update, and
implementation of NAWSCL's CLUMP, which meets the land, cultural,
natural, and environmental resources management requirements of the
California Desert Protection Act and the Sikes Act (16 U.S. Code 670a-
670o, as amended in 1997). The updated CLUMP will ensure no loss in the
capability of the installation to support its military mission and
facilitate environmentally sound resource management decisions when
responding to planned increases in emerging military readiness needs.
It would also support the warfighter by ensuring the land use
management supports current and evolving technology, allowing for
solutions to theater-relevant problems and to maintain readiness.
The Draft EIS/LEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of
two action alternatives and the No Action Alternative. Alternative 1
(Withdrawal and Increased Tempo) is the DoN's preferred alternative and
provides NAWSCL the greatest flexibility to accommodate current and
evolving DoN and DoD military readiness activities. Alternative 1
includes: (1) Congressional renewal of the land withdrawal for a period
of 25 years; (2) revise and implement the CLUMP; and (3) increase
mission activities by up to 25 percent, expand unmanned aerial and
surface systems, and expand existing and introduce evolving directed
energy weapons development.
Alternative 2 (Withdrawal and Baseline Tempo) provides for the
Congressional renewal of the land withdrawal (25 year renewal) and
continuation of military activities at current levels. Nonmilitary
activities would continue according to current patterns of use. The
existing CLUMP would be revised, as appropriate, and implemented to
manage land use and environmental resources at NAWSCL.
Under the No Action Alternative (Alternative 3), the renewal of the
withdrawal of public lands at NAWSCL would not occur; administrative
control of the withdrawn land would remain with the DoN until
environmental remediation and health and safety concerns were addressed
to allow the return of the land to BLM. The expiration of the public
land withdrawal would terminate the DoN's authority to use
approximately 92 percent of the NAWSCL-managed lands. Although the DoN
would continue to be responsible for the remaining fee-owned/leased
land and managed airspace, these land resources would not be sufficient
to accommodate the hazard patterns, targets, maneuvering areas, special
equipment, explosive areas, and other features associated with RDAT&E
and training events. As a result, there would be a probable dramatic
reduction in, or potentially the eventual cessation of, RDAT&E
activities at NAWSCL.
The Draft EIS/LEIS provides an analysis of the potential
environmental effects of the proposed action on the following
resources: Land use, noise, air quality, biological resources, cultural
resources, geology and soils, water resources, socioeconomics
(including environmental justice), utilities and public services,
public health and safety, hazardous materials and waste, and traffic
and circulation.
Specific findings within the Draft EIS/LEIS indicate that ongoing
aircraft flight events at Armitage Field would exceed noise
compatibility thresholds at certain off-installation noise sensitive
receptors. However, the continued implementation of the land use
management recommendations identified in the 2011 Air Installation
Compatibility Use Zones Update would minimize noise impacts to
surrounding areas.
Potential brush fires associated with the proposed testing and
training activities may result in significant impacts to biological
resources. Implementation of mitigation and conservation measures as
described in the NAWSCL Integrated Natural
[[Page 49786]]
Resources Management Plan would reduce these potential impacts. On
March 9, 2012, the DoN initiated consultation with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service in accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act for the potential impacts to Federally-listed species present at
NAWSCL (specifically, desert tortoise, Mojave tui chub, southwestern
willow flycatcher, least Bell's vireo, and Inyo California towhee).
Impacts to cultural resources from the proposed action would not be
significant and would be further reduced by implementation of the
standard operating procedures for the treatment of cultural resources
described in the Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan. In
accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act,
the DoN initiated consultation with the State Historic Preservation
Officer for on March 9, 2012. Native American access to the Coso Hot
Springs and Prayer Site would continue to be conducted in accordance
with the existing Memorandum of Agreement between NAWSCL and Native
American tribes.
The Draft EIS/LEIS was distributed to Federal, state, and local
agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and
organizations. Copies of the Draft EIS/LEIS are available for public
review at the following libraries:
1. Ridgecrest Public Library, 131 East Las Flores Avenue,
Ridgecrest, California 93555.
2. Trona Branch Library, 82805 Mount View, Trona, California 93562.
3. Lone Pine Branch Library, 127 Bush Street, Lone Pine, California
93545.
4. Barstow Branch Library, 304 East Buena Vista Street, Barstow,
California 92311.
5. Mojave Public Library, 16916-1/2 State Highway 14, Space D2,
Mojave, California 93501.
6. Lancaster Public Library, 601 West Lancaster Boulevard,
Lancaster, California 93534.
The Draft EIS/LEIS is also available for electronic viewing or
download at the project Web site at https://www.chinalakeleis.com. A
paper copy of the Executive Summary or a single compact disc of the
Draft EIS/LEIS will be made available upon written request.
Dated: August 14, 2012.
C.K. Chiappetta,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-20279 Filed 8-16-12; 8:45 am]
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