Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for EA-18G “Growler” Airfield Operations at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Complex, Washington, 81748-81750 [2016-27827]
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81748
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 223 / Friday, November 18, 2016 / Notices
during follow-on meetings. Agenda
items for this meeting will include the
following: (1) Final discussions and
deliberations on 10 U.S.C. 2320 and
2321 tension points; (2) Report
framework and collaboration; (3)
Comment Adjudication and Planning
for follow-on meeting.
Availability of Materials for the
Meeting: A copy of the agenda or any
updates to the agenda for the November
29, 2016 meeting will be available as
requested or at the following site:
https://database.faca.gov/committee/
meetings.aspx?cid=2561. It will also be
distributed upon request.
Minor changes to the agenda will be
announced at the meeting. All materials
will be posted to the FACA database
after the meeting.
Public Accessibility to the Meeting:
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended,
and 41 CFR 102–3.140 through 102–
3.165, and subject to the availability of
space, this meeting is open to the
public. Registration of members of the
public who wish to attend the meeting
will begin upon publication of this
meeting notice and end three business
days (November 23) prior to the start of
the meeting. All members of the public
must contact LTC Lunoff at the phone
number or email listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to
make arrangements for Pentagon escort,
if necessary. Public attendees should
arrive at the Pentagon’s Visitor’s Center,
located near the Pentagon Metro
Station’s south exit and adjacent to the
Pentagon Transit Center bus terminal
with sufficient time to complete security
screening no later than 8:30 a.m. on
November 29. To complete security
screening, please come prepared to
present two forms of identification of
which one must be a pictured
identification card. Government and
military DoD CAC holders are not
required to have an escort, but are still
required to pass through the Visitor’s
Center to gain access to the Building.
Seating is limited and is on a first-toarrive basis. Attendees will be asked to
provide their name, title, affiliation, and
contact information to include email
address and daytime telephone number
to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO)
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section. Any interested person
may attend the meeting, file written
comments or statements with the
committee, or make verbal comments
from the floor during the public
meeting, at the times, and in the
manner, permitted by the committee.
Special Accommodations: The
meeting venue is fully handicap
accessible, with wheelchair access.
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Individuals requiring special
accommodations to access the public
meeting or seeking additional
information about public access
procedures, should contact LTC Lunoff,
the committee DFO, at the email address
or telephone number listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section,
at least five (5) business days prior to
the meeting so that appropriate
arrangements can be made.
Written Comments or Statements:
Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and
102–3.140 and section 10(a)(3) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
public or interested organizations may
submit written comments or statements
to the Government-Industry Advisory
Panel about its mission and/or the
topics to be addressed in this public
meeting. Written comments or
statements should be submitted to LTC
Lunoff, the committee DFO, via
electronic mail, the preferred mode of
submission, at the email address listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section in the following
formats: Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft
Word. The comment or statement must
include the author’s name, title,
affiliation, address, and daytime
telephone number. Written comments or
statements being submitted in response
to the agenda set forth in this notice
must be received by the committee DFO
at least five (5) business days prior to
the meeting so that they may be made
available to the Government-Industry
Advisory Panel for its consideration
prior to the meeting. Written comments
or statements received after this date
may not be provided to the panel until
its next meeting. Please note that
because the panel operates under the
provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, as amended, all written
comments will be treated as public
documents and will be made available
for public inspection.
Verbal Comments: Members of the
public will be permitted to make verbal
comments during the meeting only at
the time and in the manner allowed
herein. If a member of the public is
interested in making a verbal comment
at the open meeting, that individual
must submit a request, with a brief
statement of the subject matter to be
addressed by the comment, at least three
(3) business days in advance to the
committee DFO, via electronic mail, the
preferred mode of submission, at the
email address listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section. The
committee DFO will log each request to
make a comment, in the order received,
and determine whether the subject
matter of each comment is relevant to
the panel’s mission and/or the topics to
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be addressed in this public meeting. A
30-minute period near the end of the
meeting will be available for verbal
public comments. Members of the
public who have requested to make a
verbal comment and whose comments
have been deemed relevant under the
process described in this paragraph, will
be allotted no more than five (5)
minutes during this period, and will be
invited to speak in the order in which
their requests were received by the DFO.
Dated: November 15, 2016.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2016–27773 Filed 11–17–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
EA–18G ‘‘Growler’’ Airfield Operations
at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Complex, Washington
Department of the Navy, DoD
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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 parts 1500–1508),
the Department of the Navy (DoN) has
prepared and filed with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to assess the potential
environmental impacts of adding up to
36 Growler aircraft at the Naval Air
Station (NAS) Whidbey Island complex,
and continuing and increasing Growler
airfield operations. The NAS Whidbey
Island complex is located in Island
County, Washington, on Whidbey
Island, in the northern Puget Sound
region. The complex includes the main
air station (Ault Field), which is in the
north-central part of the island, adjacent
to the city of Oak Harbor, and Outlying
Landing Field (OLF) Coupeville. The
OLF is approximately 10 miles south of
Ault Field and is dedicated primarily to
Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP).
With the filing of the Draft EIS, the
DoN is initiating an extended public
comment period of 75 days, beginning
on November 10, 2016 and ending on
January 25, 2017. Public meetings are
scheduled to inform the public and
receive comments on the environmental
analysis presented in the Draft EIS. This
notice announces the dates, times, and
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 223 / Friday, November 18, 2016 / Notices
locations of the public meetings and
provides supplementary information
about the Draft EIS.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: The DoN will
hold public meetings to inform the
public about the Draft EIS and the
proposed action and alternatives under
consideration and to provide
opportunities for the public to comment
on the Draft EIS. Federal, state, and
local agencies and officials, Native
American Indian Tribes and Nations,
and interested organizations and
individuals are encouraged to provide
comments in person at the public
meetings or in writing during the 75-day
public review period. Public meetings
will be held at the following dates,
times, and locations:
1. Monday, December 5, 2016, from
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Fort
Worden State Park Conference Center,
USO Hall, 200 Battery Way, Port
Townsend, Washington 98368.
2. Tuesday, December 6, 2016, from
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Oak Harbor
Elks Lodge Grande Hall, 155 NE Ernst
Street, Oak Harbor, Washington 98277.
3. Wednesday, December 7, 2016,
from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Lopez
Center for Community and the Arts, 204
Village Road, Lopez Island, Washington
98261.
4. Thursday, December 8, 2016, from
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Seafarers’
Memorial Park Building, 601 Seafarers
Way, Anacortes, Washington 98221.
5. Friday, December 9, 2016, from
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Coupeville
High School Commons, 501 South Main
Street, Coupeville, Washington 98239.
The public meetings will be open
house sessions with informational
poster stations. Members of the public
will have the opportunity to ask
questions of DoN representatives and
subject matter experts. Attendees will
also be able to provide verbal comments
to a stenographer or submit written
comments during the public meetings.
In addition to participating in the public
meetings, members of the public may
submit comments via the U.S. Postal
Service using the mailing address
identified in the contact information
later in this notice or electronically
using the project Web site (https://
www.whidbeyeis.com). All comments
made at the public meetings or
postmarked or received online by
January 25 will become part of the
public record and be considered in the
Final EIS.
The DoN may release the city, state,
and 5-digit zip code of individuals who
provide comments during the Draft EIS
public review period. However, the
names, street addresses, email addresses
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20:21 Nov 17, 2016
Jkt 241001
and screen names, telephone numbers,
or other personally identifiable
information of those individuals will
not be released by the DoN unless
required by law. Prior to each
commenter making verbal comments to
the stenographer at the public meetings
the commenter will be asked whether
he/she agrees to a release of their
personally identifiable information.
Those commenters submitting written
comments, either using comment forms
or via the project Web site, will be asked
whether they authorize release of
personally identifiable information by
checking a ‘‘release’’ box.
EA–
18G EIS Project Manager, Naval
Facilities Engineering Command
(NAVFAC) Atlantic, Attention: Code
EV21/SS; 6506 Hampton Boulevard,
Norfolk, Virginia 23508.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
On
September 5, 2013, the DoN published
a notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal
Register (78 FR 54635) to analyze the
potential addition of 13 Growler aircraft
to the existing Growler community
stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. A
revised NOI was published in the
Federal Register on October 10, 2014
(79 FR 61296), which modified the
proposed action by increasing the
number of aircraft analyzed to 36 in
order to account for the possible
procurement of additional aircraft.
Comments received during the two
scoping periods were used to shape the
analysis contained in the Draft EIS.
The DoN’s proposed action is to: (1)
Continue and expand existing Growler
operations at Ault Field and OLF
Coupeville; (2) increase capabilities to
accommodate up to 36 additional
aircraft, including the construction and
renovation of facilities at Ault Field; (3)
support flight operations of other
aircraft, and (4) station additional
personnel in the region.
The purpose of the proposed action is
to augment the DoN’s existing
Electronic Attack community at NAS
Whidbey Island by operating additional
Growler aircraft as appropriated by
Congress. The DoN needs to effectively
and efficiently increase electronic attack
capabilities in order to counter
increasingly sophisticated threats and
provide more aircraft per squadron in
order to give operational commanders
more flexibility in addressing future
threats and missions. The need for the
proposed action is to maintain and
expand Growler operational readiness to
support national defense requirements
under Title 10, United States Code
(U.S.C.), Section 5062.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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81749
In developing the proposed range of
alternatives that meet the purpose of
and need for the proposed action, the
DoN carefully reviewed important
considerations unique to the Growler
community that is single-sited at NAS
Whidbey Island, as well as Growler
squadron training in light of Title 10
responsibilities; existing training
requirements and regulations; existing
DoN infrastructure; and Chief of Naval
Operations guidance to support
operating Naval Forces. Furthermore,
the DoN evaluated past home basing
decisions, reconsidered alternatives
previously eliminated from analysis,
and thoughtfully considered basing and
training options suggested by the public
during the two scoping periods. The
Draft EIS explains the DoN’s reasons for
eliminating some alternatives and
suggested options from further
consideration. In addition, the Draft EIS
explains why some alternatives
presented in the October 10, 2014
revised NOI were not carried forward.
The action alternatives evaluated in
the Draft EIS vary in terms of force
structure and operations to
accommodate the proposed increase in
Growler aircraft. In addition, three
operational scenarios (sub-alternatives)
are evaluated, all of which focus on the
distribution of annual FCLP airfield
operations between Ault Field and OLF
Coupeville.
In addition to the action alternatives,
the DoN evaluated the potential
environmental effects of the No Action
Alternative. Under this alternative, the
proposed action would not occur.
Although the No Action Alternative
would not meet the purpose of or need
for the proposed action, the conditions
associated with the No Action
Alternative serve as reference points for
describing and quantifying the potential
environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action alternatives. For
this Draft EIS, the DoN is using the year
2021 for the No Action Alternative
because it represents conditions when
events at Ault Field affecting aircraft
loading, facility and infrastructure
assets, personnel levels, and number of
aircraft are expected to be fully
implemented and complete from
previous aircraft home basing, aircraft
retirement, and other related decisions.
The Draft EIS provides an analysis of
the potential environmental effects of
the proposed action on the following
resources: Airspace and airfield
operations; noise; public health and
safety; air quality; land use; cultural
resources; American Indian traditional
resources; biological resources; water
resources; socioeconomics;
environmental justice; transportation;
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81750
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 223 / Friday, November 18, 2016 / Notices
infrastructure; geological resources;
hazardous materials and wastes; and
climate change and greenhouse gases.
Consultation with the Washington State
Historic Preservation Officer under
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act is pending. The Navy
will also engage in consultations with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
National Marine Fisheries Service,
Washington State Department of
Ecology, and Native American Tribes
and Nations.
The Draft EIS was distributed to
federal, state, and local agencies and
elected officials, Native American
Indian Tribes and Nations, and other
interested individuals and
organizations. The Draft EIS is available
for public electronic viewing or
download at the project Web site (https://
www.whidbeyeis.com). A paper copy of
the Draft EIS may be reviewed at 22
public libraries in the northern Puget
Sound region. The full list of and
addresses for each of the libraries may
be found at the project Web site.
To be included on the DoN’s mailing
list for future updates on the EIS, submit
a request electronically using the project
Web site or submit a written request to
the address previously identified for
further information. The same policy for
release of personally identifiable
information as identified above will be
maintained by the DoN for individuals
requesting to be included on the EIS
mailing list.
Dated: November 9, 2016.
C.D. Mora,
Commander, Judge Advocate General’s Corps,
U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–27827 Filed 11–17–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 2082–062; Project No. 2082–
063; Project No. 14803–000; Project No.
14803–001]
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
PacifiCorp, Klamath River Renewal
Corporation; Notice of Applications
Filed With the Commission
Take notice that the following
hydroelectric applications have been
filed with the Commission and are
available for public inspection:
a. Types of Applications: Application
for Amendment and Partial Transfer of
License; Application for Surrender of
License.
b. Project Nos.: 2082–062 and 14803–
000 (amendment and transfer
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:21 Nov 17, 2016
Jkt 241001
application); 2082–063 and 14803–001
(surrender application).
c. Date Filed: September 23, 2016.
d. Applicants: For license amendment
and transfer: PacifiCorp (transferor) and
Klamath River Renewal Corporation
(transferee).
For license surrender: Klamath River
Renewal Corporation.
e. Name of Projects: Klamath Project
(P–2082).
Lower Klamath Project (P–14803).
f. Locations: Klamath Project—on the
Klamath River in Klamath County,
Oregon, and on the Klamath River and
Fall Creek in Siskiyou County,
California. The project includes about
477 acres of federal lands administered
by the Bureau of Reclamation and the
Bureau of Land Management.
Lower Klamath Project—on the
Klamath River in Klamath County,
Oregon, and Siskiyou County,
California. The project would include
about 395 acres of federal lands
administered by the Bureau of Land
Management.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a–825r.
h. Applicants Contact: Sarah
Kamman, Vice President and General
Counsel, PacifiCorp, 825 NE Multnomah
Street, Suite 2000, Portland, OR 97232,
(503) 813–5865, sarah kamman@
pacificorp.com.
Michael Carrier, President, Klamath
River Renewal Corporation, 423
Washington Street, 3rd Floor, San
Francisco, CA 94111, (415) 820–4441,
michael@klamathrenewal.org.
i. FERC Contacts: Amendment and
Transfer: Steve Hocking, (202) 502–
8753, Steve.Hocking@ferc.gov.
Surrender: John Mudre: (202) 502–
8902, john.mudre@ferc.gov.
j. Description of Amendment and
Transfer Request: The applicants
request that the Commission transfer the
J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2,
and Iron Gate developments of the
existing Klamath Project No. 2082 from
PacifiCorp to the Klamath River
Renewal Corporation (Renewal
Corporation) and create a new project,
the Lower Klamath Project, for the
transferred developments with the
Renewal Corporation as the sole
licensee. PacifiCorp requests that the
license for Project No. 2082 be amended
to delete references to the four
transferred developments. The
applicants state that they will make a
supplemental filing on or before March
1, 2017, demonstrating the legal,
technical, and financial capabilities of
the Renewal Corporation to perform its
responsibilities as transferee. Applicants
further request that the Commission act
on the amendment and transfer
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
application by December 31, 2017, and
allow the Renewal Corporation six
months from the issuance date of the
order approving transfer to submit proof
of its acceptance of license transfer.
k. Description of Surrender Request:
The Renewal Corporation’s request to
surrender and decommission the Lower
Klamath Project, including removal of
the project dams is contingent upon a
Commission order amending
PacifiCorp’s existing Klamath Project
(P–2082) license to create a new project,
the Lower Klamath Project, and
transferring the Lower Klamath Project
to the Renewal Corporation, as
described in item (j), above. The Lower
Klamath Project, as envisioned by the
Renewal Corporation, would consist of
the J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No.
2, and Iron Gate developments of the
existing Klamath Project No. 2082, and
the Renewal Corporation would be the
sole licensee. The Renewal Corporation
requests that the Commission not act on
this request until it is ready to accept
license transfer and states that it will
file, by December 31, 2017, its
decommissioning plan to serve as the
basis for Commission staff’s
environmental and engineering review
of the surrender application. Because
only a licensee may file to surrender a
license and the Commission does not
accept contingent applications, the
surrender application is deemed to be
filed by both PacifiCorp and the
Renewal Corporation. See 18 CFR 6.1
and 4.32(j). Therefore, while action on
the amendment and transfer application
is pending, the Commission will
maintain both applications in the
dockets for both project numbers. If the
Commission approves the transfer and
the Renewal Corporation accepts the
license, following which the Renewal
Corporation would become the sole
licensee, the surrender proceeding
would continue solely in Project No.
14803.
l. With this notice, we are initiating
informal consultation with: (a) the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA
Fisheries under section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act and the joint
agency implementing regulations at 50
CFR part 402; (b) NOAA Fisheries under
section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act and implementing regulations at 50
CFR 600.920; and (c) the California and
Oregon State Historic Preservation
Officers, as required by section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act,
and the implementing regulations of the
Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation at 36 CFR part 800.
m. With this notice, we are
designating PacifiCorp and the Renewal
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 223 (Friday, November 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81748-81750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27827]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for EA-18G ``Growler'' Airfield Operations at the Naval Air
Station Whidbey Island Complex, Washington
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 parts 1500-1508),
the Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts of adding up to 36
Growler aircraft at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island complex,
and continuing and increasing Growler airfield operations. The NAS
Whidbey Island complex is located in Island County, Washington, on
Whidbey Island, in the northern Puget Sound region. The complex
includes the main air station (Ault Field), which is in the north-
central part of the island, adjacent to the city of Oak Harbor, and
Outlying Landing Field (OLF) Coupeville. The OLF is approximately 10
miles south of Ault Field and is dedicated primarily to Field Carrier
Landing Practice (FCLP).
With the filing of the Draft EIS, the DoN is initiating an extended
public comment period of 75 days, beginning on November 10, 2016 and
ending on January 25, 2017. Public meetings are scheduled to inform the
public and receive comments on the environmental analysis presented in
the Draft EIS. This notice announces the dates, times, and
[[Page 81749]]
locations of the public meetings and provides supplementary information
about the Draft EIS.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: The DoN will hold public meetings to inform the
public about the Draft EIS and the proposed action and alternatives
under consideration and to provide opportunities for the public to
comment on the Draft EIS. Federal, state, and local agencies and
officials, Native American Indian Tribes and Nations, and interested
organizations and individuals are encouraged to provide comments in
person at the public meetings or in writing during the 75-day public
review period. Public meetings will be held at the following dates,
times, and locations:
1. Monday, December 5, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the
Fort Worden State Park Conference Center, USO Hall, 200 Battery Way,
Port Townsend, Washington 98368.
2. Tuesday, December 6, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the
Oak Harbor Elks Lodge Grande Hall, 155 NE Ernst Street, Oak Harbor,
Washington 98277.
3. Wednesday, December 7, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the
Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, 204 Village Road, Lopez
Island, Washington 98261.
4. Thursday, December 8, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the
Seafarers' Memorial Park Building, 601 Seafarers Way, Anacortes,
Washington 98221.
5. Friday, December 9, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the
Coupeville High School Commons, 501 South Main Street, Coupeville,
Washington 98239.
The public meetings will be open house sessions with informational
poster stations. Members of the public will have the opportunity to ask
questions of DoN representatives and subject matter experts. Attendees
will also be able to provide verbal comments to a stenographer or
submit written comments during the public meetings. In addition to
participating in the public meetings, members of the public may submit
comments via the U.S. Postal Service using the mailing address
identified in the contact information later in this notice or
electronically using the project Web site (https://www.whidbeyeis.com).
All comments made at the public meetings or postmarked or received
online by January 25 will become part of the public record and be
considered in the Final EIS.
The DoN may release the city, state, and 5-digit zip code of
individuals who provide comments during the Draft EIS public review
period. However, the names, street addresses, email addresses and
screen names, telephone numbers, or other personally identifiable
information of those individuals will not be released by the DoN unless
required by law. Prior to each commenter making verbal comments to the
stenographer at the public meetings the commenter will be asked whether
he/she agrees to a release of their personally identifiable
information. Those commenters submitting written comments, either using
comment forms or via the project Web site, will be asked whether they
authorize release of personally identifiable information by checking a
``release'' box.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: EA-18G EIS Project Manager, Naval
Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, Attention: Code EV21/
SS; 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23508.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 5, 2013, the DoN published a
notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal Register (78 FR 54635) to analyze
the potential addition of 13 Growler aircraft to the existing Growler
community stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. A revised NOI was published
in the Federal Register on October 10, 2014 (79 FR 61296), which
modified the proposed action by increasing the number of aircraft
analyzed to 36 in order to account for the possible procurement of
additional aircraft. Comments received during the two scoping periods
were used to shape the analysis contained in the Draft EIS.
The DoN's proposed action is to: (1) Continue and expand existing
Growler operations at Ault Field and OLF Coupeville; (2) increase
capabilities to accommodate up to 36 additional aircraft, including the
construction and renovation of facilities at Ault Field; (3) support
flight operations of other aircraft, and (4) station additional
personnel in the region.
The purpose of the proposed action is to augment the DoN's existing
Electronic Attack community at NAS Whidbey Island by operating
additional Growler aircraft as appropriated by Congress. The DoN needs
to effectively and efficiently increase electronic attack capabilities
in order to counter increasingly sophisticated threats and provide more
aircraft per squadron in order to give operational commanders more
flexibility in addressing future threats and missions. The need for the
proposed action is to maintain and expand Growler operational readiness
to support national defense requirements under Title 10, United States
Code (U.S.C.), Section 5062.
In developing the proposed range of alternatives that meet the
purpose of and need for the proposed action, the DoN carefully reviewed
important considerations unique to the Growler community that is
single-sited at NAS Whidbey Island, as well as Growler squadron
training in light of Title 10 responsibilities; existing training
requirements and regulations; existing DoN infrastructure; and Chief of
Naval Operations guidance to support operating Naval Forces.
Furthermore, the DoN evaluated past home basing decisions, reconsidered
alternatives previously eliminated from analysis, and thoughtfully
considered basing and training options suggested by the public during
the two scoping periods. The Draft EIS explains the DoN's reasons for
eliminating some alternatives and suggested options from further
consideration. In addition, the Draft EIS explains why some
alternatives presented in the October 10, 2014 revised NOI were not
carried forward.
The action alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIS vary in terms of
force structure and operations to accommodate the proposed increase in
Growler aircraft. In addition, three operational scenarios (sub-
alternatives) are evaluated, all of which focus on the distribution of
annual FCLP airfield operations between Ault Field and OLF Coupeville.
In addition to the action alternatives, the DoN evaluated the
potential environmental effects of the No Action Alternative. Under
this alternative, the proposed action would not occur. Although the No
Action Alternative would not meet the purpose of or need for the
proposed action, the conditions associated with the No Action
Alternative serve as reference points for describing and quantifying
the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed action
alternatives. For this Draft EIS, the DoN is using the year 2021 for
the No Action Alternative because it represents conditions when events
at Ault Field affecting aircraft loading, facility and infrastructure
assets, personnel levels, and number of aircraft are expected to be
fully implemented and complete from previous aircraft home basing,
aircraft retirement, and other related decisions.
The Draft EIS provides an analysis of the potential environmental
effects of the proposed action on the following resources: Airspace and
airfield operations; noise; public health and safety; air quality; land
use; cultural resources; American Indian traditional resources;
biological resources; water resources; socioeconomics; environmental
justice; transportation;
[[Page 81750]]
infrastructure; geological resources; hazardous materials and wastes;
and climate change and greenhouse gases. Consultation with the
Washington State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act is pending. The Navy will also
engage in consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
National Marine Fisheries Service, Washington State Department of
Ecology, and Native American Tribes and Nations.
The Draft EIS was distributed to federal, state, and local agencies
and elected officials, Native American Indian Tribes and Nations, and
other interested individuals and organizations. The Draft EIS is
available for public electronic viewing or download at the project Web
site (https://www.whidbeyeis.com). A paper copy of the Draft EIS may be
reviewed at 22 public libraries in the northern Puget Sound region. The
full list of and addresses for each of the libraries may be found at
the project Web site.
To be included on the DoN's mailing list for future updates on the
EIS, submit a request electronically using the project Web site or
submit a written request to the address previously identified for
further information. The same policy for release of personally
identifiable information as identified above will be maintained by the
DoN for individuals requesting to be included on the EIS mailing list.
Dated: November 9, 2016.
C.D. Mora,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-27827 Filed 11-17-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
