Department of Defense December 21, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Presidential Executive Order 12114 (Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions), the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with conducting naval readiness activities in the Southern California (SOCAL) Range Complex (to include the San Clemente Island (SCI) Range Complex). DON proposes to support current, emerging, and future military activities in the SOCAL and SCI Range Complexes as necessary to achieve and sustain Fleet readiness, including military training; research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) of systems, weapons, and platforms; and investment in range resources and range infrastructure, all in furtherance of our statutory obligations under Title 10 of the United States Code governing the roles and responsibilities of the DON. On August 17, 1999, DON initiated the NEPA process for an EIS/OEIS evaluating the impacts of DON activities at the SCI Range Complex by publishing a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (64 FR 44716- 44717). DON has determined that it is appropriate to include within the scope of the SOCAL Range Complex EIS/OEIS the previously announced environmental analysis of military activities on the SCI Range. Therefore, this Notice of Intent supersedes and withdraws the August 17, 1999, notice of the DON's intent to prepare an EIS/OEIS for the SCI Range Complex. Dates and Addresses: Three public scoping meetings will be held to receive oral and written comments on environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Public scoping meetings will be held on the following dates, at the times and locations specified: 1. Wednesday, January 29, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Library, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, CA. 2. Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Oceanside Civic Center Library, 330 North Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA. 3. Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA. Each meeting will consist of an information session staffed by DON representatives, to be followed by a presentation describing the proposed action and alternatives. Written comments from interested parties are encouraged to ensure that the full range of relevant issues is identified. Members of the public can contribute oral or written comments at the scoping meetings, or written comments by mail or fax, subsequent to the meetings. Additional information concerning the scoping meetings is available at: https://www.SocalRangeComplexEIS.com.