Department of the Navy April 30, 2007 – 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 Executive Order 12114, the Department of Navy (Navy) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas EIS to evaluate the potential environmental consequences associated with naval training operations in the Navy Cherry Point (CP) Range Complex. The Navy proposes to support current and emerging training and research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) operations in the Navy CP Range Complex by: (1) Maintaining baseline operations at current levels; (2) increasing training operations from current levels as necessary to support the Fleet Readiness Training Plan (FRTP); (3) accommodating mission requirements associated with force structure change; and (4) implementing enhanced range complex capabilities. The EIS/OEIS study area is the Navy CP Range Complex which consists of surface and subsurface operating areas (OPAREAs), special use airspace (SUA), and instrumented ranges. The Navy CP Range Complex encompasses: 18,617 nm2 of offshore surface and subsurface OPAREA; 12,529 nm2 of deep ocean area greater than 100 fathoms (600 feet); and 18,966 nm2 of SUA (warning area). No land ranges or facilities are included within the study area for this EIS/OEIS. The focus of the EIS/OEIS is the exercises and other actions in the ocean environment. Issues associated with land-based ranges will be assessed separately by the U.S. Marine Corps. The scope of actions to be analyzed in this EIS/OEIS includes current and proposed future Navy training and RDT&E within Navy- controlled operating areas, airspace, and instrumented ranges. It also includes proposed Navy-funded range capabilities enhancements, including infrastructure improvements, which support range complex training and RDT&E. Activities that involve the use of active sonar are conducted in the Navy CP Complex; however, those potential effects are being analyzed in detail in a separate document, the Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar Training EIS/OEIS. That separate sonar EIS/OEIS addresses active sonar use as a whole by the Atlantic Fleet in the eastern Atlantic Ocean (including waters that are part of the Navy CP Complex), and in the Gulf of Mexico. The results of that sonar EIS/OEIS will be incorporated into the Navy CP Range Complex EIS/OEIS to account for active sonar effects that could occur within the geographic area of the Navy CP Range Complex. Dates and Addresses: Two public scoping meetings will be held, one in Morehead City, North Carolina and one in Wilmington, North Carolina, to receive oral and written comments on environmental concerns that should be addressed in the Navy CP Range Complex EIS/OEIS. Public scoping meetings will be held at the following dates, times, and locations: May 16, 2007, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at West Carteret High School, 4700 Country Club Road, Morehead City, North Carolina, and May 17, 2007, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at New Hanover High School, 1307 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.