Department of the Navy October 18, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and the regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). This SEIS supplements the Navy's 1999 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), ``Developing Home Port Facilities for Three NIMITZ-Class Aircraft Carriers in Support of the U.S. Pacific Fleet,'' as authorized by the Record of Decision (ROD) dated January 28, 2000 and published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2000 (65 FR 6181). The limited purpose of this SEIS is to supplement the traffic analysis contained in the 1999 FEIS, to assess potential new information, validate impacts to traffic and to analyze the effectiveness of existing traffic mitigation measures implemented per the 2000 ROD when three CVNs home ported at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI), California are simultaneously in port. Completion of the SEIS is necessary under 40 CFR 1502.9 to assess potential new information and to validate impacts to traffic during infrequent periods when three CVNs home ported at NASNI are simultaneously in port. The SEIS will analyze the effectiveness of existing traffic mitigation measures implemented per the 2000 ROD under these conditions. The SEIS will evaluate impacts such as changes in local traffic conditions, changes in personnel loading and potential changes in CVN operational deployment and maintenance schedules that could affect the average number of days three carriers are simultaneously in port. The SEIS will also evaluate the effects of traffic mitigation measures implemented pursuant to the 2000 ROD. Past, present and reasonably foreseeable future regional actions impacting traffic will be examined from a cumulative impacts perspective. In addition, the SEIS will address infrastructure improvements for Berth LIMA, which include utilities upgrades previously analyzed under the 1999 FEIS and newly defined site improvements and other minor alterations to existing infrastructure. Utilities upgrades include: repairs and upgrades to electrical power, communications and information systems, security lighting, fire protection, steam, compressed air, potable water, wastewater and fueling systems. Site improvements and other alterations include: Demolition of existing fenders, moorings, and pier pavement; installation of new fender pile system (with 200-300 fender piles) and mooring fittings; construction of Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) features (watch tower, guard kiosk, fencing and surveillance equipment); and demolition, repair and paving of the wharf, sidewalks, curbing, storm water drainage features and vehicle parking areas; and landscaping. It is anticipated that the construction of infrastructure improvements to Berth LIMA will take approximately one year to accomplish. Public input is requested to ensure the scope of the SEIS analysis incorporates public concerns and affords the public an input in the decision making process.