Department of the Navy February 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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), the Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental effects that may result from homebasing the U.S. Navy F- 35C (Joint Strike Fighter) aircraft at either Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, California or Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California. In addition, pursuant to the USEPA's Clean Air Act (CAA) General Conformity Regulations (40 CFR part 93, subpart B), the DoN has prepared a Draft CAA General Conformity Determination, which is included in the Draft EIS, to address air emission impacts associated with proposed F-35C homebasing. With the filing of the Draft EIS (including the Draft CAA General Conformity Determination), the DoN is initiating a 60-day public comment period beginning on February 15, 2013 and ending on April 22, 2013. During this period, the DoN will conduct two public meetings to receive oral and written comments on the Draft EIS and Draft CAA General Conformity Determination. This notice announces the dates, times, and locations of the public meetings and provides supplementary information about the environmental planning effort.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 United States Code 4321-4370h, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-1508, the Department of Navy (DoN) NEPA regulations (32 CFR part 775), and Marine Corps Order P5090.2A (with Changes 1, 2) Marine Corps Environmental Compliance and Protection Manual, Chapter 12, the DoN, after carefully weighing the operational and environmental consequences of the proposed action in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), announces its decision to establish a large-scale Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) training facility at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California (``the Combat Center'') to accommodate a required new program of sustained, combined-arms, live-fire, and maneuver training for all elements of a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)-sized MAGTF, including full-scale MEB Exercises and associated MEB Building Block training. To accommodate the required MEB training activities, DoN, acting through the Combat Center, will: Purchase additional private and state lands adjacent to the Combat Center; request withdrawal by Act of Congress of additional public lands adjacent to the Combat Center; pursue through the Federal Aviation Administration the establishment and modification of military Special Use Airspace for proposed MEB- sized training range; and conduct the specified MEB training. Land withdrawal of more than 5,000 acres for the purposes of national defense may only be made by an Act of Congress. The DoN has selected Alternative 6, the Preferred Alternative, (with additional mitigation developed in consultation with the Bureau of Land Management [BLM]), for implementation and recommendation to Congress. Alternative 6 includes the withdrawal of public land and purchase of private and state lands collectively totaling approximately 167,971 acres west and south of the existing Combat Center. All practical means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the Preferred Alternative that were identified in the Final EIS have been adopted.

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 (CEQ) (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy (DoN) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with two actions: (1) The proposed construction and operation of Land-Water Interface (LWI) structures and (2) the proposed construction and operation of a Service Pier Extension (SPE) on Naval Base (NAVBASE) Kitsap Bangor. The DoN proposes two projects on NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor waterfront to: (1) Comply with Department of Defense (DoD) directives to protect Navy OHIO Class ballistic missile submarines (TRIDENT submarines) from increased and evolving threats and to prevent the seizure, damage, or destruction of military assets and (2) eliminate deployment constraints and improve maintenance of SEAWOLF Class submarines. The first proposed action includes constructing two LWI structures and modifying the existing floating Port Security Barrier (PSB) system for improved protection of TRIDENT submarines. Construction of the LWI structures would enclose the Navy Waterfront Restricted Area (WRA) on NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor by constructing security barriers in the intertidal zone at the Bangor waterfront. Construction is anticipated to take two years. Construction activities occurring in the water during the first year may involve pile driving and would be conducted July 2015 through February 2016. Once the pile driving is complete, activities other than pile driving may occur in the water up until February 2017. The second proposed action would relocate SEAWOLF Class submarines SSN-21 (SEAWOLF) and SSN-22 (CONNECTICUT) from NAVBASE Kitsap Bremerton to join SSN-23 (JIMMY CARTER) at NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor. The existing Service Pier would be extended and land based associated support facilities would be constructed including a Maintenance Support Facility, and utility upgrades including an emergency power generator, and a parking lot. Shore based facilities constructed on the pier would include a Pier Services and Compressor Building and a pier crane. Construction would occur from April 2015 to March 2017. Construction in the water is planned for July through February of each year, beginning in July 2015 and concluding in February 2017. The relocation would result in the consolidation of berthing and support for the SEAWOLF Class submarines at NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor. NAVBASE Kitsap is the action proponent. The LWI construction and PSB modifications are for the DoN's Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), which directs research, development, manufacturing, test, evaluation, and operational support of the TRIDENT program. The SPE and supporting facilities are for Commander, Submarine Development Squadron Five (CSDS-5). CSDS-5 is the Immediate Superior in Command for all three SEAWOLF Class submarines and four DoN research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) detachments based at NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor. The DoN is the lead federal agency for this action. The DoN is requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Service to be Cooperating Agencies. The DoN will hold public scoping meetings to receive oral and/or written comments on environmental concerns related to the proposed actions, to determine the scope of issues to address in the Draft EIS, and to identify and refine alternatives to the proposed actions. Federal, state, and local agencies, American Indian tribes, and the public are invited to participate in the scoping process. The public scoping meetings will be conducted in English and will be arranged in an informal, open-house format. Attendees will be provided the opportunity to sign in and then visit various stations hosted by DoN representatives and technical staff assigned to provide information and answer questions. Several large display boards will be located throughout the meeting locations to assist attendees in understanding the proposed actions and the alternatives. Fact sheets about the proposed actions and alternatives will be available to attendees. A comment table with comment sheets will be placed in an easily accessible location.