Department of the Navy November 18, 2016 – 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 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 locations of the public meetings and provides supplementary information about the Draft EIS.