97-29904. Notice of Intent To Prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) for the Continued Withdrawal of Lands at Bravo 20 Bombing Range (B-20), Fallon, Nevada as Identified in the Military Land Withdrawal Act of 1986

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 60888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29904]



[[Page 60888]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact 
Statement (LEIS) for the Continued Withdrawal of Lands at Bravo 20 
Bombing Range (B-20), Fallon, Nevada as Identified in the Military Land 
Withdrawal Act of 1986

SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy announces its intent to prepare a 
Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) pursuant to Section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as 
implemented by Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508). The LEIS will analyze the proposed continued 
withdrawal of lands supporting B-20 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, 
Nevada. Section 5 of the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 
99-606) directs the Navy to prepare an LEIS to evaluate the 
environmental effects of continued naval operations on the checkerboard 
pattern of withdrawn public lands that make up the B-20 training range. 
The LEIS will evaluate the cumulative effects of all NAS Fallon land 
withdrawals and serve as a Navy recommendation to Congress for 
consideration in determining the continued withdrawal of B-20 lands. In 
order to maintain the military mission, the Navy is proposing the 
continued use of the B-20 as defined by the Military Lands Withdrawal 
Act, Section 1(a). The actions considered in the LEIS would not result 
in the withdrawal of additional lands. The LEIS will analyze the 
potential environmental effects of the proposed action, public scoping 
alternatives, if applicable, and a ``no action'' alternative. Under the 
``no action'' alternative, withdrawn lands listed in Section 1(a) of 
the Military Lands Withdrawal Act would not be renewed for continued 
military purposes.

ADDRESSES: The Navy is initiating a public scoping process for the 
purpose of determining public concerns and issues to be analyzed and 
addressed for this action. The Navy will hold public scoping meetings 
on December 9, 1997, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at the Fallon 
Convention Center, 100 Campus Way, Fallon, Nevada; on December 10, 
1997, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at Pershing County District Office, 
1150 Elmhurst Avenue, Lovelock, Nevada; and on December 11, 1997, from 
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at Reno Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S. 
Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. A Navy public open house will occur at 
each site from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. prior to each scoping meeting.
    A brief presentation will precede a request for public information 
and comments. Navy representatives will be available at these meetings 
to receive information and comments from agencies and the public 
regarding issues of concern. It is important that federal, state and 
local agencies, and interested individuals take this opportunity to 
provide information or identify environmental concerns that should be 
addressed during the analysis and preparation of the LEIS. In the 
interest of the available time, each speaker will be asked to limit 
oral comments to three minutes. Comment forms will also be available to 
submit written comments at these meetings.
    Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide 
written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the 
public scoping meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments should 
clearly describe specific information, data, issues or topics which the 
commenter believes the LEIS should address. Written comments or 
questions regarding the scoping process and/or LEIS should be 
postmarked no later than Friday, February 13, 1998 and sent to the 
following address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written statements and or questions 
regarding the scoping process should be mailed to: Commanding Officer, 
Engineering Field Activity West, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
900 Commodore Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066-5006 (Attn: Mr. Sam Dennis, 
Code 7031), telephone [phone], fax [phone], e-mail at: 
[e-mail].

    Dated: November 19, 1997.
Darse E. Crandall,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-29904 Filed 11-12-97; 8:45 am]
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