[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70116-70117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33569]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Shock Trial of the DDG 81 Flight IIA Class Destroyer
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental
Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the
Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to evaluate the environmental effects of a proposal to conduct
ship shock trials on the AEGIS Destroyer, WINSTON CHURCHILL (DDG 81) at
a site located off the east coast or gulf coast of the United States.
Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.6, the Department of the Navy has requested
that the National Marine Fisheries Service act as a cooperating agency.
A ``shock trial'' is necessary to evaluate the effect that shock
waves, resulting from a series of underwater explosions and designed to
emulate conditions encountered in combat, have when they propagate
through a ship's hull. The congressionally mandated (10 USC 2366) Live
Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) Program requires realistic
survivability testing on each new class of Navy ships, or on an
existing class of ships when significant design changes that may affect
ship survivability are made. A ``shock trial'' is part of the Navy's
LFT&E program to ensure survivability. The test results provide
important information that is applied to follow-on ships and is used to
improve the initial ship design and enhance the effectiveness and
overall survivability of the ship and crew. Shock trials have proven
their value as recently as the Persian Gulf War when ships were able to
survive battle damage and continue their mission because of ship
design, crew survivability, and crew training lessons learned during
previous shock tests.
[[Page 70117]]
The proposed action would subject the WINSTON CHURCHILL to no more
than four explosive charges, 10,000 pounds each, while monitoring the
effects on the ship. The EIS will thoroughly address reasonable
alternatives to the proposed action, the existing environments of the
proposed test areas, and the impact to the environment at those areas.
Mayport, Florida, Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Norfolk, Virginia were
chosen initially for evaluation because they effectively meet the
operational criteria necessary to conduct a shock trial on a surface
combatant. These criteria include: Water depth of at least 600 feet;
geographic location; proximity to a Naval Station, Ship Repair
Facility, Military Airbase, Ordnance Loading Station, naval ships and
aircraft; sea traffic; weather and sea state; and personnel tempo
requirements. The proposed shock trial is scheduled to occur over a
consecutive period of four weeks between May 1, and September 1, 2001.
The EIS will analyze impacts of the proposed action on air and
water quality, marine life (including marine mammals and endangered and
threatened species), commercial fishing and shipping, recreation, and
economic and commercial resources.
DATES: The Navy will hold the following three public meetings in
January 1999:
1. January 19, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.;
2. January 20, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and
3. January 21, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at a location near each of
the proposed test areas:
1. January 19, 1999, at Granby High School, 7101 Granby Road, Norfolk,
Virginia.
2. January 20, 1999, at Fair Hall at Jackson County Fairgrounds, Corner
of Shortcut and Hospital Road, Pascagoula, Mississippi.
3. January 21, 1999, at Mayport Middle School, 2600 Mayport Road,
Atlantic Beach, Florida.
The meetings will be announced in local newspapers.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 meeting. To be most helpful,
comments should clearly describe specific issues or topics which the
commentor believes the EIS should address. Written statements and/or
questions regarding the scoping process should be mailed no later than
February 1, 1999 to: Commanding Officer, Southern Division, Naval
Facilities Engineering Command (Attn: Mr. Will Sloger, Code 064WS),
2155 Eagle Drive, N. Charleston, South Carolina, telephone 843-802-
5797, FAX 843-802-7472.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A brief presentation will precede the
request for public comment. Navy representatives will be available at
this meeting to receive comments from the public regarding issues of
concern. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies, and
interested individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental
concerns that should be addressed during the preparation of the EIS. In
the interest of available time, each speaker will be asked to limit
oral comments to five minutes.
Dated: December 14, 1998.
Ralph W. Corey,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-33569 Filed 12-17-98; 8:45 am]
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