98-5118. Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Disposal of Portions of the Former Homestead Air Force Base (AFB), Florida

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10006-10007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5118]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) for the Disposal of Portions of the Former Homestead 
Air Force Base (AFB), Florida

    The United States Air Force (Air Force) and the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) will prepare an SEIS analyzing the proposed 
transfer of airfield and airfield-related properties at the former 
Homestead AFB. The SEIS will supplement the 1994 EIS titled Disposal 
and Reuse of Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. It will be used by the 
Air Force and the FAA in making decisions concerning the proposed 
disposal of the property. The Air Force and the FAA will be the lead 
agencies for preparing the SEIS. The National Park Service, the Fish 
and Wildlife Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency will be 
cooperating agencies.
    The SEIS will address the potential environmental impacts of the 
disposal and reuse of surplus airfield facilities made available by the 
realignment of Homestead AFB pursuant to the Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Act. The Air Force seeks to transfer the facilities in a 
manner that supports local plans for economic revitalization of South 
Florida and protects Biscayne Bay and the nearby national parks. The 
SEIS will address the proposed transfer of a one-runway airport and 
airport facilities at the former base. It also will address the 
potential environmental impacts of any reasonable disposal alternatives 
and include possible mitigation measures.
    The scoping period for this SEIS formally begins with this Notice 
of Intent and will extend through April 30, 1998. The Air Force and FAA 
invite the participation of federal, state, and local agencies, any 
affected Indian tribal governments, organizations, and interested 
persons. Several public scoping meetings will be held at a time and 
location to be announced at a later

[[Page 10007]]

date. The purpose of such meetings is to provide a public forum for 
officials and the community to provide information and comments and to 
identify environmental issues and concerns that should be addressed in 
the SEIS. During the meetings the Air Force and FAA will provide 
information on the proposal to dispose of the property, describe the 
process to be used in preparing the SEIS, and ask for input on the 
scope of the SEIS including any reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
disposal. In addition to the public scoping meetings, written input is 
welcome, and informal meetings may be scheduled if requested.
    To ensure sufficient time to adequately consider public inputs on 
issues to be included in the SEIS, comments should be presented to the 
Air Force and FAA in meetings or forwarded to the address listed below 
by April 30, 1998. For further information concerning the SEIS, please 
contact: AFBCA/EX, Attn: M. J. Jadick, Homestead AFB SEIS, 1700 N. 
Moore Street, Suite 2300, Arlington, VA 22209-2802, 703) 696-5529.
Barbara A. Carmichael,
Alternate Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-5118 Filed 2-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3910-01-P