[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15471-15472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8191]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Implementation of the Draft Integrated Management Plan for the Patuxent
River Complex, Maryland
SUMMARY: Per section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) 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 potential environmental effects of implementing the
draft Integrated Management Plan for the Patuxent River Complex,
Maryland. The Patuxent River Complex includes the Patuxent River Naval
Air Station (NAS) including the Test Pilot School, Webster Field Annex
(an Outlying Field), and the Chesapeake Test Range, which are assets
under the exclusive control and scheduling authority of the Naval Air
Warfare Center--Aircraft Division (NAWCAD).
The Patuxent River Complex is located 60 miles southeast of
Washington, DC, in southern Maryland, where the Navy has actively
conducted aircraft test and evaluation activities for more than 50
years. In recent years, the post-Cold War shift from the threat of
nuclear superpower confrontation to regional conflicts has required the
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military services to redefine their roles and identify the types of
weapons and platforms most effective to future success in regional
conflicts.
Concurrent with the rise of regional conflicts has been a trend of
significant reductions in national defense spending. The Patuxent River
Complex has been affected by the 1991, 1993, and 1995 Base Realignment
and Closure Act (BRAC) decisions to relocate Naval Aviation Research,
Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) facilities from Warminster,
Pennsylvania and Trenton, New Jersey and Naval Air Systems headquarters
from Arlington, Virginia to the Complex. (Environmental Impact
Statements were prepared in 1993 and 1994 to assess this realignment of
these functions; issues addressed in these NEPA documents will be
incorporated by reference only in the EIS for the Patuxent River
Complex Integrated Management Plan.) These realignments and
consolidation of their assets will better position NAWCAD to carry out
its mission as the Navy's principal RDT&E, engineering, and fleet
support activity for Naval fixed and rotary wing aircraft and
associated systems from acquisition through all life cycle phases.
In response to these changes, NAWCAD recognized the need to
initiate a strategic planning initiative that included the preparation
of an Integrated Management Plan for the NAWCAD-controlled assets in
the Patuxent River Complex. The implementation of the plan will enable
the Navy to meet its commitment to conserve and protect the unique
natural and cultural resources of the Patuxent River Complex and
Chesapeake Bay while protecting human health and welfare.
The Integrated Management Plan will provide a framework within
which NAWCAD can efficiently and effectively utilize the assets under
its control to meet its strategic planning initiatives while complying
with applicable local, state, and Federal laws. However, prior to
NAWCAD adoption of the Integrated Management Plan, compliance with NEPA
is required. The preparation of an EIS will meet these NEPA
requirements. The EIS will address a range of alternatives that focus
on varying workload levels associated with both RDT&E and military
training support activities: (1) Level I Workload Alternative will
consist of RDT&E activities at recent levels and an increase in
military training support activities for a combined total of
approximately 22,000 flight hours per year; (2) Level II Workload
Alternative will consist of increases in RDT&E activities and military
training support activities for a combined total of approximately
24,000 flight hours per year; and (3) Level III Workload Alternative
will consist of increased RDT&E activities and military training
support activities for a combined total of approximately 26,000 flight
hours per year. As required by NEPA, the EIS will also consider the No
Action Alternative. This alternative would consist of RDT&E activities
and military training support activities at existing workload levels.
Topics to be addressed in the EIS will include, but are not limited
to, noise, air quality, vegetation and wildlife, water quality, and
socioeconomic impacts, including environmental justice. Federal, state,
and local agencies, and interested individuals are encouraged to
participate in a scoping process to determine the range of issues
related to the proposed action.
Five public scoping meetings will be held to receive oral and
written comments. Each scoping meeting will provide opportunities for
clarification of the draft Integrated Management Plan and alternatives
and solicit input from representatives of government agencies and
interested individuals. The Navy will set up information stations at
these scoping meetings that will describe the Patuxent River Complex,
the scope of Integrated Management Plan, and the NEPA EIS process. Each
information station will be attended by a Navy presenter who will be
available to answer questions from meeting attendees. Comments will be
entered into the official record in several ways: written comments
sheets available at each meeting; tape recorders located throughout the
meeting area; and via a stenographer who will be available to
transcribe statements. Written comments will also be accepted via mail
or fax. Regardless of the commenting method chosen, all comments will
receive the same attention and consideration during EIS preparation.
The five public scoping meetings will be held at the following
times and locations: (1) Prince Frederick, Maryland on May 6, 1997 at
the Calvert High School from 3:30 pm-5:30pm and 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; (2)
Leonardtown, Maryland on May 8, 1997 at the Leonardtown High School
School from 3:30 pm-5:30 pm and 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; (3) Burgess, Virginia
on May 12, 1997 at the Fairfields Baptist Church from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm;
Westover, Maryland on May 14, 1997 at the JM Tawes Technical Center
from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm; and (5) Cambridge, Maryland on May 15, 1997 at
the Christ Episcopal Church from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm and 6:30 pm-8:30 pm.
The schedule for the public scoping meetings will also be available by
calling (888) 276-5201.
ADDRESSES: The Navy will accept comments at the address below at any
time during the environmental impact statement process. To ensure that
the Navy has sufficient time to consider public input during
preparation of the Draft EIS, scoping comments should be submitted to
the address below by June 1, 1997. For further information concerning
the preparation of the EIS, or to provide written comment, contact:
Cathy A. Partusch, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Air Station Patuxent
River, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland, telephone (301) 342-7512, ext. 24; fax (301)
342-7509; Internet: PartuschCAam5@mr.nawcad.navy.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning this
notice may be obtained by contacting Ms. Cathy Partusch at (301) 342-
7512.
Dated: March 21, 1997.
M.A. Waters,
LCDR, JAG, USN, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-8191 Filed 3-31-97; 8:45 am]
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