[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48442-48444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22927]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[USCG-1998-4765]
Coast Guard ``Optimize Training Infrastructure'' Initiative:
Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Proposed Finding of No
Significant Impact
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of meetings, and request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Programmatic
Environmental Assessment (PEA) and a proposed Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) for the ``Optimize Training Infrastructure'' (OTI)
Initiative. The OTI Initiative examined the ability of the Coast
Guard's training infrastructure (training methods, personnel, and
facilities) to support changing technological and operational
conditions in an efficient, cost-effective manner. This notice also
announces
[[Page 48443]]
public meetings and requests comments on the PEA and proposed FONSI.
DATES: The dates of the public meetings are--
1. September 13, 1999, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cape May, NJ; and
2. September 15, 1999, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Petaluma, CA.
The meetings may close early if all business is finished. A public
open house will be held before each meeting from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before October 8, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The locations of the public meetings are-
1. Cape May--Grand Hotel, Ocean Front and Philadelphia Streets,
Cape May, NJ; and
2. Petaluma--Kenilworth Junior High School, 998 East Washington
St., Petaluma, CA.
Electronic copies of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment
(PEA) and proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are
available through the OTI web site at http://www.ttsfo.com/USCG. The
documents may be viewed in text-readable form or downloaded.
Bound copies may be viewed at the following locations:
1. Cape May Public Library, 110 Ocean Street, Cape May, NJ.
2. Newport News Public Library, 2400 Washington Avenue, Newport
News, VA.
3. Pasquotank--Camden Library, 205 East Main Street, Elizabeth
City, NC.
4. Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA.
Electronic copies may also be viewed in the Department of
Transportation's Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov
(located at docket USCG-1998-4765). The PEA, proposed FONSI, comments
submitted during public scoping, and other relevant materials are
available for viewing at this site in a ``scanned image'' format,
rather than as text. All comments received during this phase, and other
relevant materials, will be placed in the docket. They will be
available for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW.,
Washington DC 20590-0001, on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
You may mail, FAX, email, or hand-deliver your comments to Ms.
Susan Boyle, U.S. Coast Guard, c/o Tetra Tech, 180 Howard Street, Suite
250, San Francisco, CA 94105, Phone 510-437-3973, FAX 415-974-5914, or
email CoastGuard@ttsfo.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, the NEPA
process, and NEPA documents, contact Ms. Susan Boyle, Commander(se),
USCG MLC Pacific, Coast Guard Island #54D, Alameda, CA 94501-5100, 510-
437-3973. For questions on the OTI Initiative, contact LCDR Keith
Curran, Reserve and Training Directorate (G-WT), Coast Guard
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593, phone 202-
267-2429 or email CoastGuard@ttsfo.com. For questions on viewing
material in the OTI web site, contact Mr. John Bock, Tetra Tech, 415-
974-1221. For questions on viewing material in the Department of
Transportation's Docket Management System, contact Ms. Dorothy Walker,
Chief, Dockets, Department of Transportation, 202-366-9329.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The OTI Initiative
Under the ``Optimize Training Infrastructure'' (OTI) Initiative,
the Coast Guard examined the ability of its training infrastructure to
support changing technological and operational conditions in a cost-
effective and efficient manner. All aspects of the training
infrastructure were evaluated, including hard infrastructure (e.g.,
buildings, utilities, and classroom types) and soft infrastructure
(e.g., training staff, class size, curricula, training delivery
methods, mid-level management, and financial resources). This process
emphasized optimizing training, while maintaining the flexibility to
meet future needs.
Preferred Alternative
The Coast Guard announced its preferred alternative in the Federal
Register on July 16, 1999 (64 FR 38498). The preferred alternative is
to retain all four training centers (Training Center Cape May, NJ;
Training Center Petaluma, CA; Reserve Training Center Yorktown, VA; and
Aviation & Technical Training Center Elizabeth, NC) and, where cost
effective, fill any excess training capacity with non-training and
training-related functions. No major new construction projects are
associated with this alternative.
Programmatic Environmental Assessment
The Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) describes and
compares the potential environmental and socioeconomic effects of each
of the alternatives under consideration. We have determined that no
significant environmental or socioeconomic impacts would result from
the implementation of the preferred alternative (Alternative 3) and
that the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not
necessary. As a result, a proposed Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) has been prepared.
The PEA evaluates the full range of resources affected by each
alternative. The resources include land, infrastructure, transportation
assets, hazardous materials and wastes, biological resources, cultural
resources, air, noise, water, geology, soils, and socioeconomic
conditions relevant to the programmatic level of analysis and decision-
making. Specific socioeconomic conditions include population,
demographics, employment, income, housing, schools, and public
services.
Public Participation
On November 19, 1998, we published a notice in the Federal Register
entitled ``Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment
for the Coast Guard `Optimize Training Infrastructure' Initiative'' (63
FR 64309). The purpose for the notice was to announce our intent to
prepare a PEA and to begin the process of gathering the public's
comments to assist us in developing the PEA. It included a description
of the recommended alternatives and announced three public meetings to
assist in gathering public comments. With the publication of the
notice, a period of public outreach and comment (scoping period) began
and ran until January 6, 1999. However, comments received after that
date were also reviewed and, as appropriate, incorporated in the NEPA
process.
In addition to the notice of intent, the public was notified of the
scoping process through notices mailed directly to numerous public
officials, agencies, and organizations. Scoping notices also were
published in the Cape May Star and Wave (Cape May, New Jersey), the
Atlantic City Press (Atlantic City, New Jersey), the Daily Press
(Yorktown, Virginia), the Argus Courier (Petaluma, California), and the
Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California).
During the public scoping period, the Coast Guard received letters
and statements from 481 individuals and form letters from 337
individuals. In addition, 121 people made verbal comments at the public
meetings. In total, 897 people participated in the scoping process by
providing written or verbal comments. Additionally, local governments
submitted resolutions addressing the proposed action and issued
petitions, generally voicing opposition to one of the proposed closure
alternatives. The issues and concerns expressed in the public
[[Page 48444]]
comments during the scoping phase of the planning process are
summarized in the scoping report, Appendix A of the PEA. Transcripts
from the scoping meetings and all written material received during the
scoping period can be viewed at the web site for Department of
Transportation's Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov
(located at docket USCG-1998-4765).
The present notice of availability begins the second phase of
public involvement by seeking comments on the PEA. Following the
comment period on the PEA and an analysis of comments received, the
Commandant of the Coast Guard will weigh appropriate information and
make a final decision. That decision will be published in the Federal
Register.
Public Meetings
Two public meetings will be held on the PEA and proposed FONSI.
(See DATES and ADDRESSES.) Please note that the meetings may close
early if all business is finished. For information on facilities or
services for individuals with disabilities or to request special
assistance at the meetings, contact Ms. Boyle (See FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) as soon as possible.
A public meeting has not been scheduled for Yorktown, VA, since
there was little public interest in OTI at RTC Yorktown during the
scoping phase of the NEPA process. However, if public interest in this
next phase increases, a meeting may be scheduled there.
Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate by submitting written comments on
the PEA and FONSI or by presenting verbal comments at a public meeting.
If you submit written comments, please include your name and address
and identify the docket number for this notice (USCG-1998-4765). Please
submit written comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger
than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing to
Ms. Boyle at the address under ADDRESSES. If you would like to know we
received your comments, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed
postcard or envelope.
Dated: August 26, 1999.
J. B. Willis,
Captain, U. S. Coast Guard, Acting Director of Reserve and Training.
[FR Doc. 99-22927 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
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