[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 82 (Monday, April 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21248-21249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8188]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Navy Atlantic Fleet 
Training in the Navy Cherry Point Range Complex and Notice of Public 
Scoping Meetings

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 (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and 
Executive Order 12114, the Department of Navy (Navy) announces its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas EIS 
to evaluate the potential environmental consequences associated with 
naval training operations in the Navy Cherry Point (CP) Range Complex. 
The Navy proposes to support current and emerging training and 
research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) operations in the 
Navy CP Range Complex by: (1) Maintaining baseline operations at 
current levels; (2) increasing training operations from current levels 
as necessary to support the Fleet Readiness Training Plan (FRTP); (3) 
accommodating mission requirements associated with force structure 
change; and (4) implementing enhanced range complex capabilities. The 
EIS/OEIS study area is the Navy CP Range Complex which consists of 
surface and subsurface operating areas (OPAREAs), special use airspace 
(SUA), and instrumented ranges. The Navy CP Range Complex encompasses: 
18,617 nm<SUP>2</SUP> of offshore surface and subsurface OPAREA; 12,529 
nm<SUP>2</SUP> of deep ocean area greater than 100 fathoms (600 feet); 
and 18,966 nm<SUP>2</SUP> of SUA (warning area). No land ranges or 
facilities are included within the study area for this EIS/OEIS. The 
focus of the EIS/OEIS is the exercises and other actions in the ocean 
environment. Issues associated with land-based ranges will be assessed 
separately by the U.S. Marine Corps.
    The scope of actions to be analyzed in this EIS/OEIS includes 
current and proposed future Navy training and RDT&E within Navy-
controlled operating areas, airspace, and instrumented ranges. It also 
includes proposed Navy-funded range capabilities enhancements, 
including infrastructure improvements, which support range complex 
training and RDT&E. Activities that involve the use of active sonar are 
conducted in the Navy CP Complex; however, those potential effects are 
being analyzed in detail in a separate document, the Atlantic Fleet 
Active Sonar Training EIS/OEIS. That separate sonar EIS/OEIS addresses 
active sonar use as a whole by the Atlantic Fleet in the eastern 
Atlantic Ocean (including waters that are part of the Navy CP Complex), 
and in the Gulf of Mexico. The results of that sonar EIS/OEIS will be 
incorporated into the Navy CP Range Complex EIS/OEIS to account for 
active sonar effects that could occur within the geographic area of the 
Navy CP Range Complex.
    Dates and Addresses: Two public scoping meetings will be held, one 
in Morehead City, North Carolina and one in Wilmington, North Carolina, 
to receive oral and written comments on environmental concerns that 
should be addressed in the Navy CP Range Complex EIS/OEIS. Public 
scoping meetings will be held at the following dates, times, and 
locations: May 16, 2007, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at West Carteret High 
School, 4700 Country Club Road, Morehead City, North Carolina, and May 
17, 2007, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at New Hanover High School, 1307 Market 
Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Knight, Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command Atlantic, (757) 322-4398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Navy's mission is to maintain, train, 
and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring 
aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. For that reason, Title 
10 U.S.C. 5062 directs the Chief of Naval Operations to train all naval 
forces for combat. The Chief of Naval Operations meets that direction, 
in part, by conducting at-sea training exercises and ensuring naval 
forces have access to ranges, OPAREAs and airspace where they can 
develop and maintain skills for wartime missions and conduct RDT&E of 
naval weapons systems. As such, Navy ranges, OPAREAs, and airspace must 
be maintained and/or enhanced to accommodate necessary training and 
testing activities in support of national security objectives.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to: Achieve and maintain 
Fleet readiness using the Navy CP Range Complex to support current, 
emerging, and future training and RDT&E operations; expand warfare 
missions; and upgrade/modernize existing range capabilities to enhance 
and sustain Navy training and testing.
    The need for the proposed action is to provide combat capable 
forces ready to deploy worldwide in accordance with Title 10 U.S.C 
5062. Specifically, maintain current levels of military readiness by 
training and testing in the Navy CP Range Complex; accommodate future 
increases in operational training tempo in the Navy CP Range Complex 
and support the rapid deployment of naval units or strike groups; 
achieve and sustain readiness in ships and squadrons so that the Navy 
can quickly surge significant combat power in the event of a national 
crisis or contingency operation and consistent with FRTP; support the 
testing and training needed for new aircraft, vessels, weapons systems 
and missions; and maintain the long-term viability of the Navy CP Range 
Complex while protecting human health and the environment.
    Three alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS/OEIS including: (1) 
The No Action Alternative comprising baseline operations and support of 
existing range capabilities; (2) Alternative 1 comprising the No Action 
Alternative plus additional operations, expanded warfare missions, 
accommodation of force structure changes including training and RDT&E 
resulting from the introduction of new vessels, aircraft, weapons 
systems and missions, and the implementation of enhancements to range 
infrastructure; and (3) Alternative 2, comprising Alternative 1 plus 
additional increases in training, and implementation of enhancements 
that will optimize training throughput in support of future 
contingencies. The EIS/OEIS will evaluate the environmental effects 
associated with: Airspace; noise; range safety; water resources; air 
quality; biological resources, including threatened and endangered 
species; land use;

[[Page 21249]]

socioeconomic resources; infrastructure; and cultural resources. The 
analysis will include an evaluation of direct and indirect impacts, and 
will account for cumulative impacts from other naval activities in the 
Navy CP Range Complex. No decision will be made to implement any 
alternative until the EIS/OEIS process is completed and a Record of 
Decision is signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy 
(Installations and Environment).
    The Navy is initiating the scoping process to identify community 
concerns and local issues to be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Federal 
agencies, State agencies, local agencies, and interested persons are 
encouraged to provide oral and/or written comments to the Navy to 
identify specific issues or topics of environmental concern that should 
be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Written comments must be postmarked by 
June 12, 2007 and should be mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command, Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia, 23508-
1278, Attention: Ms. Kelly Knight.

R.K. Giroux,
Captain (Sel), Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal 
Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-8188 Filed 4-27-07; 8:45 am]
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