44954 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 164 / Monday, August 25, 1997 / Notices

data or through plant visits, phone calls,

and correspondence and entered on

Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406,

1407, and 1408 in detail commensurate

with the dollar value and complexity of

the procurement. The information is

used by Federal contracting officers to

determine whether a prospective

contractor is responsible.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Public reporting burden for this

collection of information is estimated to

average 24 hours per response,

including the time for reviewing

instructions, searching existing data

sources, gathering and maintaining the

data needed, and completing and

reviewing the collection of information.

The annual reporting burden is

estimated as follows: Respondents,

12,000; responses per respondent, .5;

total annual responses, 6,000;

preparation hours per response, 24; and

total response burden hours, 144,000.

Obtaining copies of proposals:

Requester may obtain copies of OMB

applications or justifications from the

General Services Administration, FAR

Secretariat (MVRS), Room 4037, 1800 F

Street, NW, Washington, DC 20405,

telephone (202) 501–4755. Please cite

OMB Control No. 9000–0011, Preaward

Survey Forms, in all correspondence.

Dated: August 20, 1997.

Sharon A. Kiser,

FAR Secretariat.

[FR Doc. 97–22475 Filed 8–22–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Record of Decision for Facilities

Development Necessary to Support the

Homeporting of a Nimitz-Class Aircraft

Carrier at the Naval Station, Mayport,

Florida

Pursuant to section 102(2)C of the

National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on

Environmental Quality regulations

implementing NEPA procedures (40

CFR parts 1500–1508), the Department

of the Navy announces its findings

relative to the analysis of the facilities

development necessary to support the

homeporting of a Nimitz-class aircraft

carrier at Naval Station (NAVSTA),

Mayport, Florida. This analysis was

required by the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993,

because under existing carrier force

structure plans, all conventional carriers

(CVs) will be replaced by nuclearpowered carriers (CVNs) at the end of

the CVs service life. NAVSTA Mayport,

which has long been a homeport for

conventional aircraft carriers, is

currently homeport to the USS

Kennedy. The analysis evaluates the

potential environmental impacts

associated with development of

facilities to support possible CVN

Homeporting at NAVSTA Mayport in

the year 2010.

A notice of intent was published in

the Federal Register on October 7, 1993,

indicating that Navy would prepare a

Programmatic Environmental Impact

Statement (PEIS) evaluating the

Facilities Development Necessary To

Support Potential Aircraft Carrier

Homeporting at the Naval Station,

Mayport, Florida. A public scoping

meeting was held October 26, 1993 in

Neptune Beach, Florida to determine

the scope of significant issues to be

examined in the Draft PEIS (DPEIS). The

DPEIS was filed with the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

on March 15, 1996 and was distributed

to agencies and officials of federal, state,

and local governments, citizen’s groups

and associations, media, public

libraries, and interested parties for

review and comment. The notice of

filing and notice of public availability

appeared in the Federal Register on

March 22, 1996. The period of public

review and comment on the DPEIS was

from March 22, 1996 through May 13,

1996. A public hearing was held on

April 24, 1996 in Neptune Beach,

Florida. Comments on the DPEIS were

received in three forms: (1) Letters, (2)

written comments received at the public

hearing, and (3) oral statements made at

the hearing. Comments included

concerns regarding wildlife impacts,

dredging impacts, water quality, and

housing impacts. Those comments and

Navy responses were incorporated into

the Final PEIS (FPEIS), which was filed

with the EPA on March 7, 1997, and

distributed for public review. The

Notice of Filing appeared in the Federal

Register on March 14, 1997. The period

of public review on the FPEIS ended on

April 14, 1997.

The PEIS evaluated the reasonable

alternatives to implementing CVN

homeporting at NAVSTA Mayport and

the potential environmental impacts of

new construction, facilities

modification, dredging, and operation of

a CVN at NAVSTA Mayport. In addition

to the various alternatives discussed in

the PEIS, a ‘‘No Action’’ alternative was

evaluated. In the ‘‘No Action’’

alternative, NAVSTA Mayport would

not be evaluated as a second potential

East Coast CVN Homeport, thus leaving

all CVNs homeported in Norfolk,

Virginia. This alternative was dismissed

because it fails to meet the requirements

of Pub. L. 102–484 which requires Navy

to prepare a plan which could develop

NAVSTA Mayport as a Nimitz-Class

aircraft carrier homeport.

NAVSTA Mayport has two

conventionally-powered aircraft carrier

berthing wharves, Wharf C–1 and Wharf

C–2, neither of which are currently able

to accommodate CVN draft, electrical,

and maintenance requirements. Wharf

C–1 was eliminated from further

evaluation because it provides no

berthing or infrastructure advantage

over Wharf C–2 and because Wharf C–

2 has better opportunities for providing

security. Three berthing alternatives

were evaluated throughout the PEIS:

Wharf C–2, Wharf F (an industrial

maintenance wharf), and a dual

capability concept where both Wharf C–

2 and Wharf F are used. The dual

capability configuration was chosen as

the preferred alternative because it

offers the most operational flexibility,

allowing continued use of Wharf F as an

industrial rework facility, even when

the carrier is in port.

New construction necessary to

support the depot-level maintenance

requirements of a CVN homeported at

NAVSTA Mayport would include a

depot-level maintenance facility (DMF).

The DMF would comprise three main

components: Controlled Industrial

Facility (CIF), Ship Maintenance

Facility (SMF), and Maintenance

Support Facility (MSF). The DMF and

its surrounding areas would have to be

capable of supporting a work force of

approximately 1,000 workers per day.

This would include shipboard workers,

within the facility, and the project

management team. The SMF facility

would house all non-controlled

propulsion plant work, material

inspection and storage, and pure water

production. Radiological work to be

performed at the DMF would occur in

the CIF, while the MSF would include

the administrative functions.

Pierside improvements discussed in

the PEIS would include required

modification to the two wharves

considered for berthing of a CVN, Wharf

C–2 and Wharf F. Structural analysis of

each wharf for the dredge depth of 50

feet below Mean Lower Low Water

(mllw), for the additional loading

introduced by a 100-ton mobile crane at

the wharves, and for more rigorous

mooring standards were performed to

assist in the wharf improvements

recommendations and the analysis

results were summarized in the PIES.

Assessments of the existing

infrastructure (utilities) were also

performed and the study results

summarized in the PEIS.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 164 / Monday, August 25, 1997 / Notices 44955

The Jacksonville District U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed

a study in 1994 of dredged material

disposal areas for the Navy. The

dredged material disposal alternatives

considered for the potential

homeporting at NAVSTA Mayport

included: (1) The Jacksonville offshore

dredged material disposal site

(ODMDS), (2) diked upland disposal, (3)

beach nourishment, and (4) beneficial

uses.

Sediment quality, sediment volume,

and the practicality and feasibility of

disposal were considered during the

evaluation of dredged material disposal

alternatives. The preferred alternative

method and site selected for the

disposal of new work and maintenance

dredged material is the Jacksonville

ODMDS. All other methods and sites

discussed in the USACE dredge study

were dismissed as being too costly or

not feasible for the potential

homeporting project. New work

dredging would utilize both hopper

dredging and clam shell dredging

methods.

The ODMDS is located approximately

five miles southeast of the entrance

marker for the Jacksonville Harbor

Channel. An ODMDS Site Management

and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) prepared

by EPA limits annual dredged material

disposal volumes to two million cubic

yards (MCY). Navy’s plan to dispose of

approximately 5.7 MCY in 18 months

would exceed this limitation. In order

not to exceed the SMMP limits, the

Navy could extend the dredging work

period to 36 months or more, or should

Navy wish to proceed with the 18

month disposal plan, the Navy would

have to conduct additional dispersion

predictive model studies. If the results

of these model studies demonstrated

that sufficient dispersive characteristics

could be achieved, the disposal volume

restriction on ODMDS could be waived

or modified. Also, sediment sampling

and bioassay testing of dredged material

is required by the EPA prior to

authorization of offshore disposal.

Samples have been taken from the

Mayport turning basin and the entrance

channel. The EPA has reviewed the

sediment and water quality analysis

from these areas and has concurred with

the finding that the material is suitable

for ocean disposal in the Jacksonville

ODMDS in accordance with the Marine

Protection Research and Sanctuaries

Act. This concurrence is valid through

March 1999, contingent upon

finalization of the SMMP, therefore, if a

future proposal is made to homeport a

CVN at NAVSTA Mayport, additional

sediment characterization would be

required.

Impacts from construction and

operations of proposed facilities were

evaluated in the PEIS. Other impacts

evaluated included those associated

with the increased CVN crew size and

their dependents, construction

personnel, and maintenance facilities

personnel. A summary of the physical,

biological, and socioeconomic impacts

that would be caused by the potential

action follows.

The St. Johns River entrance channel,

the entrance channel to NAVSTA

Mayport, and the turning basin would

be dredged to 50 feet below mllw, plus

two-foot overdredge, to accommodate

the water depth requirements for a CVN.

The total volume of the dredged

material would be approximately 5.7

MCY. Dredging and dredged material

disposal operations would temporarily

cause turbidity in the water. Navy

would comply with the provisions of

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act

of 1899, Section 103 of the Marine

Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries

Act of 1972, and Section 404 of the

Clean Water Act, by obtaining all

required permits from the USACE, the

Florida Department of Environmental

Protection (FDEP), and the St. John’s

River Water Management District.

Construction activities would disturb

approximately 20 acres of land, some of

which have been previously disturbed.

Potential short-term erosion would be

minimized by implementing erosion

control measures as required by the

National Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System (NPDES) General

Permit for Construction Activity. Since

more than five acres would be disturbed

for the construction, a Notice of Intent

(NOI) would be submitted to EPA,

Region IV should a future proposal be

made. The NOI would describe

preparation and implementation of a

Storm Water Prevention Plan.

Accidental spills of hazardous materials

during construction and operation of

facilities would be contained, and

remediated, following existing Navy

contingency plans. These measures and

plans would also protect water

resources in the area.

Short-term impacts to local air quality

would be expected from operation of

heavy construction equipment,

including dredges. No permanent

deterioration of air quality would result

from the associated construction

activities. Operation of the maintenance

facilities would produce welding fumes,

cleaning solution fumes, and other

emissions. All sources would comply

with the air regulations in the Florida

Administrative Codes. Emissions from

dredging would possibly be above de

minimis levels for the ozone precursor

nitrogen oxide (NOX) and a conformity

determination would be prepared if

Duval County is still classified as a

maintenance area should the project be

proposed. Further mitigative measures

such as extending the work period to

reduce annual emissions could be

required as a result of the analysis.

Maintenance facilities would produce

emissions from paint booths and

solvents. Emissions controls will be

used as required by the FDEP permits.

Construction and operation of facilities

would generate noise in the waterfront

area. Noise levels would be similar to

existing levels in this industrial area.

Wastewater from the CVN and

maintenance facilities would be

discharged to existing shore facilities.

The NAVSTA Mayport wastewater

treatment plant has capacity for the

anticipated slight increase in volume

and would treat the water to permit

standards before discharge. Industrial/

bilgewater (including oily wastewater)

production is less for a CVN than a CV

and would be pretreated at the oily

wastewater treatment plant.

Four acres of existing landscaped

vegetation would be removed during

construction. Open areas of the sites

would be revegetated following

construction. Dredging would affect

aquatic species, causing some to

relocate temporarily. The feeding areas

of some birds would be temporarily

disturbed.

Plankton and benthos in the turning

basin would be temporarily affected by

wharf construction and dredging.

Dredged material disposal at the

ODMDS would also temporarily affect

biological communities. These

communities would recover shortly

after the activities. It is not anticipated

that threatened and endangered species

would be adversely affected by

construction, dredging, or facilities

operations. Particular attention will be

paid during dredging to safeguard

marine mammals (e.g., manatees and

right whales) by controlling timing and

speeds, and by employing lookouts for

early detection.

Should Navy pursue future

homeporting of a CVN at NAVSTA

Mayport, coordination would occur

with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

National Marine Fisheries Service, EPA,

FDEP and other state regulatory

agencies to effect full compliance with

the Marine Protection, Research, and

Sanctuaries Act, Endangered Species

Act, and the Fish and Wildlife

Coordination Act.

In accordance with section 106 of The

National Historic Preservation Act,

potential impacts to historic and

archeological resources have been
44956 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 164 / Monday, August 25, 1997 / Notices

evaluated. No known archeological or

historic architectural sites are

documented in the proposed

construction or facility improvement

areas. No historic or archeological sites

are expected to be encountered during

the dredging activity; however, should

sites or artifacts be encountered during

dredging, the activities would cease and

site inspections would be performed.

The State of Florida Historic

Preservation Officer has concurred with

this analysis.

A CVN has a crew size of 3,217

persons which is 102 persons more than

that of a CV. The potential increase in

personnel and dependents from

replacing an existing CV with a CVN

would be approximately 217 persons.

Most of the additional crew would live

aboard the carrier. On-base family

housing resources are anticipated to

remain at full occupancy, and the

additional personnel with families

would probably seek housing in

residential areas near NAVSTA

Mayport.

The maintenance facilities would

employ approximately 1,000 workers

during a six month maintenance

availability. These employees would

live in rental housing (apartments,

hotels, motels, and other). This would

have a positive economic effect on the

temporary housing market.

Most of the utilities requirements of

the carrier can be supplied by the

existing infrastructure within the

station. Additional electrical substations

and connections to wharf outlets would

be required. NAVSTA Mayport can

supply the additional water supply

requirement of 32,000 gallons per day

(GPD), and wastewater treatment

facilities have approximately 0.7 million

gallons per day (MGD) available

capacity.

Approximately 15,000 pounds per

year of hazardous waste would be

generated from CVN activities in port,

approximately the same amount as for a

CV. The waste storage facility on base

has adequate capacity to store the waste.

Construction of maintenance facilities

located southwest of Wharf F could

impact a contaminated site [Solid Waste

Management Unit (SWMU #23)]. Should

this occur, an additional investigation

and possible cleanup may be required.

A minor increase in vehicle trips

would result from homeporting the

CVN, and these would be distributed

throughout the area. Roadway

improvements to Mayport Road and

Atlantic Boulevard proposed by the

Jacksonville Transportation Authority

would improve levels of service on area

roadways. The proposed Wonderwood

Expressway would also improve access

in the area of the Naval Station.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12898,

Environmental Justice, potential

environmental and economic impacts

on minority and low-income persons

and communities were assessed. No

disproportionate concentrations of

minority or low-income populations

were identified in the area of impact of

the potential facilities and operations.

Additionally, Navy has ensured that

opportunities for community

participation (including minority and

low-income persons and populations) in

the NEPA process have been provided.

The population increase associated

with CVN homeporting would place

minor additional demands on housing

and community services, such as police,

fire, recreation, and education. These

effects would be a small part of the total

impact from projected population

increases in the Jacksonville area from

other (non-Navy) causes.

The completion of this PEIS fulfills

the Navy requirements to analyze

NAVSTA Mayport as a second East

Coast homeport for a Nimitz-Class

aircraft carrier as required by Public

Law 102–484. The analysis presented in

the PEIS and supporting studies

indicate that NAVSTA Mayport is a

feasible homeport site should the Navy

define such a need in the future

providing the identified construction,

renovations, and dredging can be

accomplished.

Should the Navy decide to pursue

facilities development necessary to

support a CVN at NAVSTA Mayport,

additional NEPA analysis would be

conducted defining the action as then

proposed. If the proposed dredging

would occur after March 1999, bioassay

analysis will be required for all new

work dredged material. Also, should the

Navy exceed the OSMDS SMMP annual

dredged material disposal limits of two

million cubic yards per year, dispersion

modeling will need to be performed to

determine if the annual disposal volume

limit on the OSMDS site may be

modified or waived. Finally, a

conformity determination for the ozone

precursor NOX would be prepared if

Duval County were still classified as a

maintenance area when the project was

proposed.

Questions regarding the

Environmental Impact Statement

prepared for this action may be directed

to Southern Division, Naval Facilities

Engineering Command, P.O. Box

190010, North Charleston, South

Carolina 29419–9010 (Attn: Mr. Ronnie

Lattimore, Code 064RL), telephone (803)

820–5888.

Dated: August 19, 1997.

Duncan Holaday,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy,

(Installations and Facilities).

[FR Doc. 97–22492 Filed 8–22–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy, DoD

Notice of Availability of Inventions for

Licensing; Government Owned

Inventions

SUMMARY: The inventions listed below

are assigned to the United States

Government as represented by the

Secretary of the Navy and are available

for licensing by the Department of the

Navy.

Copies of the patent applications cited

are available from the Office of Naval

Research. Requests for copies of the

patent applications must include the

patent application serial number.

U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/

508,653: Rapid Immunoassay for

Cariogenic Bacteria; filed July 28, 1995.

U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/

766,203: Rapid Immunoassay for

Cariogenic Bacteria; filed December 12,

1996.

International Patent Application No.

PCT/US96/12135: Rapid Immunoassay

for Streptococcus Mutans; filed July 23,

1996.

FOR COPIES OF THE PATENT APPLICATIONS

OR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

R.J. Erickson, Staff Patent Attorney,

Office of Naval Research, ONR 00CC,

Ballston Tower One, 800 North Quincy

Street, Arlington, Virginia 22217–5660,

telephone (703) 696–4001.

Dated: August 15, 1997.

M.D. Sutton,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison

Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–22453 Filed 8–22–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy, DoD

Notice of the Secretary of the Navy’s

Advisory Subcommittee on Naval

History; Open Meeting

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5

U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given

that the Secretary of the Navy’s

Advisory Subcommittee on Naval

History, a subcommittee of the

Department of Defense Historical

Advisory Committee, will meet from

0800–1600 on September 18 and 0800–