[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65640-65642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X95-11220]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy


Record of Decision for the Development of Facilities in San 
Diego/Coronado, CA To Support the Homeporting of One Nimitz-Class 
Aircraft Carrier

    Pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations 
implementing NEPA procedures (40 CFR 1500-1508), the Department of the 
Navy announces its decision to implement the preferred alternative 
presented in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to comply 
with the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) directive from 
Congress to close Naval Air Station Alameda and relocate ships 
currently homeported there to fleet concentrations in San Diego and in 
the Pacific Northwest. Affected ships include two Nimitz-class aircraft 
carriers (CVNs), one of which will be realigned to the San Diego area 
and is the subject of this decision.
    A Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register in July 
1993, indicating that the Navy would prepare a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Development of Facilities in San Diego/
Coronado to Support the Homeporting of One Nimitz-Class Aircraft 
Carrier. A scoping meeting was held in August 1993, in Coronado, 
California. In May 1995, the DEIS was distributed to federal, state and 
local agencies, elected officers, special interest groups, and 
interested individuals. A public hearing was held on June 7, 1995 in 
Coronado. Oral and written comments and Navy responses were 
incorporated into the FEIS which was distributed to the public for a 
review period that ended on December 8, 1995.
    The proposed action includes six separate construction projects for 
facilities and infrastructure necessary to support one CVN and preserve 
the existing capacity to accommodate one transient CVN at Naval Air 
Station North Island (NASNI). Homeporting a CVN will require: (1) 
Dredging of the carrier berths and turning basin, and the San Diego Bay 
channel (consisting of the inner channel and the outer channel); and 
(2) constructing a bay fill area, a carrier wharf, propulsion plant 
maintenance facilities, and support utilities during the next five 
years.
    The carrier berths and turning basin will be dredged to a depth of 
-50 feet below Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), the inner channel will be 
dredged to -47 feet MLLW, and the outer channel will be dredged to -55 
feet MLLW. The outer channel extends south from Point Loma for 2.2 
miles until the natural water depth reaches -55 feet MLLW. A total of 
approximately 9 million cubic yards (CY) of sediments will be dredged 
and disposed of at several locations. Of that amount, 70,000 CY 
adjacent to the existing quaywall has been found unsuitable for ocean 
disposal and will be used as backfill in the bay fill area. In 
addition, approximately 40,000 CY of sediment dredged from the rock 
dike foundation and 150,000 CY of sediment dredged from an eelgrass 
mitigation site will also be used as backfill in the bay fill area. 
Bioaccumulation studies indicated that approximately 932,000 CY of 
dredged material located in the berthing area are suitable for ocean 
disposal and will be disposed of at the U.S. Environmental protection 
Agency approved Ocean Disposal Site (LA-5), located approximately 5 
miles southwest of Point Loma. The remaining dredged material of 
approximately 7.86 million CY are suitable for beach nourishment. This 
material will be deposited nearshore in water depth ranging between -20 
and -30 feet MLLW at four severely eroded beaches in San Diego County. 
These beaches include: (a) Imperial Beach which will receive 
approximately 1.7 million CY, (b) Del Mar and (c) Oceanside, which will 
receive approximately 2.46 million CY each, and (d) Mission Beach, 
which will receive approximately 1.24 million CY of the dredged 
material. The exact disposal quantities and locations are subject to 
approval and permitting by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE).
    The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is attempting to 
obtain funding to supplement available Navy military construction 
funding in order to place dredged material directly onto eroded 
beaches. In the event that federal, state, or local funding becomes 
available in time to meet dredging schedules, dredge material 
determined suitable for beach nourishment by the COE would be placed 
directly onshore at five beach sites located in San Diego County. These 
five beaches were analyzed during the EIS process and have been 
determined to be suitable for onshore beach nourishment. These beaches 
are not suitable for nearshore placement of dredged material because of 
sensitive 

[[Page 65641]]
marine resources. Under this contingency, the total of beach quality 
materials would be deposited at nine sites, both nearshore and on the 
beach. The exact disposal quantities and locations are subject to 
approval and permitting by the COE.
    A 13.4 acre bay fill area will be constructed to provide adequate 
land space for carrier maintenance and support functions that need 
access, laydown, or staging room. This area will also accommodate a 
boatyard, a cleared security area, requisite fire lanes, and sufficient 
space for pier crane operations including the movement of towed 
aircraft to and from the carrier. A carrier wharf adjacent to the bay 
fill area will be constructed to provide the necessary berthing spaces 
and onshore support facilities, including electrical power, steam, 
water, sewage, and oily waste offloading. A 14 acre near-shore site for 
eelgrass mitigation will be dredged between the low tide line and -5 
feet MLLW along the western shore at NASNI.
    Three propulsion plant maintenance facilities will be constructed 
to provide depot-level maintenance of CVN propulsion plant systems and 
components in the San Diego area. These facilities are: (1) The 
Controlled Industrial Facility which will be used for the inspection, 
modification and repair of radiologically controlled equipment and 
components associated with naval nuclear propulsion plants; (2) The 
Ship Maintenance Facility which will house the machine tools, 
industrial processes, and work functions necessary to perform 
nonradiological depot-level maintenance on CVN propulsion plants; and 
(3) The Maintenance Support Facility which will house the central area 
for receiving, inspecting, shipping, and storing materials, and for 
personnel support spaces. Construction of these three facilities will 
involve demolition of two historic seaplane hangars.
    Impacts to water quality, air quality, benthic organisms, marine 
and natural resources will briefly occur during dredging and disposal 
activities and construction of the shore facilities. These impacts, 
however, are not considered significant within the context of the 
project location and with implementation of specific mitigation 
measures described herein.
    While the environmental analysis conducted during the EIS process 
concluded that there would be no significant impacts associated with 
this project, several topics of concern were identified, including 
traffic congestion, dredging, and dredge material disposal.
    In accordance with the Clean Air Act and General Conformity Rule 
requirements, an air quality review has been conducted for the proposed 
projects. it has been determined that the proposed action is in 
compliance with 40 CFR Part 63 (Determining conformity of General 
Federal Actions to State or Federal Implementation Plans) and satisfies 
the requirement of Section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act (42 USC 7506). 
Accordingly, the proposed action conforms to the state implementation 
plan's purpose of eliminating or reducing the severity and number of 
violations of the national ambient air quality standards and achieving 
expeditious attainment of those standards.
    Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) 
requires authorization from the COE for the discharge of dredged 
material into the waters of the United States. Section 404 regulations 
prohibit the use of any disposal site in open water when its use would 
result in adverse effects on water quality, shellfish beds, fisheries 
and wildlife, or recreational areas. The Navy has determined that the 
proposed dredging would not have significant impacts and has applied 
for a Section 404 permit for this project.
    Section 401 of the FWPCA requires that any party proposing to 
engage in an activity which may affect water quality must obtain state 
water quality certification. Certification will not be granted unless 
it has been determined that the proposed activity will not violate 
state water quality standards. The Navy has applied for a Section 401 
permit from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
    In accordance with the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Navy has 
requested and received concurrence with its determination of coastal 
zone consistency for the CVN homeporting project from the California 
Coastal Commission.
    Pursuant to Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, 
potential environmental and economic impacts on minority and low-income 
persons and communities were assessed. Any impacts caused by the CVN 
homeporting project will be experienced equally by all groups within 
the overall regional population. Because no long-term negative 
environmental impacts are expected from the proposed action, no 
particular minority or low income segment of the population would be 
disproportionately affected. There is not anticipated to be any 
likelihood for minority or low income individuals to be subjected to 
adverse environmental or health risks.
    In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, the Navy 
has signed a Memorandum of Agreement which stipulates the mitigation 
required for the demolition of two seaplane hangars.
    The Navy has also concluded that there are no historic properties 
at the dredge or disposal sites.

Comments Received on the FEIS

    Ten comment letters were received following publication of the 
FEIS. Several of these letters contained substantive comments which are 
addressed below. Others reiterated comments which were previously 
submitted and which have been addressed in the FEIS, or which were 
beyond the scope of this EIS.
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency responded supporting the 
project, concluding that the Navy had been responsive to the Agency's 
concerns.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) responded concurring with 
the analysis contained in the EIS and with the mitigation plan 
established for the burrowing owl.
    The City of Coronado expressed support for homeporting the CVN 
addressed in this project, however the City is concerned about the 
impact on Coronado of all Navy projects in the area. The City requests 
the Navy agree to take action on several measures the City believes 
would ease the impacts of Navy-related projects in the area. The Navy 
has met with City representatives and has found significant areas of 
cooperation and agreement, including the following specific actions:
    <bullet> Use of an existing parking lot on NAS North Island 
property for use by Navy members and government employees whose 
automobiles do not meet criteria for general access to the base. This 
lot is intended to reduce parking congestion on city streets near the 
base. The lot's only restriction is to limit vehicles to 30 days of 
continuous use. The Navy will investigate the legal impacts of 
eliminating even the 30 day restriction.
    <bullet> The Navy is willing to seek funding for a new entrance to 
NAS North Island, at the end of Third Street in Coronado, in 
conjunction with construction of a new commissary planned for 1997.
    <bullet> Barging equipment and material rather than trucking it 
through Coronado is a major consideration for the construction 
contracts to be awarded for this project. In its requests for proposals 
from prospective contractors, the Navy specified alternate 
transportation as a consideration for contract award. The Navy has 
elected to 

[[Page 65642]]
award those contracts on the basis of ``best value'' rather than 
``lowest price'' partly in order to encourage this more expensive, but 
less intrusive method of transportation. Specific transportation plans 
will be presented to the City of Coronado subsequent to contractor 
selection.
    <bullet> Free passenger ferry service exists now between downtown 
San Diego and NAS North Island. Additional service to the north side of 
San Diego Bay is on track to begin in July 1996. A new pier will be 
constructed and a parking lot designated at the Antisubmarine Training 
Center in San Diego Harbor's West Basin. Initial service will include a 
100-space parking lot, to be expanded to 300 spaces as passenger volume 
increases. Shuttle service from the North Island ferry terminal to work 
sites on base is already in place.
    <bullet> Park and Ride sites at Imperial Beach and NAS Miramar are 
also being negotiated. Key here is identification of sites which are 
convenient to users. Other actions have been implemented to complement 
this measure, including prime parking spaces reserved for car pools, 
institution of van pools, guaranteed rides home for car and van pool 
riders as well as discounted mass transit fares.
    Comments were also received expressing concern that the FEIS did 
not adequately address cumulative impacts associated with future 
replacement of North Island's two remaining conventionally powered 
aircraft carriers and other BRAC related actions. Chapter Six of the 
FEIS addressed cumulative impacts in quantitative detail, when 
practiable, for past, present and future projects at North Island and 
in the San Diego area.
    Future Navy projects will be the subject of independent NEPA 
analysis. The cumulative impacts of past and present projects coupled 
with the CVN homeporting projects have not been determined to be 
significant.

Mitigation

    The following mitigation measures will be employed to ensure 
minimization of environmental impacts associated with dredging and 
disposal operations: (1) Compliance with the permit conditions 
established by the COE, the California Regional Water Quality Control 
Board, and the California Coastal Commission which regulate dredging 
operations and define dredge sediment disposal locations; (2) adherence 
to the ``no barge overflow'' requirement; (3) adherence to a dredge and 
disposal monitoring plan for testing and evaluation of water quality 
parameters, selected chemical contaminants and measures of turbidity in 
the water column; (4) use of precision navigational equipment at both 
the dredging and disposal sites; and (5) placement of all dredged 
material suitable for beach nourishment nearshore for the protection of 
severely eroded beaches or a combination of nearshore and onshore 
disposal as previously described.
    Traffic and socioeconomic impacts associated with the proposed CVN 
homeporting at NASNI are not significant in context because there have 
historically been three conventionally powered aircraft carriers (CVs) 
homeported at NASNI. A CVN has a personnel complement of approximately 
102 personnel more than that of a CV. The depot-level maintenance 
facilities would increase personnel complement to an average of 750 
personnel for a six-month maintenance availability period every 24 
months. However, comparing the full-buildout year of 1999 with the 
baseline year of 1992 indicates there will be an overall decrease of 
330 personnel.
    Construction of the 13.4 acre bay fill area will result in the 
elimination of 13.4 acres of intertidal and shallow water subtidal 
habitat, including 3.9 acres of eelgrass located in the nearshore area. 
Mitigation will include the creation of 14 acres of new bay bottom, 
establishment of 8 acres of eelgrass and the creation of fish 
enhancement structures in the tidal area. Additionally compensation 
will include the relocation of burrowing owls from the mitigation area 
to other areas and the placement of clean sand from the mitigation site 
at two areas on NASNI to enhance habitat for the California least tern 
and Western snowy plover. Placement of the clean sand will not occur 
during the California least tern or the Western snowy plover nesting 
season. Further compensation for the plant species Nuttall's lotus and 
coast wooly-head at the mitigation site includes the removal and 
relocation of the top 6 inches of soil containing seeds from these 
plants, to another location, free from disturbance at NASNI. Impacts to 
nesting great blue herons, snowy egrets, and black-crowned night herons 
at the new maintenance facility site will be compensated by 
establishing replacement habitat at a site where there would be fewer 
long-term impacts by NASNI activities.
    Questions regarding the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
prepared for this action may be directed to Mr. Robert Hexom, 
Environmental Planning, Southwest Division, Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 92132, 
telephone (619) 532-3761; fax (619) 532-3824.

    Dated: December 13, 1995.
Duncan Holaday,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, (Installations and Facilities).
[FR Doc. 30837 Filed 12-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-M