[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 25696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11756]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed Master Land Withdrawal Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada

    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), the Department of the 
Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the withdrawal of federally-owned lands around Naval Air 
Station (NAS) Fallon training ranges in Churchill County, Nevada.
    The purpose of this action, termed Master Land Withdrawal, is to 
provide noise, safety, and off-range ordnance hazard buffers around 
training ranges. The need is based on the increased technological 
complexity of aerial training and the development and expansion of 
populated areas in the Fallon region over the last 50 years. The 
withdrawal footprint is based on the Department of Defense Range Air 
Installation Compatibility Use Zone (RAICUZ) study of 1982 and the NAS 
Fallon Range Hazard Analysis Mitigation Report of 1994. These reports 
define noise, safety, and land use compatibility zones to protect the 
public and the military users of the training ranges.
    Located in the Lahontan Valley of Churchill County in the west 
central Nevada, NAS Fallon was transferred from the Army to the Navy in 
1942. In 1953, NAS Fallon withdrew public lands for training ranges 
Bravo-16, Bravo-17, and Bravo-19. Due to technological advances in 
aircraft, weaponry, and training, public safety has become a concern 
around the training ranges. The proposed action would withdraw up to 
approximately 189,000 acres of additional land around the existing 
training ranges to provide safety and noise buffer zones. The 
Department of the Interior currently administers the lands proposed for 
withdrawal through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Bureau of 
Reclamation (BUREC).
    The mission of NAS Fallon is to provide realistic training and 
practice opportunities in the use of modern military equipment and 
tactics for military aircrews, primarily those of high performance jet 
fighters, strike-fighters, and electronic warfare support aircraft. The 
withdrawn lands are a critical resource for NAS Fallon in upholding its 
mission. The objectives of the proposed action are fourfold:
    1. Meet training requirements for national defense.
    2. Fulfill established operation and RAICUZ safety guidelines.
    3. Facilitate protection of the public from off-range ordnance, and
    4. Provide for continued public access to and safety on public 
lands adjacent to military withdrawals.
    The proposed action would be consistent with the provisions of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), which defines 
withdrawal as ``an area of Federal land withheld from settlement, sale, 
location, or entry, under some or all of the general land laws for the 
purpose of limiting activities under these laws in order to maintain 
public values in the area; or reserving the area for a particular 
public purpose or program; or transferring jurisdiction over an area of 
Federal land * * * from one department, bureau, or agency to another * 
* *'' (43 U.S.C. 1701 section 103). The lands would be managed for 
military purposes, subject to valid existing rights, for a proposed 
term of 20 years. A Resource Management Plan will be developed for the 
withdrawn lands to provide for public safety by defining compatible 
public uses with military training operations.
    Federal, state and local agencies, and interested individuals are 
encouraged to participate in a scoping process for the EIS. The purpose 
of the scoping process is to determine public issues and concerns that 
need to be addressed in the document and to assess what additional 
information is available. Two public scoping meetings will be held to 
receive oral and written comments.
    The first will be held in Reno, Nevada on June 6, 1995 at 7 p.m. at 
the Airport Plaza Hotel, 1981 Terminal Way. The second will be held in 
Fallon, Nevada on June 7, 1995 at 7 p.m. at the Fallon Convention 
Center, 100 Campus Way. In the interest of available time, each speaker 
will be asked to limit oral comments to five (5) minutes. In addition, 
written comments may be submitted by June 14, 1995, to Commanding 
Officer, Engineering Field Activity West, Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command, 900 Commodore Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066-5006 (Attention: Mr. 
Sam Dennis, Code 185SD); telephone (415) 244-3007, fax (415) 244-3737.

    Dated: May 9, 1995.
M.D. Schetzsle,
LT, JAGC, USNR, Alternative Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-11756 Filed 5-11-95; 8:45 am]
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