Department of the Navy

[ross.vincent@sfsierra.sierraclub.org]

[Federal Register: December 28, 1994]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent to Clarify Public Scoping for an Environmental
Impact Statement for Proposed Development of Facilities to Accommodate
Realignment of One Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier to San Diego, CA

 Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality
regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-508) and the Defense Base Closure and
Realignment Act (DBCRA, 1990), the Department of the Navy announces its
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
development of facilities and infrastructure to accommodate the
realignment of one Nimitz-class aircraft carrier (CVN) from Naval Air
Station Alameda, CA to San Diego, CA.

 This Notice of Intent (NOI) supercedes all previous notices and is
intended to provide clarification of the action the Navy is proposing
to implement, i.e., the mandated realignment of one CVN pursuant to the
1993 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. A decision to
establish the capability to support one CVN in San Diego makes it
reasonably foreseeable that future decisions on where to homeport new
CVNs beyond the year 2000 could result in their being proposed for
homeporting in San Diego. Therefore, this EIS will consider the
potential cumulative environmental impacts of homeporting three CVNs in
San Diego. The Navy is not, however, considering a proposal where to
homeport new CVNs beyond the year 2000 at this time. When the Navy does
make such a proposal, it will prepare the appropriate NEPA analysis.

 The EIS will assess the potential environmental impacts associated
with construction and operation of those facilities and infrastructure
necessary to support one CVN in addition to those existing assets that
currently support two conventionally- powered carriers (CVs) and one
transient CVN. The additional requirements will include (1) dredging of
berthing areas, turning basin, and access channel to accommodate the
deeper-draft ship, (2) dredge material disposal in a bay fill site,
ocean disposal, and/or various beach disposal sites, (3) construction
of berthing to accommodate the larger class ship and its greater
utility requirements, and (4) construction of repair facilities
equipped and designed to support a homeported CVN.

 A Draft EIS is planned to be available for public review and
comment in mid to late 1995. The Navy would appreciate any public
comments pertaining to the scope of the project as presented in this
NOI and to specific environmental issues requiring particular
attention. Please provide written comments no later than January 27,
1995, to: Commanding Officer, NAS North Island (ATTN: Code 00B), PO Box
357033, San Diego, CA, 92135-033.

 Dated: December 22, 1994.
L.R. McNees,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-31902 Filed 12-27-94; 8:45 am]
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