Intent To Reopen Scoping for an Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Facilities for Homeporting up to Three Future Replacement Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, CA

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Intent To Reopen Scoping for an Environmental Impact Statement

for Proposed Facilities for Homeporting up to Three Future Replacement

Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers at Naval Air Station North Island, 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 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy

announces its intent to reopen scoping for an Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) for homeporting up to three future replacement Nimitz

class aircraft carriers at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, San

Diego, California.

Since the Notice of Intent (NOI) and Public Scoping Meeting of

August 17, 1993 held in Coronado, California, a revision to the

anticipated number of homeported aircraft carriers has occurred.

Because of ongoing dynamic organizational changes in the defense

structure, the Navy anticipates the need for facilities at NAS North

Island to support the homeporting of up to three nuclear aircraft

carriers. The previous NOI indicated the requirement for facilities to

support the homeporting of two replacement nuclear aircraft carriers

and one transient nuclear aircraft carrier. This change may result in

additional personnel.

In the public notice and as described during the public scoping

meeting, supporting facilities would need to be constructed in support

of the replacement nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. New planning

information indicates these new facilities would accommodate equipment

and personnel to perform routine maintenance on nuclear propulsion

plant system. Planned capabilities include the repair of electronic and

electrical components, and both radioactive and non-radioactive

mechanical system components. To provide adequate access for vehicles

and towed aircraft, the size of the proposed bay fill may need to be

increased from 15 to 18 acres.

We anticipate having a Draft EIS available for public review and

comment in July 1994.

For more information regarding this project, please call NAS North

Island Public Affairs Officer at (619) 545-8167. Please submit written

comments regarding this notice no later than 2 May 1994 to: Commanding

Officer, NAS North Island (Code 00B), P.O. Box 357033, San Diego, CA

92135-7033.

Dated: March 28, 1994.

Michael P. Rummel,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 94-7649 Filed 3-30-94; 8:45 am]

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