Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Construction and Operational Changes Associated With Realignment of F/ A-18 Aircraft to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA From Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, FL

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

Construction and Operational Changes Associated With Realignment of F/

A-18 Aircraft to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA From

Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, FL

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) to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of the

realignment of F/A-18 aircraft and their associated personnel to Naval

Air Station (NAS) Oceana, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This

action is being conducted in accordance with the Defense Base Closure

and Realignment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-510), as implemented during

1995.

In accordance with congressional direction implementing the 1995

recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission

(BRAC 95), the Navy will close NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and realign F/

A-18 aircraft, personnel, and ancillary activities associated with the

existing F/A-18 aircraft, personnel, and ancillary activities

associated with the existing F/A-18 missions. F/A-18 assets from NAS

Cecil Field will be distributed to support the Navy's operational

mission by use of existing infrastructure and capacity, elimination of

substantial new construction, and maintenance of operational

flexibility for deployment. For BRAC 95, two F/A-18 reserve squadrons

are proposed to be sent to NAS Atlanta for integration with Naval

Reserve Forces and two operational squadrons are proposed to be sent to

MCAS Beaufort to establish joint operations capability with existing

Marine Corps F/A-18 assets. These two moves will be addressed in

separate NEPA documentation. The remainder of F/A-18 assets (up to ten

squadrons) are proposed to be sent to NAS Oceana and is the subject of

this EIS. The move to NAS Oceana includes approximately 175 aircraft,

3,600 military personnel, and 200 civilians. In order to accommodate

this realignment, approximately 200,000 square feet of new/existing

facilities will be constructed or modified. In addition, the

realignment will result in a greater level of aircraft operations at

NAS Oceana, at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Fentress, located

in Chesapeake, Virginia, and within various aircraft training ranges

and warning areas in and adjacent to Virginia and eastern North

Carolina, including Dare County, BT-9 (Brant Island Shoal), and BT-11

(Piney Island).

The Navy intends to analyze the potential impacts of the

realignment on the natural environment, including but not limited to

air quality, plant and animal habitats, and water resources, such as

streams and wetlands. It will also evaluate potential effects to the

built environment, including land use patterns, cultural resources,

transportation, housing, community services, and the regional economy.

Further, the Navy will be preparing analyses of the projected

operations of the incoming F/A-18 aircraft on the existing airspace

range structure in Virginia and eastern North Carolina, and on aircraft

noise exposure levels in and around NAS Oceana and NALF, Fentress, and

training areas in Virginia and North Carolina.

In accordance with the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (42 U.S.C.

7401-7661q), as implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency

Regulations on Determining Conformity of General Federal Actions to

Federal or State Implementation Plans (40 CFR Parts 6, 53, and 93), the

Navy will conduct a conformity review, assessing whether total direct

and indirect air emissions associated with the realignment are

consistent or in compliance with all relevant requirements and

milestones contained in the relevant State Implementation Plan (SIP).

All required public comment periods, hearings and notices associated

with the conformity review will be conducted concurrently with those

associated with the EIS.

The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of

determining the scope of significant issues to be addressed in the EIS

related to the proposed action. The Navy will hold five public scoping

meetings on the following dates: December 5, 1995 beginning at 7 p.m.

at the Carteret County Courthouse, Courthouse Square,

[[Page 57580]]

U.S. Route 70, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516; December 6, 1995

beginning at 7 p.m. at the Pamlico County Courthouse, NC Highway 55

(near NC Highway 304), Bayboro, North Carolina 28515; December 7, 1995

beginning at 7 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium and Marine Resources

Center, Main Auditorium, Airport Road (adjacent to the Dare County

Airport), Manteo, North Carolina 27954; December 12, 1995 beginning at

7 p.m. at the Seatack Elementary School, Main Auditorium, 411 Birdneck

Circle, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454; and December 13, 1995 beginning

at 7 p.m. at the Butts Road Intermediate School Gymnatorium, 1571 Mount

Pleasant Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 23322.

Following a presentation on the EIS process and the Navy's proposed

action, Navy representatives will be available at these meetings to

receive comments from agencies and the public regarding issues of

concern. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies and

interested persons take this opportunity to identify environmental

concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. In order to ensure

adequate time for those wishing to make public comments, speakers will

be limited to five minutes.

Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide

written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the

scoping meeting. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly

describe the specific issues or topics that the commenter believes the

EIS should address. Please mail written comments no later than January

5, 1996 to: Commander, Atlantic Division, Naval Facilities Engineering

Command, 1510 Gilbert Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23511, Attn: Code

2032DC (Mr. Dan Cecchini), telephone (804) 322-4891, fax (804) 322-

4894.

Dated: November 13, 1995.

M.A. Waters,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 95-28299 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810-77-M