Amended Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Public Scoping Meeting Notice for Realignment of F/A-18 Aircraft and Operational Functions From Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, FL

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Amended Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement and Public Scoping Meeting Notice for Realignment of F/A-18

Aircraft and Operational Functions From Naval Air Station, Cecil Field,

FL

SUMMARY: 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 announced 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, Virginia Beach, Virginia

on November 16, 1995.

In accordance with the 1993 mandates of the Defense Base Closure

and Realignment Commission (BRAC 93), the Navy will close NAS Cecil

Field, Florida, and realign its F/A-18 and S-3 aircraft, personnel, and

other ancillary activities. The 1995 Defense Base Closure and

Realignment Commission (BRAC 95) changed the receiving sites for NAS

Cecil Field assets to ``other naval air stations, primarily NAS Oceana,

Virginia; MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina; NAS Jacksonville, Florida; and

NAS Atlanta, Georgia; or other Navy or Marine Corps Air Stations with

the necessary capacity and support infrastructure.'' This change was

made to support the Navy's operational mission by maximizing the use of

existing infrastructure and capacity, eliminating the need for

substantial new construction to support the realignment, and

maintaining operational flexibility for deployment.

The Navy's November 16, 1995 notice of intent indicated that for

BRAC 95, two F/A-18 reserve squadrons are proposed to be transferred to

NAS Atlanta for integration with Naval Reserve Forces and would be the

subject of separate NEPA documentation. This action has not been

revised by this amended notice of intent. The Navy's previous notice of

intent also stated that two F/A-18 operational squadrons would be

transferred to MCAS Beaufort and be addressed in a separate NEPA

environmental assessment. The remainder of the F/A-18 assets (9

operational squadrons and the Fleet Replacement Squadron [FRS]), were

to be transferred to NAS Oceana and be the subject of an EIS.

In recognition of non-specific language contained within the

mandates of BRAC 95, the Navy has conducted preliminary planning

analysis to determine a range of reasonable alternatives for the basing

of F/A-18 operational aircraft. This included identifying east coast

air stations with necessary capacity, compatible missions and

appropriate facilities to support F/A-18 operations.

The Navy's preliminary analysis indicated that the following

stations have compatible missions, necessary capacity, and could

support F/A-18 aircraft: NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA; MCAS Cherry

Point, Havelock, NC; and MCAS Beaufort, SC. Based on this preliminary

analysis, the Navy is in the process of developing F/A-18 alternative

realignment scenarios for inclusion in the EIS.

No preferred alternative for the realignment has been identified by

the Navy. Because several reasonable alternatives may be identified for

the realignment of F/A-18 operational aircraft, the Navy now plans to

prepare one EIS addressing the transfer of all 11 operational squadrons

and the FRS from NAS Cecil Field.

This move includes approximately 200 aircraft, 5000 military

personnel, and 200 civilians. In order to accommodate this realignment,

depending on the alternative, new/existing facilities will be

constructed or modified at NAS Oceana, MCAS Cherry Point, and/or MCAS

Beaufort. In addition, this realignment will result in a greater level

of aircraft operations at each of the respective stations and their

associated training ranges, depending on the alternative selected.

The Navy intends to analyze the potential impacts of each

alternative 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, North Carolina, and South Carolina and on

aircraft noise exposure levels in and around NAS Oceana, MCAS Cherry

Point and MCAS

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Beaufort, associated outlying landing fields, and training areas.

ADDRESSES: The Navy has initiated 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 two additional

Public Scoping Meetings on the following dates: September 10, 1996,

beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Havelock City Hall, Council Chambers, 1

Hatteras Avenue (at Route 70), Havelock, NC; and on September 11, 1996,

beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Technical College of the Low Country,

Learning Resource Center, Main Auditorium, Building 12, 921 Ribaut

Road, Beaufort, SC.

In order to ensure adequate time for those wishing to make public

comments at the meetings, speakers will be limited to five minutes.

Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide

written comments on the scope of the EIS. Please mail written comments

no later than October 5, 1996 to: Commander, Atlantic Division, Naval

Facilities Engineering Command, 1510 Gilbert Street, Norfolk, Virginia

23511, Attn: Code 2032DC (Mr. Dan Cecchini), telephone (757) 322-4891,

fax: (757) 322-4859.

D. E. Koenig,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 96-21551 Filed 8-22-96; 8:45 am]

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