Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposal and Reuse of Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWC AD), Indianapolis, Indiana

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

the Disposal and Reuse of Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division

(NAWC AD), Indianapolis, Indiana

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 as implemented in 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 Disposal of Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division

(NAWC AD), Indianapolis, Indiana. NAWC AD Indianapolis is a Navy

facility that provides electronic systems to the fleet, and is located

in the east central portion of Marion County, approximately fifteen

minutes from Indianapolis. The property comprises 163 acres of land and

includes 62 buildings containing more than 973,000 square feet of

usable floor space.

In accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of

1990, as implemented by the base closure process of 1995, the Navy

intends to close NAWC AD Indianapolis and either (1) privatize NAWC AD,

so that the mission remains the same but the ownership of the equipment

and facilities is transferred to the private sector, including,

possibly, the local government; or (2) relocate necessary functions

along with associated personnel, equipment, and support to other Navy

technical activities, then dispose of the base for other uses.

The objective of the EIS is to describe the existing conditions of

NAWC AD Indianapolis, the disposal alternatives, and to evaluate the

environmental impacts associated with the various reuse alternatives.

The significant environmental effects that may result from the disposal

and reuse of NAWC AD Indianapolis will be identified and fully

discussed. The EIS will also effect compliance with the National

Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultation process. Major

environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS include air

quality, water quality, and impacts to wetlands, endangered species,

cultural resources, and socioeconomics.

The Navy will hold a public scoping meeting for the purpose of

further identifying the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. It

will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 1996 at 7:00 p.m. at the John

Marshall Middle School Auditorium, 10101 East 38th Street,

Indianapolis, Indiana. Navy representatives will make a brief

presentation, then members of the public will be asked to provide their

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

interested individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental

concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. In the interest of time,

speakers will be asked to limit comments to five minutes.

ADDRESSES: Agencies and the public are encouraged to provide written

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

meeting. To be most helpful, comments should clearly describe specific

issues or topics which the EIS should address. Written comments must be

postmarked by May 30, 1996, and should be mailed to Commanding Officer,

Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, P.O. Box

190010, North Charleston, South Carolina 29419-9010 (Attn: Mr. Ronnie

Lattimore, Code 064), telephone (803) 820-5888. The scoping meeting

will be conducted in English, and requests for language interpreters or

other special communications needs should be made to Mr. Lattimore at

least one week prior to the meeting. The Navy will make every

reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.

Dated: April 10, 1996.

M.A. Waters,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 96-9215 Filed 4-12-96; 8:45 am]

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