Notice of Scoping Meetings for Environmental Impact Statement for the Implementation of a Comprehensive Land Use Management Plan at the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Scoping Meetings for Environmental Impact Statement for

the Implementation of a Comprehensive Land Use Management Plan at the

Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA

SUMMARY: On April 1, 1997, the Department of the Navy announced its

intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate

the potential environmental effects of implementing a comprehensive

Land Use Management Plan for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons

Division (NAWCWD), located at the Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS),

China Lake, California. The Navy's proposed action is the

implementation of a comprehensive Land Use Management Plan (LUMP) at

NAWS China Lake for managing existing and proposed land uses authorized

under the California Desert Protection Act. Proposed land uses include,

but are not limited to, ongoing and future military operations, public

health and safety practices, and ongoing and future environmental

resources management and conservation at NAWS China Lake. The LUMP will

be developed in conformance with the Federal Land Policy and Management

Act.

The EIS will also evaluate a range of land use management

practices, including the no action alternative. Alternative land use

management practices could include a range of activities of greater or

lessor intensity of land use type or tempo. The no action alternative

would implement a Land Use Management Plan that would not change the

ongoing type or tempo of land uses and environmental resources

management direction or emphasis.

Six scoping meetings will be held to solicit public input and

identify issues that need discussion in the EIS. The meetings will be

held at the following times and locations: (1) the fairgrounds in

Ridgecrest, CA on May 20, 1997 at 7:00 p.m.; (2) The Rand Community

Building in Johannesburg, CA on May 21, 1997 at 7:30 p.m.; (3) The

Learning Center in Independence, CA on May 22, 1997 at 7:00 p.m.; (4)

Trona High School in Trona, CA on June 3, 1997 at 7:00 p.m.; (5)

Barstow Community College in Barstow, CA on June 4, 1997 at 7:00 p.m.;

and (6) Inyokern Elementary School in Inyokern, CA on June 5, 1997 at

7:00 p.m. A one-hour poster session will precede each meeting, so the

public can familiarize itself with NAWS China Lake and the proposed

action.

ADDRESSES: Agencies and the public are invited and encouraged to

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

the public scoping meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments

should clearly describe specific issues or topic which the EIS should

address. Written comments must be postmarked by June 30, 1997 and

should be mailed to Commander, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake,

Attn: Ms. Robin Hoffman, Land Use Planning Office, China Lake, CA

93555, telephone (619) 939-0935, fax (619) 939-2541.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Additional information concerning this notice may be obtained by

contacting Ms. Robin Hoffman at (619) 939-0935.

Dated: April 21, 1997.

D.E. Koenig,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-10775 Filed 4-24-97; 8:45 am]

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