Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Future Operations on the Point Mugu Sea Range, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu, California

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and

Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Future Operations

on the Point Mugu Sea Range, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division,

Point Mugu, California

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Purusant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environment

Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as implemented by the regulations of the

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 40 CFR 1500-1508, and Executive

Order 12114 (Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions),

the Department of the Navy (Navy) announces its intent to prepare a

combined Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Overseas

Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) to evaluate the potential effects

of proposed future Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWPNS)

Point Mugu operations on the Point Mugu Sea Range.

The geographic scope of the EIS/OEIS includes the 36,000 square

miles of Point Mugu Sea Range, an area in the Southern California Bight

that covers the ocean area and controlled Special Use Airspace which

parallels the California coastline from San Luis Obispo to Santa

Catalina Island for 200 miles and extends seaward for more than 180

miles. The Point Mugu Sea Range has been operated by Navy for the past

50 years, and is used by the U.S. military and allied military services

to test and evaluate sea, land, and air weapon systems and to provide

realistic training opportunities for these forces.

In recent years, U.S. military strategy has evolved due to changing

worldwide political relations, increased defense costs, and decreased

budgets which have required Navy to reduce its infrastructure but

retain and further develop capabilities to respond to multiple, varied

threats. Consequently, the role of NAWCWPNS as a test and training

center has become even more critical to the successful assessment, safe

operation and improvement of current and future weapons systems.

Navy has identified three key objectives: (1) The need to increase

testing by evaluating new technologies and threat scenarios; (2) the

need to provide a realistic training environment to ensure that

military units operate at their highest state of readiness; and (3) the

need to enhance existing testing capabilities to better accommodate

evolving technologies. In order to meet these objectives, Navy proposes

to increase testing opportunities, increase training opportunities, and

enhance the capabilities of the Point Mugu Sea Range to respond to

changes in technology and military strategy. The proposed action

consists of the following three elements: (1) Increased Testing

Element--This element includes theater-wide and area-wide missile

defense testing, a new type of activity at NAWCWPNS Point Mugu. It also

includes multiple alternative air-launched target presentations,

airborne laser testing, and cruise missile defense with near-shore

intercepts at San Nicolas Island. (2) Increased Training Element--This

element includes an increase in the current level of Fleet training

exercises from two to three per year and an increase in small-scale

amphibious landings at San Nicolas Island. It also includes integration

of testing with Fleet training. (3) Facility Modernization Element--

This element includes specific modernizations to San Nicolas Island

such as installation of a new missile launcher, construction of a pier

or other landing area and a vertical launch missile facility,

modernization of instrumentation, and installation of new

instrumentation sites. The NAWCWPNS Point Mugu modernizations include

refurbishment of beach launch pads and relocation of some existing

instrumentation to San Nicolas Island.

In addition to the proposed action, alternatives consisting of

combinations of the above elements will be considered in the EIS/OEIS.

For example, an alternative may be to maintain current levels of

testing, increase training, and implement specific modernizations to

San Nicolas Island. The No-Action alternative would maintain testing

and training activities at current levels, with no modernization.

Environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS/OEIS include

but are not limited to air quality, noise, vegetation, wildlife, marine

mammals, cultural resources, land use, water quality, public health and

safety, and socioeconomics including environmental justice.

Navy will initiate a public scoping process to identify relevant

environmental issues to be analyzed in this EIS/OEIS. The public

scoping meetings will be held at the following times and locations: (1)

August 21, 1997 at 5:30pm, Orvene Carpenter Center, 550 Park Ave., Port

Hueneme, CA; (2) August 22, 1997 at 5:30pm, The Orchid Building, Orchid

Room, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo, CA; (3) August 25, 1997 at

5:30pm, Holiday Inn, 450 East Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA; (4) August 26,

1997 at 5:30pm, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Fleischmann

Auditorium, 2559 Puesto del Sol Road, Santa Barbara, CA; and (5) August

27, 1997 at 5:30pm, Grant Elementary School, 2368 Pearl St., Santa

Monica, CA.

The schedule for the public scoping meetings will also be available

by calling toll free (888) 217-9045 or by logging onto the Point Mugu

Sea Range EIS/OEIS Home Page at the following

[[Page 40062]]

Internet address: http:www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/

pmeis.

Navy will set up several information stations at these scoping

meetings; each information station will be staffed by a Navy

representative who will be available to answer questions from meeting

attendees. In addition, Navy representatives will give a brief

presentation about current NAWCWPNS activities on the Point Mugu Sea

Range followed by a description of the proposed action and alternatives

(including the No-Action alternative). Members of the public may offer

verbal or written comments at the scoping meetings, or subsequent to

the meetings by mail, by facsimile, or by toll-free telephone at (888)

217-9045. Verbal comments will be limited to three minutes per

individual. All comments, whether verbal or written, will receive the

same attention and consideration during EIS/OEIS preparation.

Navy's official repository is located at the Oxnard Public Library,

Reference Desk, 251 South ``A'' Street, Oxnard, CA 93030, (805) 385-

7507.

ADDRESSESS: Navy will accept comments at the address listed below. To

ensure that Navy has sufficient time to consider public input during

preparation of the Draft EIS/OEIS, scoping comments should be submitted

to the following address by September 13, 1997: Ms. Cora Fields, Point

Mugu Sea Range EIS, c/o Code 832000E, 521 Ninth Street, Point Mugu, CA

93042-5001, telephone (805) 989-0128, FAX (805) 989-0143; or, Ms. Gina

Smith, telephone (805) 989-0141, FAX (805) 989-0143. Individuals or

groups with special needs, such as accessibility, foreign language

translation, assistance for the blind or hearing impaired, should

contact Ms. Fields or Ms. Smith at least one week before the scoping

meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning this

notice may be obtained by contacting Ms. Fields or Ms. Smith.

Dated: July 21, 1997.

M.D. Sutton,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-19615 Filed 7-24-97; 8:45 am]

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