Notice of Intent To Prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) for the Continued Withdrawal of Lands at Bravo 20 Bombing Range (B-20), Fallon, Nevada as Identified in the Military Land Withdrawal Act of 1986

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact

Statement (LEIS) for the Continued Withdrawal of Lands at Bravo 20

Bombing Range (B-20), Fallon, Nevada as Identified in the Military Land

Withdrawal Act of 1986

SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy announces its intent to prepare a

Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) pursuant to Section

102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as

implemented by Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR

parts 1500-1508). The LEIS will analyze the proposed continued

withdrawal of lands supporting B-20 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon,

Nevada. Section 5 of the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986 (Pub. L.

99-606) directs the Navy to prepare an LEIS to evaluate the

environmental effects of continued naval operations on the checkerboard

pattern of withdrawn public lands that make up the B-20 training range.

The LEIS will evaluate the cumulative effects of all NAS Fallon land

withdrawals and serve as a Navy recommendation to Congress for

consideration in determining the continued withdrawal of B-20 lands. In

order to maintain the military mission, the Navy is proposing the

continued use of the B-20 as defined by the Military Lands Withdrawal

Act, Section 1(a). The actions considered in the LEIS would not result

in the withdrawal of additional lands. The LEIS will analyze the

potential environmental effects of the proposed action, public scoping

alternatives, if applicable, and a ``no action'' alternative. Under the

``no action'' alternative, withdrawn lands listed in Section 1(a) of

the Military Lands Withdrawal Act would not be renewed for continued

military purposes.

ADDRESSES: The Navy is initiating a public scoping process for the

purpose of determining public concerns and issues to be analyzed and

addressed for this action. The Navy will hold public scoping meetings

on December 9, 1997, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at the Fallon

Convention Center, 100 Campus Way, Fallon, Nevada; on December 10,

1997, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at Pershing County District Office,

1150 Elmhurst Avenue, Lovelock, Nevada; and on December 11, 1997, from

7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at Reno Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S.

Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. A Navy public open house will occur at

each site from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. prior to each scoping meeting.

A brief presentation will precede a request for public information

and comments. Navy representatives will be available at these meetings

to receive information and comments from agencies and the public

regarding issues of concern. It is important that federal, state and

local agencies, and interested individuals take this opportunity to

provide information or identify environmental concerns that should be

addressed during the analysis and preparation of the LEIS. In the

interest of the available time, each speaker will be asked to limit

oral comments to three minutes. Comment forms will also be available to

submit written comments at these meetings.

Agencies and the public are also 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 information, data, issues or topics which the

commenter believes the LEIS should address. Written comments or

questions regarding the scoping process and/or LEIS should be

postmarked no later than Friday, February 13, 1998 and sent to the

following address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written statements and or questions

regarding the scoping process should be mailed to: Commanding Officer,

Engineering Field Activity West, Naval Facilities Engineering Command,

900 Commodore Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066-5006 (Attn: Mr. Sam Dennis,

Code 7031), telephone (650) 244-3007, fax (650) 244-3206, e-mail at:

[email protected].

Dated: November 19, 1997.

Darse E. Crandall,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-29904 Filed 11-12-97; 8:45 am]

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