Notice of Public Hearing for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Realignment of E-2 Squadrons From Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Public Hearing for the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS) for the Realignment of E-2 Squadrons From Naval Air

Station (NAS) Miramar

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations

(40 CFR parts 1500-1508) implementing the procedural provisions of the

National Environmental Policy Act, the Department of the Navy has

prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the realignment of E-2

squadrons from NAS Miramar. The DEIS also has been prepared in

accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990

(DBCRA, P.L. 101-510) and the pertinent base closure and realignment

decisions of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission

approved by the President and accepted by Congress in September 1993

and September 1995.

The proposed action is to relocate four E-2 aircraft squadrons (16

aircraft) and related support personnel, equipment and functions from

NAS Miramar to one of three alternative naval air bases in California.

The proposed action includes relocating the 16 E-2 aircraft, 988

associated personnel and their families, and expanding or constructing

facilities to support aircraft and personnel, and to provide associated

training functions. In addition to the increased staffing and equipment

levels, there would be an increase in Navy training and an increase in

flight operations at the receiving installation. The preferred

alternative is realignment of the E-2 squadrons to Naval Air Weapons

Station (NAWS) Point Mugu, CA. Two other alternative sites were

evaluated in detail: (1) Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, CA, and (2)

Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, CA. NAS North Island was initially

considered as a potential alternative base, but was eliminated because

of the need to support Clean Air requirements with regard to the BRAC-

mandated Marine Corps realignment to MCAS Miramar.

A Notice of Intent (NOI) for the DEIS was published in the Federal

Register on May 1, 1996. Public scoping meetings were held at the

following locations: (1) On Tuesday, May 21, 1996, at the Oxnard Center

for Performing Arts, Thousand Oaks/Hueneme Room, 800 Hobson Way,

Oxnard, CA; (2) On Thursday, May 23, 1996, at the Board of Supervisors

Chambers, County Administration Center (Second Floor), 940 West Main

Street, El Centro, CA; (3) On Tuesday, May 28, 1996, at Coronado High

School Auditorium, 650 D Avenue, Coronado, CA; and (4) On Wednesday,

May 29, 1996, at Lemoore Union High School Cafeteria, Back Room, 101

East Bush Street, Lemoore, CA.

The DEIS analyzes potential environmental impacts of the proposed

action on biological resources, hydrology/surface water quality, land

use and airspace, socioeconomics, traffic and circulation, air quality,

noise, aesthetics and visual resources, utilities and services,

cultural resources, public health and safety, and hazardous materials

and wastes. Potentially significant, but mitigable, environmental

impacts include impacts to air quality, schools, and cultural resources

at NAWS Point Mugu; air quality and schools at NAS Lemmore; and

biological resources, noise/land use compatibility, and conflict with

existing aircraft operations at NAF El Centro.

No decision on the proposed action will be made until the NEPA

process has been completed.

The DEIS has been distributed to various federal, state and local

agencies, local groups, elected officers, special interest groups and

individuals. The DEIS is available for review at the following

libraries:

Near NAWS Point Mugu

--City of Camarillo Public Library, 3100 Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo,

CA;

--City of Oxnard Public Library, 251 South A Street, Oxnard, CA;

--City of Port Hueneme Public Library, 510 Park Avenue, Port Hueneme,

CA;

--City of Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 East Anapamu Street, Santa

Barbara, CA;

--City of Ventura Public Library, 651 East Main Street, Ventura, CA;

and

--Ventura City College Library, 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA.

Near NAF El Centro

--City of Brawley Public Library, 400 Main Street, Brawley, CA; and

--City of El Centro Public Library, 539 State Street, El Centro, CA.

Near NAS Lemoore

--City of Avenal Public Library, 919 Skyline Boulevard, Avenal, CA;

--City of Lemoore Public Library, 457 C Street, Lemoore, CA;

--City of Hanford Public Library, 400 North Douty, Hanford, CA; and

--City of Fresno Public Library, 2420 Mariposa Street, Fresno, CA.

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Near NAS North Island

--City of Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA;

--National City Public Library, 200 East 12th Street, National City,

CA;

--City of Imperial Beach Public Library, 810 Imperial Beach Blvd.,

Imperial Beach, CA; and

--City of San Diego Public Library, 820 E Street, San Diego, CA.

ADDRESSES: The Navy will conduct three public hearings to receive oral

and written comments concerning the DEIS: (1) On Monday, December 8,

1997, at 7:00 p.m., at Imperial County Administration Center, Board of

Supervisors Chambers, 940 Main Street, El Centro, CA; (2) On Tuesday,

December 9, 1997, at 7:00 p.m., at Oxnard Center for Performing Arts,

Thousand Oaks/Hueneme Room, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, CA; and (3) On

Wednesday, December 10, 1997, at 7:00 p.m., at Lemoore Civic

Auditorium, 435 C Street, Lemoore, CA.

A brief presentation will precede a request for public information

and comments. Navy representatives will be available at these hearings

to receive information and comments from agencies and the public

regarding issues of concern. Federal, state and local agencies, and

interested individuals are invited to be present or represented at the

hearings. Oral comments will be heard and transcribed by a

stenographer. To assure accuracy of the record, all comments should be

submitted in writing. All comments, both oral and written, will become

part of the public record in the study. In the interest of available

time, each speaker will be asked to limit oral comments to four

minutes. Longer comments should be summarized at the public hearing and

submitted in writing either at the hearing or mailed to the address

listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please provide written comments by

January 5, 1998, to Ms. Kelly Knight, Code 553.KK, Southwest Division,

Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego,

California 92132-5190, telephone (619) 532-2456, fax (619) 532-1242.

Dated: November 18, 1997.

Darse E. Crandall,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-30673 Filed 11-20-97; 8:45 am]

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