Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Implementation of the Draft Integrated Management Plan for the Patuxent River Complex, Maryland

DEPARTMENT OF THE DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

Implementation of the Draft Integrated Management Plan for the Patuxent

River Complex, Maryland

SUMMARY: Per section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by 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)

to evaluate the potential environmental effects of implementing the

draft Integrated Management Plan for the Patuxent River Complex,

Maryland. The Patuxent River Complex includes the Patuxent River Naval

Air Station (NAS) including the Test Pilot School, Webster Field Annex

(an Outlying Field), and the Chesapeake Test Range, which are assets

under the exclusive control and scheduling authority of the Naval Air

Warfare Center--Aircraft Division (NAWCAD).

The Patuxent River Complex is located 60 miles southeast of

Washington, DC, in southern Maryland, where the Navy has actively

conducted aircraft test and evaluation activities for more than 50

years. In recent years, the post-Cold War shift from the threat of

nuclear superpower confrontation to regional conflicts has required the

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military services to redefine their roles and identify the types of

weapons and platforms most effective to future success in regional

conflicts.

Concurrent with the rise of regional conflicts has been a trend of

significant reductions in national defense spending. The Patuxent River

Complex has been affected by the 1991, 1993, and 1995 Base Realignment

and Closure Act (BRAC) decisions to relocate Naval Aviation Research,

Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) facilities from Warminster,

Pennsylvania and Trenton, New Jersey and Naval Air Systems headquarters

from Arlington, Virginia to the Complex. (Environmental Impact

Statements were prepared in 1993 and 1994 to assess this realignment of

these functions; issues addressed in these NEPA documents will be

incorporated by reference only in the EIS for the Patuxent River

Complex Integrated Management Plan.) These realignments and

consolidation of their assets will better position NAWCAD to carry out

its mission as the Navy's principal RDT&E, engineering, and fleet

support activity for Naval fixed and rotary wing aircraft and

associated systems from acquisition through all life cycle phases.

In response to these changes, NAWCAD recognized the need to

initiate a strategic planning initiative that included the preparation

of an Integrated Management Plan for the NAWCAD-controlled assets in

the Patuxent River Complex. The implementation of the plan will enable

the Navy to meet its commitment to conserve and protect the unique

natural and cultural resources of the Patuxent River Complex and

Chesapeake Bay while protecting human health and welfare.

The Integrated Management Plan will provide a framework within

which NAWCAD can efficiently and effectively utilize the assets under

its control to meet its strategic planning initiatives while complying

with applicable local, state, and Federal laws. However, prior to

NAWCAD adoption of the Integrated Management Plan, compliance with NEPA

is required. The preparation of an EIS will meet these NEPA

requirements. The EIS will address a range of alternatives that focus

on varying workload levels associated with both RDT&E and military

training support activities: (1) Level I Workload Alternative will

consist of RDT&E activities at recent levels and an increase in

military training support activities for a combined total of

approximately 22,000 flight hours per year; (2) Level II Workload

Alternative will consist of increases in RDT&E activities and military

training support activities for a combined total of approximately

24,000 flight hours per year; and (3) Level III Workload Alternative

will consist of increased RDT&E activities and military training

support activities for a combined total of approximately 26,000 flight

hours per year. As required by NEPA, the EIS will also consider the No

Action Alternative. This alternative would consist of RDT&E activities

and military training support activities at existing workload levels.

Topics to be addressed in the EIS will include, but are not limited

to, noise, air quality, vegetation and wildlife, water quality, and

socioeconomic impacts, including environmental justice. Federal, state,

and local agencies, and interested individuals are encouraged to

participate in a scoping process to determine the range of issues

related to the proposed action.

Five public scoping meetings will be held to receive oral and

written comments. Each scoping meeting will provide opportunities for

clarification of the draft Integrated Management Plan and alternatives

and solicit input from representatives of government agencies and

interested individuals. The Navy will set up information stations at

these scoping meetings that will describe the Patuxent River Complex,

the scope of Integrated Management Plan, and the NEPA EIS process. Each

information station will be attended by a Navy presenter who will be

available to answer questions from meeting attendees. Comments will be

entered into the official record in several ways: written comments

sheets available at each meeting; tape recorders located throughout the

meeting area; and via a stenographer who will be available to

transcribe statements. Written comments will also be accepted via mail

or fax. Regardless of the commenting method chosen, all comments will

receive the same attention and consideration during EIS preparation.

The five public scoping meetings will be held at the following

times and locations: (1) Prince Frederick, Maryland on May 6, 1997 at

the Calvert High School from 3:30 pm-5:30pm and 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; (2)

Leonardtown, Maryland on May 8, 1997 at the Leonardtown High School

School from 3:30 pm-5:30 pm and 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; (3) Burgess, Virginia

on May 12, 1997 at the Fairfields Baptist Church from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm;

Westover, Maryland on May 14, 1997 at the JM Tawes Technical Center

from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm; and (5) Cambridge, Maryland on May 15, 1997 at

the Christ Episcopal Church from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm and 6:30 pm-8:30 pm.

The schedule for the public scoping meetings will also be available by

calling (888) 276-5201.

ADDRESSES: The Navy will accept comments at the address below at any

time during the environmental impact statement process. To ensure that

the Navy has sufficient time to consider public input during

preparation of the Draft EIS, scoping comments should be submitted to

the address below by June 1, 1997. For further information concerning

the preparation of the EIS, or to provide written comment, contact:

Cathy A. Partusch, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Air Station Patuxent

River, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Naval Air Station

Patuxent River, Maryland, telephone (301) 342-7512, ext. 24; fax (301)

342-7509; Internet: PartuschCA%[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning this

notice may be obtained by contacting Ms. Cathy Partusch at (301) 342-

7512.

Dated: March 21, 1997.

M.A. Waters,

LCDR, JAG, USN, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-8191 Filed 3-31-97; 8:45 am]

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