Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Shock Trial of the DDG 81 Flight IIA Class Destroyer

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

the Shock Trial of the DDG 81 Flight IIA Class Destroyer

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act 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 environmental effects of a proposal to conduct

ship shock trials on the AEGIS Destroyer, WINSTON CHURCHILL (DDG 81) at

a site located off the east coast or gulf coast of the United States.

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.6, the Department of the Navy has requested

that the National Marine Fisheries Service act as a cooperating agency.

A ``shock trial'' is necessary to evaluate the effect that shock

waves, resulting from a series of underwater explosions and designed to

emulate conditions encountered in combat, have when they propagate

through a ship's hull. The congressionally mandated (10 USC 2366) Live

Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) Program requires realistic

survivability testing on each new class of Navy ships, or on an

existing class of ships when significant design changes that may affect

ship survivability are made. A ``shock trial'' is part of the Navy's

LFT&E program to ensure survivability. The test results provide

important information that is applied to follow-on ships and is used to

improve the initial ship design and enhance the effectiveness and

overall survivability of the ship and crew. Shock trials have proven

their value as recently as the Persian Gulf War when ships were able to

survive battle damage and continue their mission because of ship

design, crew survivability, and crew training lessons learned during

previous shock tests.

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The proposed action would subject the WINSTON CHURCHILL to no more

than four explosive charges, 10,000 pounds each, while monitoring the

effects on the ship. The EIS will thoroughly address reasonable

alternatives to the proposed action, the existing environments of the

proposed test areas, and the impact to the environment at those areas.

Mayport, Florida, Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Norfolk, Virginia were

chosen initially for evaluation because they effectively meet the

operational criteria necessary to conduct a shock trial on a surface

combatant. These criteria include: Water depth of at least 600 feet;

geographic location; proximity to a Naval Station, Ship Repair

Facility, Military Airbase, Ordnance Loading Station, naval ships and

aircraft; sea traffic; weather and sea state; and personnel tempo

requirements. The proposed shock trial is scheduled to occur over a

consecutive period of four weeks between May 1, and September 1, 2001.

The EIS will analyze impacts of the proposed action on air and

water quality, marine life (including marine mammals and endangered and

threatened species), commercial fishing and shipping, recreation, and

economic and commercial resources.

DATES: The Navy will hold the following three public meetings in

January 1999:

1. January 19, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.;

2. January 20, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and

3. January 21, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at a location near each of

the proposed test areas:

1. January 19, 1999, at Granby High School, 7101 Granby Road, Norfolk,

Virginia.

2. January 20, 1999, at Fair Hall at Jackson County Fairgrounds, Corner

of Shortcut and Hospital Road, Pascagoula, Mississippi.

3. January 21, 1999, at Mayport Middle School, 2600 Mayport Road,

Atlantic Beach, Florida.

The meetings will be announced in local newspapers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 meeting. To be most helpful,

comments should clearly describe specific issues or topics which the

commentor believes the EIS should address. Written statements and/or

questions regarding the scoping process should be mailed no later than

February 1, 1999 to: Commanding Officer, Southern Division, Naval

Facilities Engineering Command (Attn: Mr. Will Sloger, Code 064WS),

2155 Eagle Drive, N. Charleston, South Carolina, telephone 843-802-

5797, FAX 843-802-7472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A brief presentation will precede the

request for public comment. Navy representatives will be available at

this meeting to receive comments from the public regarding issues of

concern. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies, and

interested individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental

concerns that should be addressed during the preparation of the EIS. In

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

oral comments to five minutes.

Dated: December 14, 1998.

Ralph W. Corey,

Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register

Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-33569 Filed 12-17-98; 8:45 am]

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