Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Construction of Military Family Housing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, CA

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

Construction of Military Family Housing at Marine Corps Air Station

Miramar, San Diego, CA

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 (NEPA), 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 the

development of suitable and affordable housing for enlisted military

personnel and their families assigned to installations in the San Diego

region.

DATES: Two public scoping meetings will be held to receive oral and

written comments on the scope of the EIS. The first meeting will be

held on October 6, 1999, at the Serra High School located at 5156 Santo

Road, San Diego, California. The second meeting will be held on October

13, 1999, at the Scripps Ranch High School located at 10410 Treena

Street, San Diego, California. Both meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Regional Planning Team, Southwest Division, Naval Facilities

Engineering Command, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92132-5190.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sheila Donovan (Code 04PLR.sd),

Regional Planning Team, Southwest Division, Naval Facilities

Engineering Command, at telephone (619) 523-1253; fax (619) 532-3979;

or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 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 the development of suitable and affordable housing for

enlisted military personnel and their families assigned to

installations in the San Diego region. Navy is proposing the

construction of up to 1600 MFH units and supporting infrastructure. The

EIS will address alternative sites that meet MFH housing suitability

factors. Currently, four possible sites on government property, all at

MCAS Miramar, have been identified for study: (1) A 211 acre site

located off Missile Road in the northwest portion of East MCAS Miramar;

(2) a 268 acre site located in the southeast corner of East Miramar;

(3) a 283 acre site located in the north central portion of East

Miramar; and (4) a Main Station site of approximately 100 acres located

in the northern portion of the Station adjacent to Miramar Road. While

no suitable private sites have been identified based upon preliminary

real estate reviews, suitable private sites identified during the

scoping process will be considered in the EIS. The EIS will also

evaluate the No Action Alternative that would provide for no further

construction of MFH.

Preliminary MFH justification studies for the San Diego area

estimate the current MFH deficit to be about 2,400 units. Current

projections show the MFH deficit substantially increasing through

Fiscal Year 2004. However, because of constraints such as funding and

land availability, it is unlikely that the Navy would be able to

eradicate the shortfall through military construction.

The EIS will evaluate the environmental effects associated with

each of the alternatives. Issues to be addressed include, but are not

limited to: geology and soils; biological resources; water resources

and hydrology; traffic; cultural resources; air quality; public

services and utilities; land use and aesthetics; noise; socio-

economics; public health and safety; hazardous materials and wastes;

and environmental justice. The analysis will include an evaluation of

the direct, indirect, short-term, and cumulative impacts. No decision

to implement any alternative, including the No Action Alternative, will

be made until the NEPA process is complete.

Two public scoping meetings will be held to receive oral and

written comments on the scope of the EIS. A brief presentation

describing the proposed action, potential alternatives, and the NEPA

process will precede the public's opportunity to comment relating to

the scope of the EIS. Navy and Marine Corps representatives will be

available at this meeting to receive comments from the public regarding

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

potentially affected Indian tribes as well as interested organizations

and individuals, may take this opportunity to identify environmental

concerns that they believe should be addressed during the preparation

of the EIS. Agencies and the public are invited and encouraged to

provide written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments

at the public meeting. Written comments regarding the scope of the EIS

may also be submitted to Regional Planning Team, Southwest Division,

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

CA 92132-5190. To be most helpful, comments should clearly describe

specific issues or topics that the commentor believes the EIS should

address. Written comments must be postmarked no later than November 13,

1999.

[[Page 50796]]

Dated: September 8, 1999.

J.L. Roth,

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

Federal Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-24314 Filed 9-17-99; 8:45 am]

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