[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5144-5145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1964]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing and To Announce Public Scoping
Meetings
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 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500-
1508), the Department of the Navy (Navy) announces its intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify and
evaluate the potential environmental consequences associated with
providing facilities and functions to homebase the F-35C Joint Strike
Fighter (JSF) aircraft on the West Coast of the United States. Under
this proposal, a total of seven active-duty F/A-18C Hornet aircraft
squadrons and one fleet replacement squadron (FRS) will progressively
transition from F/A-18C Hornet aircraft to the more advanced F-35C JSF
beginning in 2015. This transition will occur as a one-for-one
replacement. The aging FA-18C Hornet aircraft are expected to be
replaced with F-35C aircraft by 2025. The Navy will evaluate two basing
options (plus a no action alternative) to efficiently and economically
transition the F-35C aircraft into the fleet. This basing action is
consistent with past Navy strike-fighter homebasing actions.
Dates and Addresses: Public scoping meetings are scheduled to
receive oral and/or written comments on environmental concerns that
should be addressed in the EIS, as follows:
1. Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at the Southwest High School, 2001
Ocotillo Drive, El Centro, CA 92243 (located in Imperial County,
California).
2. Thursday, February 17, 2011, at Lemoore Senior Center, 789 South
Lemoore Avenue (18th Avenue), Lemoore, CA (located in Kings County,
California).
Each meeting will occur from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meetings will be
an open house format with informational displays and materials
available for public review. The public will have an opportunity to
submit written comments on environmental concerns that should be
addressed in the U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing EIS. Navy staff
will be present at these open houses to answer questions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing
EIS Project Manager; Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest;
619-532-2799.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a replacement for the Navy's aging F/A-
18C Hornet aircraft, the U.S. Congress has authorized and appropriated
for the procurement of F-35C JSF, the next generation strike-fighter
for the Navy. The F-35C is a highly advanced, single-engine, single-
seat, supersonic, multi-role strike-fighter aircraft that can operate
from conventional runways and aircraft carriers and includes stealth
features that makes it difficult to detect on radar. This aircraft will
provide the Navy with enhanced war-fighting capabilities while
achieving efficiencies in operations and support.
The proposed action would provide facilities and functions to
support homebasing a total of one hundred (100) F-35C aircraft (seven
squadrons of 10 aircraft each, plus up to 30 aircraft in the FRS) at
the selected West Coast homebasing location. By 2025, when the program
is complete, the 109 F/A-18C aircraft currently homebased at Naval Air
Station (NAS) Lemoore will have been replaced with 100 F-35C aircraft.
The selected homebase installation may require some construction,
facility renovations and utility upgrades in order to accommodate the
new aircraft. Facility construction and modification would occur prior
to and continue throughout the F-35C arrivals. The F-35C would operate
within existing airspace and at existing training ranges.
The purpose of the proposed action is to replace aging Pacific
Fleet FA-18C Hornet aircraft with the F-35C while meeting the aircrews'
associated training and readiness requirements. The need for the
proposed action is to support the Navy's Maritime Strategy by
maintaining strike fighter capability in the Pacific Fleet with the
more advanced F-35C.
During the initial planning process to identify suitable homebase
locations for the F-35C, the Navy evaluated 134 Department of Defense
installations against the operational and facilities requirements
necessary to support the homebasing of the F-35C. Taking into account
these requirements and the purpose of and need for the proposed action,
the preliminary screening process identified two potential west coast
homebasing locations: NAS Lemoore, located in Kings County, California
and Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, located in Imperial County,
California.
In order to maximize efficiency of support facilities, simulation
devices and on-site support personnel, the Navy intends to base all its
west coast F-35C aircraft at one location. Accordingly, initial action
alternatives to be considered are basing seven F-35C fleet squadrons
and one F-35C FRS at either NAS Lemoore or NAF El Centro. Additionally,
the U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing EIS will evaluate a No Action
Alternative at each of the potential homebase locations to provide a
baseline for comparison and analysis of the environmental consequences
associated with the basing alternatives.
[[Page 5145]]
No decision will be made to implement any alternative until the
U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing EIS process is completed and a
Record of Decision is signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Energy, Installations and Environment) or designee.
Resource areas to be addressed in the U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast
Homebasing EIS will include, but not be limited to: Air quality, noise
environment, land use, socioeconomics, infrastructure and community
services, natural resources, biological resources, cultural resources,
safety and environmental hazards. The analysis will evaluate direct and
indirect impacts, and will account for cumulative impacts from other
relevant activities in the area of NAS Lemoore and NAF El Centro.
Relevant and reasonable measures that could avoid or mitigate
environmental effects will also be analyzed. Additionally, the Navy
will undertake any consultations required by all applicable laws or
regulations.
The Navy is initiating the scoping process to identify community
concerns and issues that should be addressed in the U.S. Navy F-35C
West Coast Homebasing EIS. Federal, state, local agencies, and
interested parties and persons are encouraged to provide comments on
the proposed action that clearly describe specific issues or topics of
environmental concern that the commenter believes that the Navy should
consider.
Public scoping comments may be submitted during the 45-day public
comment period (from January 28, 2011 through March 14, 2011). All
comments will receive the same attention and consideration in the
preparation of the EIS. Comments may be submitted either orally or in
writing at the two scheduled public scoping meetings; electronically
through the project Web site at: http://www.navyf35cwestcoasteis.com;
and/or may be mailed to: U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing EIS
Project Manager; Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest (Code
EV21/AK); 1220 Pacific Highway, Bldg. 1, San Diego, CA 92132. All
public scoping comments on the U.S. Navy F-35 West Coast Homebasing
EIS, both written and oral, must be submitted or postmarked no later
than March 14, 2011.
Dated: January 25, 2011.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-1964 Filed 1-27-11; 8:45 am]
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