2 January 2009
[Federal Register: January 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 1)]
[Notices]
[Page 98-99]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ja09-21]
[[Page 98]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Public Hearings for the Swimmer Interdiction Security
System at Naval Base Kitsap--Bangor, Kitsap County, WA Draft
Environmental Impact Statement
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 (NEPA) of 1969 (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321); the
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA (Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations
[CFR] Parts 1500-1508); Department of the Navy Procedures for
Implementing NEPA (32 CFR 775); Executive Order (EO)12114,
Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions; and Department
of Defense (DoD) regulations implementing EO 12114 (32 CFR Part 187),
the Department of the Navy (Navy) has prepared and filed with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
on December 17, 2008.
The DEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated
with construction and operation of a Swimmer Interdiction Security
System at Naval Base Kitsap--Bangor (NBK--Bangor). A Notice of Intent
for this Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on February
12, 2007 (volume 72, number 28).
The Navy will conduct two public hearings to receive oral and
written comments on the Draft EIS. Federal agencies, state agencies,
Tribal Governments and local agencies and interested individuals are
invited to be present or represented at the public hearings. This
notice announces the dates and locations of the public hearings for
this Draft EIS.
An open house session will precede the scheduled public hearing at
each of the locations listed below and will allow individuals to review
the information presented in the Draft EIS. Navy representatives will
be available during the open house sessions to clarify information
related to the Draft EIS.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: Both meetings will start with an open house
session from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A presentation and formal public
comment period will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Public hearings will
be held on the following dates and at the following locations:
1. February 11, 2009, Silverdale Community Center, 9729 Silverdale
Way, NW, Silverdale, WA.
2. February 12, 2009, Tyee High School, 4424 S. 188th, SeaTac, WA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Department of the Navy, SSC Pacific,
53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA, 92152, Attn: Mike Rothe Fax: 619-221-
5251, e-mail: NBKEIS@spawar.navy.mil or http://www.nbkeis.gcsaic.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to install and
operate a Swimmer Interdiction Security System (SISS) along the
waterfront on Hood Canal at NBK-Bangor.
The purpose of the proposed action is to provide waterside security
at NBK-Bangor capable of countering threats from intruders. The
implemented system must be able to find, identify, and interdict
surface and underwater intruders for engagement by harbor security
forces. Several classified Navy instructions establish requirements for
security and protection of assets at Navy bases, including NBK-Bangor.
The project need is to comply with these Navy security requirements.
Three action alternatives have been identified as well as a no
action alternative:
Marine Mammal Alternative: This alternative would be
composed of human/marine mammal teams that would support Navy
operations and respond rapidly to security alerts. The system would
involve stationing California sea lions, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins
and human teams at the site. The animals would reside within in-water,
closed circuit enclosures attached to a dock that would be connected to
an existing pier at the NBK-Bangor waterfront. Upland temporary
buildings would house support personnel and equipment. The Navy marine
mammals would be deployed along the waterfront in conjunction with
humans aboard small power boats. The marine mammals would respond to
security alerts by finding, identifying, and interdicting intruder(s).
Sea Lions Only Alternative: This alternative would be
composed of human/sea lion teams that would support Navy operations and
respond rapidly to security alerts. The system would involve stationing
California sea lions and human teams at the site. Upland temporary
buildings would house support personnel and equipment. The sea lions
would reside within in-water, closed-circuit enclosures attached to a
dock that would be connected to an existing pier at the NBK-Bangor
waterfront, and would be deployed along the waterfront in conjunction
with humans aboard small power boats. The sea lions would respond to
security alerts by finding, identifying, and interdicting intruder(s).
This system lacks the biosonar of the dolphins and therefore this
alternative would rely heavily on the initial NBK-Bangor detection and
vectoring system to interdict intruders.
Combat Swimmers Alternative: Combat swimmers would be
stationed at an existing pier at the NBK-Bangor waterfront, and would
be deployed along the waterfront aboard small power boats equipped with
necessary dive support gear. Similar upland facilities would also be
required. The Combat Swimmers would rely completely on the NBK-Bangor
initial detection and vectoring system to arrive at a position to
interdict the intruders.
Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Alternative: ROVs would be
stationed at an existing pier at the NBK-Bangor waterfront. In-water
and upland facilities would be located at the same sites as the other
action alternatives. ROVs would be deployed from a boat located and
available for use at the waterfront and an operator would utilize sonar
and bright lights on board the ROV to maneuver toward and interdict the
intruder. The ROVs would rely completely on the NBK-Bangor initial
detection and vectoring system to arrive at a position within range to
interdict the intruders.
No action alternative: Under this alternative, no SISS
would be implemented. This would not meet the project purpose and need.
No new facilities would be constructed. The existing initial detection
and vectoring system would be used to alert for potential threats, and
harbor security forces would find and attempt to apprehend intruders
without the aid of an underwater interdiction system.
The Navy conducted a literature review and held discussions with
subject matter experts to identify alternatives for implementing the
SISS. Nine action alternatives were identified. These alternatives were
evaluated to determine their ability to meet the minimum operational
selection criteria. All but three were eliminated from further
consideration. The Sea Lions Only alternative was added for
consideration following scoping.
The Navy analyzed potential effects of its current and proposed
activities on marine mammals, fish, sea turtles, marine flora and
invertebrates, terrestrial wildlife, sediments and water quality,
cultural resources, recreation, land and shoreline use, public health
and safety, socioeconomics and environmental justice, and air quality.
[[Page 99]]
No significant adverse impacts are identified for any resource
area. In accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the
Navy is seeking concurrence with NMFS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) for ``may affect, not likely to adversely affect''
determinations for federally listed species. The Navy is coordinating
with the Washington Department of Ecology for a Coastal Consistency
Determination under the Coastal Zone Management Act. Navy analysis has
indicated that under the Clean Air Act requirements, no significant
impacts would occur to the regional air quality, and under the Clean
Water Act there would be no significant impacts to water quality.
National Historic Preservation Act analysis indicated that no
significant impacts to cultural resources would occur if the proposed
action or alternatives were implemented. Implementation of the No
Action Alternative or any of the proposed action alternatives would not
disturb, adversely affect, or result in any takes of bald eagles. None
of the alternatives would result in a significant adverse effect on the
population of a migratory bird species.
The decision to be made by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Installations & Environment) is to determine which alternatives
analyzed in the EIS best meet the needs of the Navy given that all
reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts have been considered.
The Draft EIS was distributed to Federal, State, and local
agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and
organizations on December 24, 2008. The public comment period will end
on March 1, 2009. Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public
review at the following libraries:
Aberdeen Timberland Library, 121 E. Market St., Aberdeen,
WA.
Hoodsport Timberland Library, N. 40 Schoolhouse Hill Road,
Hoodsport, WA.
Jefferson County Rural Library District, 620 Cedar Avenue,
Port Hadlock, WA.
Kitsap Regional Library, 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton, WA.
North Mason Timberland Library, 23801 NE State Rt. 3,
Belfair, WA.
Ocean Shores Public Library, 573 Pt. Brown Ave. NW, Ocean
Shores, WA.
Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St., Port
Townsend, WA.
Poulsbo Branch Library, 700 NE Lincoln St., Poulsbo, WA.
Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave. Seattle, WA.
Tacoma Main Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, WA.
Quinault Indian Nation Tribal Library, P.O. Box 189,
Taholah, WA.
Skokomish Tribal Center, N 80 Tribal Center Road, Shelton,
WA.
Valley View Library, 17850 Military Rd. S., SeaTac, WA.
The SISS Draft EIS is also available for electronic public viewing
at: http://www.nbkeis.gcsaic.com. Additional information about access
to the SISS DEIS is available by contacting Navy Region North West,
Environmental Public Affairs Office, Attn: Sheila Murray, 1100 Hunley
Road, Building 1100 Silverdale, WA, 98315, 360-396-4981.
Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties are
invited to be present or represented at the public hearing. Written
comments can also be submitted during the open house sessions preceding
the public hearings.
Oral statements will be heard and transcribed by a stenographer;
however, to ensure the accuracy of the record, all statements should be
submitted in writing. All statements, both oral and written, will
become part of the public record on the Draft EIS and will be responded
to in the Final EIS. Equal weight will be given to both oral and
written statements. In the interest of available time, and to ensure
all who wish to give an oral statement have the opportunity to do so,
each speaker's comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. If a long
statement is to be presented, it should be summarized at the public
hearing with the full text submitted either in writing at the hearing,
or mailed or faxed to Department of the Navy, SSC Pacific, 53560 Hull
St., San Diego, CA 92152, Attn: Mike Rothe, Fax: 619-221-5251, e-mail:
NBKEIS@spawar.navy.mil during the comment period. All written comments
must be postmarked by March 1, 2009, to ensure they become part of the
official record. All comments will be addressed in the Final EIS.
Dated: December 22, 2008.
T. M. Cruz,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-31200 Filed 12-31-08; 8:45 am]
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