[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 24 (Friday, February 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6003-6004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2142]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
(PEIS) for the Stationing and Operation of Joint High Speed Vessels
(JHSVs)
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Army intends to prepare a PEIS for the proposed stationing
and operation of up to 12 JHSVs. The JHSV is a strategic transport
vessel that is designed to support the rapid transport of Army
Soldiers, other military personnel and equipment in the U.S. and
abroad. The PEIS will assess the potential environmental impacts
associated with the proposed stationing of JHSVs at the following
military port locations: Virginia Tidewater area; San Diego, CA area;
Seattle-Tacoma, WA area; Pearl Harbor, HI area; and Guam. These
locations were selected based on the following criteria: sites have
existing military port facilities that do not require new
infrastructure construction or improvements; sites have existing
maintenance facilities for up to, but not including, depot level
facilities for major JHSV repairs and maintenance; and sites are
capable of supporting the strategic needs of the nation's Combatant
Commanders. Not all of the proposed ports will receive JHSVs and other
viable locations raised during public scoping may be considered as
stationing sites. The Army's Record of Decision will make the
determination as to which of the potential sites will serve as home
port locations.
The Army intends to consider the following alternatives in the
PEIS: (1) The stationing and operation of an Army-wide total of five
JHSVs at military port facilities in the U.S. or U.S. territories, with
up to three JHSVs at any one of the aforementioned locations; (2) The
stationing and operation of an Army-wide total of up to 12 JHSVs at
military port facilities in the U.S. or U.S. territories and overseas
locations operated by the U.S. military, with up to three JHSV's being
stationed at any one location; and (3) The no action alternative which
retains the Army's existing transport fleet and does not equip the Army
with JHSVs. Under the no action alternative, the Army would not be able
to increase its expeditionary capability as discussed as a key
requirement in the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) nor would it meet
the rapid deployment goals of Army Transformation.
The JHSV will require fueling-at-sea training; aviation training
(helicopter);
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live fire training; and high-speed, open-water-craft training. It is
anticipated that the vessel will spend 150 days or more away from the
home station. These home-station sites would only be used to support
JHSV berthing and training requirements in and around the stationing
location for 170 days per year. An annual maintenance cycle of
approximately 45 days would occur at the home station or at another
location, if appropriate maintenance facilities are not on site. The
PEIS will include evaluation of the different locations which could
reasonably accommodate, support, and sustain the JHSV and meet its
requirements for live-fire training.
The proposed action will require the Army to balance strategic,
sustainment, and environmental considerations to provide greater
flexibility and responsiveness to meet today's evolving world
conditions and threats to national defense and security. The PEIS will
analyze the proposed action's impacts upon the natural, cultural, and
manmade environments at the alternative home-stationing sites.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army
Environmental Command, Attention: IMAE-PA, 5179 Hoadley Rd., Aberdeen
Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Office at (410) 436-
2556; fax (410) 436-1693; or e-mail: APGR-USAECNEPA@conus.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The JHSV is a high-speed, shallow-draft
vessel capable of rapid intratheater transport of Army units. JHSV
stationing detachments consist of a 31 member crew and can accommodate
up to 350 additional Soldiers. The vessel can reach speeds of 35-45
knots and has an equipment carrying capacity of approximately 700 short
tons. It has a shallow draft of 12.5 feet for enhanced port access for
the types of austere piers and quay walls common in developing
countries. The JHSV includes a weapons mount for crew served weapons, a
flight deck for helicopter operations, and an off-load ramp that allows
vehicles to drive off the ship quickly. These characteristics make the
JHSV an extremely flexible asset, able to support a wide range of
operations including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in
small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key
enabler for rapid transport.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. &
et seq.) and the Army NEPA procedures, Environmental Analysis of Army
Action (32 CFR Part 651), require the Army to consider the
environmental impacts of its actions and alternatives, and to solicit
the views of the public so it can make an informed final decision
regarding how to proceed. The Army is working in close coordination
with the Navy (which is scheduled to receive 10 JHSVs) in coordinating
NEPA evaluations for this action. The Navy is completing a separate
NEPA document to evaluate its requirements for the JHSV. The Army's
PEIS does not evaluate the direct and indirect environmental impacts of
the Navy's JHSV program. The Army's PEIS will cumulatively consider the
impacts of Navy JHSV stationing.
The PEIS will assess, consider, and compare the direct, indirect,
and cumulative environmental effects from the stationing of up to three
Army JHSVs per site. The primary environmental issues to be analyzed
will include potential impacts to air quality, airspace, cultural
resources, noise, and marine life. In addition, the Army will consider
those issues identified as the part of the scoping process.
Scoping and Public Comment: All interested members of the public,
including native communities and federally recognized Native American
Tribes, Native Hawaiian groups, Guam Chamorro Groups, and federal,
state, and local agencies, are invited to participate in the scoping
process for the preparation of this PEIS. Written comments identifying
environmental issues, concerns and opportunities to be analyzed in the
PEIS will be accepted for 30 days following publication of the Notice
of Intent in the Federal Register. There will be no on-site scoping
meetings.
Dated: January 25, 2010.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 2010-2142 Filed 2-4-10; 8:45 am]
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