[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 12342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5055]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement 
for Gulf of Mexico Range Complex

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (Navy), after carefully weighing 
the operational and environmental consequences of the proposed action, 
announces its decision to conduct Navy Atlantic Fleet training; 
research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities; and 
associated range capabilities enhancements in the Corpus Christi, New 
Orleans, Pensacola, and Panama City Operating Areas (OPAREAs) and 
associated airspace, land and overland components, hereafter referred 
to as the Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) Range Complex. Title 10, United States 
Code (U.S.C.) Part 5062 directs the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) to 
train all naval forces for combat. The CNO meets that direction, in 
part, by conducting at-sea training exercises and ensuring naval forces 
have access to ranges, OPAREAs and airspace where the Navy can develop 
and maintain skills for wartime missions and conduct RDT&E of naval 
weapons systems. The proposed action will be accomplished as set forth 
in Alternative 2, described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) as the Preferred 
Alternative. The purpose for the proposed action is to: (1) Achieve and 
maintain Fleet readiness using the GOMEX Range Complex to support and 
conduct current, emerging, and future training and RDT&E; (2) Expand 
warfare missions supported by the GOMEX Range Complex; and (3) Upgrade 
and modernize existing range capabilities to enhance and sustain Navy 
training and RDT&E. The need for the proposed action is to provide 
range capabilities for training and equipping combat-capable naval 
forces ready to deploy worldwide.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Record of Decision (ROD) has been 
distributed to all individuals who requested a copy of the Final EIS/
OEIS and to agencies and organizations that received a copy of the 
Final EIS/OEIS. The complete text of the ROD is available for public 
viewing on the project Web site at http://www.gomexrangecomplexeis.com/
, along with copies of the Final EIS/OEIS and supporting documents. 
Single copies of the ROD will be made available upon request by 
contacting: Ms. Nora Gluch, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278; 
telephone: 757-322-4769.

    Dated: March 1, 2011.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-5055 Filed 3-4-11; 8:45 am]
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