[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51527-51528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20872]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period for the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Modernization and
Expansion of Townsend Bombing Range, Georgia
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DoN) is extending the public
comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
the Proposed Modernization and Expansion of Townsend Bombing Range
(TBR), Georgia (GA) until September 27, 2012. A Notice of Availability
(NOA) and a Notice of Public Meetings (NOPMs) for the Draft EIS were
published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 13, 2012 (Federal
Register/Vol. 77, No. 135, Pages 41385-41387 (NOPMs) and Page 41403
(NOA)). Those notices announced the initial public comment period,
including public meetings that took place on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
and Thursday, August 9, 2012, and provided additional information on
the background and scope of the Draft EIS. The initial public comment
period requested the submission of all comments on the Draft EIS to the
DoN by August 27, 2012. The DoN is extending the public comment period
until September 27, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Capt. Cochran, 596 Geiger
Blvd. MCAS Beaufort, SC 29904 at 843-228-6123.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DoN, as lead agency, has prepared and
filed the Draft EIS for the Proposed Modernization and Expansion of
TBR, GA in accordance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 United States Code 4321 et seq.)
and its implementing regulations (40 Code of Regulations parts 1500-
1508). The Draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of
acquiring additional property and constructing the necessary
infrastructure to allow the use of inert precision-guided munitions
(PGMs) at TBR, GA.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide an air-to-ground
training range capable of providing a wider variety of air-to-ground
operations, including the use of PGMs, to meet current training
requirements. The Proposed Action is needed to more efficiently meet
current training requirements for the United States
[[Page 51528]]
Marine Corps aviation assets by significantly increasing air-to-ground
training capabilities in the Beaufort, South Carolina Region. The Draft
EIS has identified and considered four action alternatives and a No
Action alternative.
More information of the Draft EIS can be found in the previously
published NOA and NOPM (see Federal Register on Friday, July 13, 2012
(Federal Register/Vol. 77, No. 135, Pages 41385-41387 (NOPMs) and Page
41403 (NOA)). Federal, State, and local agencies, elected officials,
and other interested parties and individuals, are invited and
encouraged to review and comment on the Draft EIS. Comments on the
Draft EIS can be submitted via the project email address
([email protected]), project Web site or submitted in
writing to: Townsend Bombing Range EIS Project Manager, Post Office Box
180458, Tallahassee, Florida, 32318. All comments must be postmarked or
electronically dated on or before September 27, 2012 to be sure they
become part of the public record.
The Draft EIS has been distributed to various Federal, State, local
agencies, and Native American Tribes, as well as other interested
parties and individuals. In addition, copies of the Draft EIS are
available for public review at the following public libraries: Ida
Hilton Public Library, 1105 North Way, Darien, GA, 31305; Long County
Public Library, 28 S. Main Street, Ludowici, GA, 31316; and Hog Hammock
Public Library, 1023 Hillery Lane, Sapelo Island, GA, 31327.
An electronic copy of the Draft EIS is also available for public
viewing at http://www.townsendbombingrangeeis.com.
To be considered, all comments on the Draft EIS must be received by
September 27, 2012. The DoN will consider and respond to all comments
received on the Draft EIS when preparing the Final EIS. The DoN expects
to issue the Final EIS in spring 2013, at which time a NOA will be
published in the Federal Register and local print media. A Record of
Decision is expected in summer 2013.
Dated: August 17, 2012.
C.K. Chiappetta,
Lieutenant Commander, U. S. Navy, Office of the Judge Advocate General,
U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-20872 Filed 8-23-12; 8:45 am]
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