[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7416-7418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02176]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Land-Water Interface and Service Pier Extension, Naval Base Kitsap
Bangor, Silverdale, WA and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section (102)(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the regulations implemented by the
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the
Department of the Navy (DoN) announces its intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential
environmental impacts associated with two actions: (1) The proposed
construction and operation of Land-Water Interface (LWI) structures and
(2) the proposed construction and operation of a Service Pier Extension
(SPE) on Naval Base (NAVBASE) Kitsap Bangor.
The DoN proposes two projects on NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor waterfront
to: (1) Comply with Department of Defense (DoD) directives to protect
Navy OHIO Class ballistic missile submarines (TRIDENT submarines) from
increased and evolving threats and to prevent the seizure, damage, or
destruction of military assets and (2) eliminate deployment constraints
and improve maintenance of SEAWOLF Class submarines.
The first proposed action includes constructing two LWI structures
and modifying the existing floating Port Security Barrier (PSB) system
for improved protection of TRIDENT submarines. Construction of the LWI
structures would enclose the Navy Waterfront Restricted Area (WRA) on
NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor by constructing security barriers in the
intertidal zone at the Bangor waterfront. Construction is anticipated
to take two years. Construction activities occurring in the water
during the first year may involve pile driving and would be conducted
July 2015 through February 2016. Once the pile driving is complete,
activities other than pile driving may occur in the water up until
February 2017.
The second proposed action would relocate SEAWOLF Class submarines
SSN-21 (SEAWOLF) and SSN-22 (CONNECTICUT) from NAVBASE Kitsap Bremerton
to join SSN-23 (JIMMY CARTER) at NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor. The existing
Service Pier would be extended and land based associated support
facilities would be constructed including a Maintenance Support
Facility, and utility upgrades including an emergency power generator,
and a parking lot. Shore based facilities constructed on the pier would
include a Pier Services and Compressor Building and a pier crane.
Construction would occur from April 2015 to March 2017. Construction in
the water is planned for July through February of each year, beginning
in July 2015 and concluding in February 2017. The relocation would
result in the consolidation of berthing and support for the SEAWOLF
Class submarines at NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor.
NAVBASE Kitsap is the action proponent. The LWI construction and
PSB modifications are for the DoN's Strategic Systems Programs (SSP),
which directs research, development, manufacturing, test, evaluation,
and operational support of the TRIDENT
[[Page 7417]]
program. The SPE and supporting facilities are for Commander, Submarine
Development Squadron Five (CSDS-5). CSDS-5 is the Immediate Superior in
Command for all three SEAWOLF Class submarines and four DoN research,
development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) detachments based at NAVBASE
Kitsap Bangor.
The DoN is the lead federal agency for this action. The DoN is
requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine
Fisheries Service to be Cooperating Agencies. The DoN will hold public
scoping meetings to receive oral and/or written comments on
environmental concerns related to the proposed actions, to determine
the scope of issues to address in the Draft EIS, and to identify and
refine alternatives to the proposed actions. Federal, state, and local
agencies, American Indian tribes, and the public are invited to
participate in the scoping process.
The public scoping meetings will be conducted in English and will
be arranged in an informal, open-house format. Attendees will be
provided the opportunity to sign in and then visit various stations
hosted by DoN representatives and technical staff assigned to provide
information and answer questions. Several large display boards will be
located throughout the meeting locations to assist attendees in
understanding the proposed actions and the alternatives. Fact sheets
about the proposed actions and alternatives will be available to
attendees. A comment table with comment sheets will be placed in an
easily accessible location.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: The public scoping meetings will be held on the
following dates and locations:
1. February 20, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Chimacum
High School Commons, 91 West Valley Road, Chimacum, WA 98325; and
2. February 21, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the North
Kitsap High School Commons, 1780 Northeast Hostmark Street, Poulsbo, WA
98370.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Northwest, Attn: Thomas Dildine, LWI/SPE EIS Project Manager, 1101
Tautog Circle, Silverdale, WA 98315-1101, Email: [email protected],
Phone: 360-396-6387, or Web site: https://www.nbkeis.com/lwi/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the LWI project is to (1)
comply with DoD directives to protect TRIDENT submarines from increased
and evolving threats and to prevent the seizure, damage, or destruction
of military assets. The purpose of the SPE project is to eliminate
deployment constraints and improve maintenance of SEAWOLF Class
submarines.
The need for the LWI is to:
Enhance security within the WRA. Protection of strategic
military assets is a vital national security concern. Aggressive
security improvements within the DoN pre-date the USS Cole incident and
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and continue today.
The need for the SPE is to:
Remove restrictions on navigating SEAWOLF Class submarines
through Rich Passage under certain tidal conditions;
Improve long-term operational effectiveness for the three
SEAWOLF Class submarines at NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor;
Provide berthing and logistical support at the DoN's
submarine RDT&E hub, which is located on NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor; and
Improve submarine crew training and readiness through co-
location of the SEAWOLF Class submarines and crew with command
functions at NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor submarine training center.
The LWI and SPE are related actions due to their proximity,
anticipated timing of construction, and potential to affect similar
resources, but are not connected projects because each proposed action
would function independently. While independent in function, the
projects may have the potential to affect related resources, so the DoN
has chosen to analyze both projects in a single EIS.
The EIS must evaluate reasonable alternatives in accordance with
the CEQ regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Sec.
1502.14) and DoN regulations (32 CFR Part 775) that implement the NEPA.
Alternatives for the proposed action were identified based on security
and program requirements, avoiding or minimizing environmental impacts,
and compatibility with existing facilities, infrastructure, and
operational missions.
The DoN is considering the following alternatives to satisfy each
purpose and need:
(i) LWI Alternative 1 (No Action)--Under the No Action Alternative,
the DoN would not build the LWI and associated PSB modifications. DoD
and DoN security requirements for the TRIDENT program would not be met.
(ii) LWI Alternative 2 (Pile-Supported Pier and PSB Modification)--
Under this alternative, the LWI structure would include two pile-
supported piers built from shoreline abutments to connect with the
existing PSB system at the north and south sides of the NAVBASE Kitsap
Bangor WRA. Each pier would connect to a solid concrete abutment to be
constructed on the shore, and an anchoring structure for the PSBs to be
installed at the seaward end of each pier. The LWI pier structure would
be 280 feet long at the northern location and 730 feet long at the
southern location. The piers would be supported by up to fifty-four 24-
inch diameter steel piles at the northern location and up to eighty-two
24-inch diameter steel piles at the southern location. A fence would be
installed along the length of the piers, five 30 foot tall towers would
be installed on the piers to support lights and cameras, and a mesh/
grate with sensors would extend from the bottom of the pier walkway to
the seafloor.
(iii) LWI Alternative 3 (Port Security Barrier Modification)--This
alternative, the DoN would build the LWI using PSBs instead of a pile
supported pier. The LWI structures would consist of modifying and
lengthening the existing PSBs at the same north and south locations as
the pile supported pier alternative. The PSB sections would be 280 feet
long at the northern location and 730 feet long at the southern
location. The existing PSB system would be modified and lengthened to
extend across the intertidal zone and would attach to shoreline
abutments. Two solid concrete abutments would be constructed at the
shore end of the north and south location to form a secure barrier from
the bluff to the intertidal zone. Three 30 foot tall in-water towers
would be installed to support lights and security equipment. The in-
water towers would each be supported by a platform resting on four 24
inch piles. Two additional 30 foot tall towers would be installed on
land.
(iv) SPE Alternative 1 (No Action)--The DoN would not consolidate
SEAWOLF berthing and support services. The SEAWOLF Class submarines
would continue to have reduced operational availability (due to tide
windows limiting safe navigation through Rich Passage) and the long-
term operations and maintenance efficiency and effectiveness resulting
from consolidation of SEAWOLF Class submarines in one location would
not occur.
(v) SPE Alternative 2 (Short Pier Configuration) The DoN would
consolidate SEAWOLF Class submarines on NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor and build
and operate the SPE proposed action using a side by side submarine
mooring configuration. The proposed new facilities associated with this
option include a 600-lineal-foot SPE, a 3,100-square-foot Pier Services
and Compressor Building, a pier crane, a
[[Page 7418]]
50,000-square-foot shoreside Maintenance Support Facility, and a
shoreside emergency diesel generator facility. The new Maintenance
Support Facility would be built within an existing parking lot. To
support additional personnel, a 6-acre upland parking lot and lay down
area would be constructed near the proposed Maintenance Support
Facility. The SPE would be supported by approximately 320 steel piles.
(vi) SPE Alternative 3 (Long Pier Configuration)--The DoN would
consolidate SEAWOLF Class submarines on NAVBASE Kitsap Bangor and build
and operate the SPE proposed action using an in-line berth submarine
mooring configuration. The proposed new facilities associated with this
option include a 1,200-lineal-foot SPE, a 3,100-square-foot Pier
Services and Compressor Building, a pier crane, a 50,000-square-foot
shoreside Maintenance Support Facility, and a shoreside emergency
diesel generator facility. The new Maintenance Support Facility would
be built within an existing parking lot. To support additional
personnel, a 6-acre upland parking lot and lay down area would be
constructed near the proposed Maintenance Support Facility. The SPE
would be supported by approximately 700 steel piles.
The proposed actions will be designed to minimize environmental
impacts to the extent practicable. Project details including
construction methods, schedule, operations, and maintenance, will be
developed during the design process and analyzed in the Draft EIS.
No decision will be made to implement any alternative until the EIS
process is completed and a Record of Decision is signed by the acting
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy,
Installations, and Environment).
The impacts to be evaluated include, but will not be limited to,
effects on federally listed threatened and endangered species and
critical habitat, impacts relating to underwater noise and airborne
noise from pile driving and other actions, loss of eelgrass and other
marine habitat, decreased opportunities for migratory and transient
movement of fish and wildlife within the waterfront, reduction in water
quality, effects on littoral drift (shoreline sediment movement), and
effects on tribal resources.
The analysis will include an evaluation of direct, indirect, short-
term, and long-term impacts of construction and operation of each
project as well as cumulative impacts from other DoN and non-DoN
activities in the project area.
The DoN is initiating the scoping process to identify community
concerns and local issues to be addressed in the EIS. Federal, state,
and local agencies, American Indian tribes, and interested persons are
encouraged to provide written comments at scheduled public scoping
meetings. All written statements will become part of the public record
and will be responded to in the Draft EIS.
Written comments should be mailed to Naval Facilities Engineering
Command Northwest, 1101 Tautog Circle, Silverdale, WA 98315-1101,
Attention: Thomas Dildine, LWI/SPE EIS Project Manager. Comments may
also be submitted online at https://www.nbkeis.com/lwi/ during the
comment period. All comments must be received by March 17, 2013 to
ensure they become part of the official record.
Dated: January 28, 2013.
C.K. Chiappetta,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-02176 Filed 1-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P