Environmental statements; notice of intent: Winston Churchill (DDG 81 flight IIA class destroyer); ship shock trials,

[Federal Register: December 18, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 243)]

[Notices]

[Page 70116-70117]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr18de98-73]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Shock Trial of the DDG 81 Flight IIA Class Destroyer

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the environmental effects of a proposal to conduct ship shock trials on the AEGIS Destroyer, WINSTON CHURCHILL (DDG 81) at a site located off the east coast or gulf coast of the United States.

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.6, the Department of the Navy has requested that the National Marine Fisheries Service act as a cooperating agency.

A ``shock trial'' is necessary to evaluate the effect that shock waves, resulting from a series of underwater explosions and designed to emulate conditions encountered in combat, have when they propagate through a ship's hull. The congressionally mandated (10 USC 2366) Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) Program requires realistic survivability testing on each new class of Navy ships, or on an existing class of ships when significant design changes that may affect ship survivability are made. A ``shock trial'' is part of the Navy's LFT&E program to ensure survivability. The test results provide important information that is applied to follow-on ships and is used to improve the initial ship design and enhance the effectiveness and overall survivability of the ship and crew. Shock trials have proven their value as recently as the Persian Gulf War when ships were able to survive battle damage and continue their mission because of ship design, crew survivability, and crew training lessons learned during previous shock tests.

[[Page 70117]]

The proposed action would subject the WINSTON CHURCHILL to no more than four explosive charges, 10,000 pounds each, while monitoring the effects on the ship. The EIS will thoroughly address reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, the existing environments of the proposed test areas, and the impact to the environment at those areas. Mayport, Florida, Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Norfolk, Virginia were chosen initially for evaluation because they effectively meet the operational criteria necessary to conduct a shock trial on a surface combatant. These criteria include: Water depth of at least 600 feet; geographic location; proximity to a Naval Station, Ship Repair Facility, Military Airbase, Ordnance Loading Station, naval ships and aircraft; sea traffic; weather and sea state; and personnel tempo requirements. The proposed shock trial is scheduled to occur over a consecutive period of four weeks between May 1, and September 1, 2001.

The EIS will analyze impacts of the proposed action on air and water quality, marine life (including marine mammals and endangered and threatened species), commercial fishing and shipping, recreation, and economic and commercial resources.

DATES: The Navy will hold the following three public meetings in January 1999:

1. January 19, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; 2. January 20, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and 3. January 21, 1999, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

   ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at a location near each of the proposed test areas:

1. January 19, 1999, at Granby High School, 7101 Granby Road, Norfolk, Virginia. 2. January 20, 1999, at Fair Hall at Jackson County Fairgrounds, Corner of Shortcut and Hospital Road, Pascagoula, Mississippi. 3. January 21, 1999, at Mayport Middle School, 2600 Mayport Road, Atlantic Beach, Florida.

   The meetings will be announced in local newspapers.

   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the public meeting. To be most helpful, comments should clearly describe specific issues or topics which the commentor believes the EIS should address. Written statements and/or questions regarding the scoping process should be mailed no later than February 1, 1999 to: Commanding Officer, Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (Attn: Mr. Will Sloger, Code 064WS), 2155 Eagle Drive, N. Charleston, South Carolina, telephone 843-802- 5797, FAX 843-802-7472.

   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A brief presentation will precede the request for public comment. Navy representatives will be available at this meeting to receive comments from the public regarding issues of concern. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies, and interested individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental concerns that should be addressed during the preparation of the EIS. In the interest of available time, each speaker will be asked to limit oral comments to five minutes.

   Dated: December 14, 1998. Ralph W. Corey, Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

   [FR Doc. 98-33569Filed12-17-98; 8:45 am]

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