The U.S. Navy invites the public to attend public meetings to learn more about the Supplement to the Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS). The Navy prepared the Supplement to evaluate the potential environmental effects of additional military readiness training activities resulted from recently updated training requirements.
Public Meetings:
Four open-house meetings will be held to inform the public about the Navy’s findings in the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS, to answer questions, and to solicit public comments on the Supplement. Each public meeting will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Comments will be accepted throughout each meeting. The public meetings will be held at the following locations and times:
Monday, Jan. 12, 2015
Poulsbo Fire Station Conference Room
911 NE Liberty Road
Poulsbo, WA
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015
Grays Harbor College, Hillier Union Building
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Aberdeen, WA
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015
Isaac Newton Magnet School Commons
825 NE Seventh St.
Newport, OR
Friday, Jan. 16, 2015
Eureka Public Marina, Wharfinger Building Great Room
1 Marina Way
Eureka, CA
Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations, please contact Liane Nakahara, Navy Region Northwest Public Affairs Specialist, at 360-396-1630 or liane.nakahara@navy.mil.
Availability of the Supplement and Public Comment Period:
The Navy is seeking public input on the accuracy and adequacy of the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS. The Supplement is available for public review online atwww.NWTTEIS.com and at the following locations:
Washington:
. Everett Main Library
. Gig Harbor Library
. Jefferson County Library – Port Hadlock
. Kitsap Regional Library – Poulsbo
. Kitsap Regional Library – Sylvan Way (Bremerton)
. Oak Harbor Public Library
. Port Angeles Main Library
. Port Townsend Public Library
. Timberland Regional Library – Aberdeen
. Timberland Regional Library – Hoquiam
Oregon:
. Astoria Public Library
. Driftwood Public Library
. Newport Public Library
. Tillamook Main Library
. Hatfield Marine Science Cente
Northern California:
. Fort Bragg Branch Library
. Humboldt County Public Library, Arcata Main Library
. Humboldt County Public Library, Eureka Main Library
. Redwood Coast Senior Center
Southeastern Alaska:
. Juneau Public Library, Downtown Branch
. Ketchikan Public Library
The Navy is accepting comments throughout the 45-day public comment period, from Dec. 19, 2014, to Feb. 2, 2015. All comments must be postmarked or received online by Feb. 2, 2015, for consideration in the Final EIS/OEIS. Written comments may be submitted via the project website at www.NWTTEIS.com, in person at the public meetings or by mail to:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest
Attention: Ms. Kimberly Kler – NWTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager
1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203
Silverdale, WA 98315-1101
All public comments received during the original Draft EIS comment period (Jan. 24 – April 15, 2014) are still valid and are being considered in the development of the Final EIS.
Supplement to the NWTT Draft EIS/OEIS:
Following publication of the Draft EIS/OEIS on Jan. 24, 2014, the U.S. Navy determined that updated training requirements would result in changes to the Proposed Action. The purpose of this Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS is to present these changes and significant new information relevant to environmental concerns.
These changes include an updated requirement for increased use of sonobuoys during training in the Northwest Training Range Complex. The supplement also addresses additional analysis related to assessing impacts of ongoing maritime security operations. The types of activities that were evaluated include maritime security escorts for Navy vessels such as Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines [SSBNs]. Unless specifically included in the Supplement, the activities and analyses of effects to resources described in the original Draft EIS/OEIS remain valid and are included by reference in the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS.
In the NWTT Draft EIS/OEIS that was previously released, the Navy evaluated the potential environmental effects from military readiness training and testing activities conducted primarily within existing range complexes and testing ranges in the NWTT Study Area.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to ensure that the Navy accomplishes its mission to maintain, train and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. This mission is achieved in part by training and testing within the NWTT Study Area. The NWTT EIS/OEIS also supports the renewal of federal regulatory permits and authorizations for current training and testing activities and future activities requiring environmental analysis.
Visit the project website at www.NWTTEIS.com to learn more about the project.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: There is an opportunity for media to speak with project personnel at 4:30 p.m. before each meeting. Media interested in attending or seeking further information should contact: Liane Nakahara, Navy Region Northwest Public Affairs Specialist, 360-396-1630 (office) or 360-340-5372 (cell).
