NEPA Process and Community Involvement

Where does the Navy train in Alaska?

The Alaska Training Areas (ATA) offer the U.S. Navy a unique combination of attributes that make it a strategically important training venue. Among these attributes are the size of the training areas, their proximity to other military forces, and the unique oceanographic and environmental conditions of the ocean areas. Within the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), the Navy trains in the Temporary Maritime Activities Area (TMAA) to prepare its Sailors to defend our nation and work with other armed forces in a joint training environment. The Navy also conducts air activities in established U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army inland ranges. To comprehensively evaluate potential environmental effects from current and future Navy activities in ATA, the Navy is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS).

Why is the Navy preparing an EIS/OEIS?

The Navy is preparing an EIS/OEIS to assess effects on the environment from current and ongoing Navy activities as well as from a potential increase in activities as the Navy plans for the future. The EIS/OEIS also gives the Navy the opportunity to review its procedures to ensure that the benefits of recent scientific and technological advances are applied toward minimizing environmental effects.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires federal agencies to examine the individual and cumulative, or additive, environmental effects of their activities. An EIS is a detailed public document that provides an assessment of the potential effects a federal action may have on the human, natural, or cultural environment.

The OEIS portion of the EIS/OEIS is being prepared to comply with U.S. Executive Order 12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions, of 1979. This order requires federal agencies to consider the potential effects of actions on the environment that is outside U.S. territorial waters. U.S. territorial waters extend out to 12 nautical miles from shore.

How can the community be involved?

Community involvement is a significant aspect in the development of an EIS/OEIS. The diagram below illustrates the steps of the NEPA process. The arrows indicate opportunities for the public and interested stakeholders to provide input as the document is developed.

NEPA Process flowchart

Scoping Meetings

The Navy held three open house style scoping meetings in Alaska to inform the public about the Proposed Action and to solicit public comment.

At each scoping meeting, informational poster stations and Navy project team representatives provided the public with an opportunity to learn more about the NEPA process, Navy training, the Proposed Action, the Navy’s environmental stewardship programs, and protective measures for marine resources. Government agencies, organizations, and the public submitted comments at the scoping meetings and during the public comment period. The Navy has considered each of the comments received and addressed them in the Draft EIS/OEIS. In addition, a summary of the comments can be viewed in Table 1-1 of the Draft EIS/OEIS.

When and where were the public hearings held?

To encourage public input, the Navy held public hearings for the Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities EIS/OEIS. Five public hearings were held to inform the public about the Navy’s Proposed Action and to obtain written and oral comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS for consideration in the final document. The dates for the public hearings were as follows:

Kodiak High School Cafeteria
722 Mill Bay Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
Thursday, January 7, 2010
5:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m
Fairview Recreation Center Main Gymnasium
1121 East 10th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Friday, January 8, 2010
5:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m
West Homer Elementary School Gymnasium
995 Soundview Avenue
Homer, AK 99603
Saturday, January 9, 2010
5:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m
Juneau Arts & Culture Center Main Hall
350 Whittier Street
Juneau, AK 99801
Monday, January 11, 2010
5:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m
Orca Adventure Lodge Meeting Room & Cafe
2500 Orca Road
Cordova, AK 99574
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
5:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m

Each public hearing began with an open-house information session from 5-7 p.m. This provided the public an opportunity to meet with Navy subject matter experts and learn more about the Draft EIS/OEIS. A formal presentation and public comment period were held from 7-9 p.m. The Navy welcomed the public's comments during this time.

Where can I find more information?

The Navy has established this Web site that makes it easy to find more information about the project. The Web site also provides background information on environmental topics referenced in project documents. The Draft version of the Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities EIS/OEIS is posted on this web site.

The public may also review project information and environmental documents related to the Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities EIS/OEIS by visiting any of the following information repository locations:

A. Holmes Johnson Memorial Library
319 Lower Mill Bay Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
Alaska State Library
Government Documents
333 Willoughby Ave., 8th Floor
Juneau, AK 99811
Copper Valley Community Library
Mile 186 Glenn Highway
Glennallen, AK 99588
Homer Public Library
500 Hazel Ave.
Homer, AK 99603
Cordova Public Library
622 First St.
Cordova, AK 99574
Seward Community Library
238 Fifth Ave.
Seward, AK 99664
University of Alaska Fairbanks Rasmussen Library
Government Documents
310 Tanana Loop
Fairbanks, AK 99775
Z.J. Loussac Library
Government Documents
3600 Denali St.
Anchorage, AK 99503

How can I comment on this EIS/OEIS?

The comment period ended on January 25, 2010. The third opportunity for public comment is a 30-day review and comment period following issuance of the final EIS/OEIS, which has addressed all comments received on the draft EIS.