Announcements

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Naval Base Coronado Coastal Campus proposal available for Public Review: U.S. Navy invites Public Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 25, 2014 7:44:18 AM PDT

Naval Base Coronado, Calif. - On July 25th, the U.S. Navy published a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register to announce the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Public Meetings on the Draft EIS for the Naval Base Coronado Coastal Campus proposal.  The Draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental effects of developing an academic campus on Naval Base Coronado (NBC) to support operational readiness of Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) personnel.  There will be a 60-day Public Comment Period and Public Open House Meetings so that citizens may learn about details of the plan.  The final EIS is currently planned to be announced in the Federal Register during March 2015.

 "A growing demand for more Special Operations Forces has resulted in Congress mandating personnel growth and increased training and operational readiness requirements for the Naval Base Coronado (NBC) tenant, Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC),” said a Navy spokesman.

Many NSWC facilities on NBC are functionally obsolete and would not meet requirements.  The proposed NBC Coastal Campus is needed due to the lack of sufficient facilities and space to support NSWC’s administrative, operations, logistics and community support and classroom and tactical instruction functions.  The purpose of this action is to (1) provide adequate facilities to support growth of NSWC on the West Coast and (2) maintain the required levels of operational readiness of special warfare forces as mandated by Congress.

There are three development alternatives evaluated in the EIS in addition to the no action alternative.  

Alternative 1 – Silver Strand Training Complex-South (SSTC-South) Bunker Demolition Alternative would consolidate NSWC facilities at one location at SSTC South.  This alternative would include design and construction of logistical support buildings, equipment use and maintenance training facilities, classroom and tactical skills instruction buildings, storage and administrative facilities, utilities, fencing, roads and parking.  A new controlled entry point would be provided for immediate access to/from State Route 75 and a historic bunker would be demolished to facilitate campus construction.

Alternative 2 – SSTC South Bunker Retention Alternative would include all the components of Alternative 1 within the same footprint but would include retention of a historic bunker, thereby resulting in a smaller developable footprint.

Alternative 3 – Multi-Installation Alternative would site necessary NSWC facilities at more than one location to include Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island, in addition to SSTC-South.  This alternative would include retention of the historic bunker similar to Alternative 2.  The proposed action does not include new training on the beach, in the air, or on or in the water.  The training needs in this project are equipment use and equipment maintenance training, classroom and tactical skills instruction, and physical training.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to examine the environmental effects of their proposed actions.  An EIS is a detailed public document that provides an assessment of the potential effects that a major Federal action might have on the human environment.  The Draft EIS analyzed potential environmental impacts of the proposed action, including land use and recreation, geology and soils, air quality, hazardous materials and waste, water quality and hydrology, noise, biological resources, cultural resources, traffic and circulation, socioeconomics and environmental justice, public health and safety, utilities and public services, coastal uses and resources, and aesthetics.

The Draft EIS is available for public review and comment for 60 days.  An electronic copy of the document can be accessed on the project website at www.NBCCoastalCampusEIS.com. Printed copies of the Draft EIS are also available at the following locations:

Coronado Public Library
640 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118

Imperial Beach Library
810 Imperial Beach Boulevard
Imperial Beach, CA 91932

City of San Diego
Central Library
330 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101

 Two public meetings have been scheduled:

 1.  August 13^th, 2014, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.,  Marina Vista Community Center, 1075 Eighth Street, Imperial Beach, California, 91932

 2.  August 14^th, 2014, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Winn Room, Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, California, 92118

These meetings will be conducted as open house sessions, offering members of the public the opportunity to ask questions of Navy representatives, as well as to provide written and/or oral comments on the Draft EIS

Comments may be submitted during the 60-day public comment period between July 25^th 2014 and September 22^nd, 2014.  Comments must be postmarked or received (online) no later than September 22^nd,  2014, to ensure consideration in the Final EIS. Written comments may be submitted online at the project website or mailed to:

Naval Base Coronado 
Coastal Campus EIS Project Manager, 
Attn: Ms. Teresa Bresler,  
2730 McKean Street, Bldg. 291, 
San Diego, California 92136.

The Navy has carefully studied the proposal for the Naval Base Coronado Coastal Campus and will continue to balance our military mission with concern for and protection of the environment and minimizing the impact of our operations on our neighbors.

-USN-

Naval Base Coronado
Public Affairs Office
Jon Nylander
(619) 545-8136