PUBLIC NOTICES

EARLY NOTICE AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A FLOODPLAIN - Okahumpka, FL

Pursuant to Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, the United States Department of the Navy (Navy) gives notice that the Navy is conducting an evaluation of a proposed action, which may involve maintenance and demolition in a floodplain to determine the potential effects that its activity in the floodplain would have on the human environment. The Navy will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the action in the floodplain and the potential impacts on the floodplain from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988.

The proposed action is to perform maintenance and repairs of facilities at Bugg Spring (Okahumpka), FL. The project involves the repair of the hoist rail and supporting steel on the floating crane barge; replace four steel pontoons with poly pontoons on a floating walkway; Repair and de-water approximately 10 poly pontoons on the barge to correct the listing of the crane barge; Demolition of a loading dock structure, Building 41; Repair asphalt near loading ramp to eliminate a safety hazard; Repair a portion of the asphalt loading area. As required by EO 11988, a more detailed description of the proposed action is available below.

There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplain and wetlands and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain and wetlands, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate impacts. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplain and wetlands can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplain and wetlands, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Interested parties may submit written comments no later than 5 P.M. (EST) on December 5, 2023, by email to erik.s.anderson22.civ@us.navy.mil or by mail postmarked no later than December 5, 2023, to:

NSA Orlando
Erik Anderson, Public Affairs, Environmental, NAVFAC SE
NAS JACKSONVILLE, NAVFAC SE EV
P.O. Box 30A, BDLG 919
NAS Jacksonville, FL 32212-0030

EARLY NOTICE AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A FLOODPLAIN PDF

FINAL NOTICE AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A FLOODPLAIN - AGUADA FACILITY

Pursuant to Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, the United States Department of the Navy (Navy) gives notice that the Navy conducted an evaluation of a proposed action which involves construction in a floodplain to determine the potential effects that its activity in the floodplain would have on the human environment. The Navy identified the action must still occur in the floodplain and the proposed action includes all practicable measures to minimize harm to the floodplain environment.

The proposed action is to replace the aged and deteriorated Underground Storage Tank with two new double wall steel Aboveground Storage Tanks on concrete slabs at the Aguada Facility. During the 2022 Hurricane season, impacts to the site further damaged existing tank structure, but identified that existing tanks were under capacity, which led to negative mission interruptions and impacts. If Aguada was impacted in a similar capacity today they would most likely experience interruptions and negative impacts due to lack of fuel capacity and storage. The impact if the two new Aboveground Storage Tanks are not provided this critical antenna site will not be able to meet mission requirements during disruptions to regular fuel supply. Increasing fuel storage capacity increases the overall resiliency for continued mission operations. There are two locations being considered for the two new Aboveground Storage Tanks; however, other alternative locations may also be considered within the Installation’s fenced boundaries on previously developed and suitable land that will have no or minimal environmental impacts.

The Navy proposed the action in a floodplain because it is replacing existing equipment, which is already located within the boundaries of floodplains associated with the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Supporting documents:

Encl 1 - 1391 - May 1, 2023
Encl 2 - Site Location Maps Figure 1 and Figure 2
Encl 3 - PERS Aguada Tank Replacement September 28, 2023
Encl 4 - Early Public Notice - English and Spanish - August 11, 2023
Encl 5 - Final Public Notice English and Spanish - October 18, 2023
Encl 6 - Application for Certification of Consistency - August 21, 2023
Encl 7 - Federal Consistency Letter Application Complete - September 9, 2023
Encl 8 - Signed PR Fed Consistency Deter Letter CZ-2024-0825-021 - September 27, 2023

5090 CATEX - Aguada Tank Replacement - (English)

5090 CATEX - Aguada Tank Replacement (Spanish)

Public Review of a Proposed Activity in Wetlands - Olf Whitehouse

Pursuant to Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands, the United States Department of the Navy (Navy) gives notice that the Navy is conducting an evaluation of a proposed action, which may involve activity in a wetland to determine the potential effects that its activity would have on the human and natural environment. The Navy will consider whether there may be practicable alternatives to locating the action in the wetlands and the potential impacts from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11990.

The Navy at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida, proposes to top 46 trees between waist and shoulder height within approximately 51.61 acres of wetlands and remove all trees within approximately 72.88 acres of uplands. The trees encroach upon the transitional surface and clear zones of Runway 12, Runway 30, and Runway 12-30 located at NAS Jacksonville’s Outlying Landing Field (OLF) Whitehouse. Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 3-260-01, Section 3-15.3 states that trees projecting into the transitional surface must be removed or lowered to a distance below the surface as they pose a serious hazard to pilots operating within this area. As required by EO 11990, a more detailed description of the proposed action is available below.

There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities that will occur in wetlands and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative methods to serve the same project purpose and methods to minimize and mitigate impacts. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about wetlands can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in wetlands, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

PUBLIC REVIEW OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN WETLANDS

EARLY NOTICE AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A FLOODPLAIN

The proposed action is to replace the aged and deteriorated Underground Storage Tank with two new double wall steel Aboveground Storage Tanks on concrete slabs at the Aguada Facility. There are two locations being considered for the two new Aboveground Storage Tanks; however, other alternative locations may also be considered within the Installation’s fenced boundaries on previously developed and suitable land that will have no or minimal environmental impacts. A Project Site Location Map and a Potential Site Location Map for the Aboveground Storage Tanks are attached for reference. During the 2022 Hurricane season, impacts to the site further damaged existing tank structure, but identified that existing tanks were under capacity, which led to negative mission interruptions and impacts. If Aguada was impacted in a similar capacity today they would most likely experience interruptions and negative mission impacts due to lack of fuel capacity and storage. The Navy is proposing the action in a floodplain because it is replacing existing equipment, which is already located within the boundaries of floodplains associated with the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The impact if the two new Aboveground Storage Tanks are not provided is this critical antenna site will not be able to meet mission requirements during interruptions to regular fuel supply. Increasing fuel storage capacity increases the overall resiliency for continued mission operations.

There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplain and wetlands and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain and wetlands, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate impacts. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplain and wetlands can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplain and wetlands, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Interested parties may submit written comments no later than 5:00 PM on September 9, 2023 by email to wendy.s.dauberman-zerby.civ@us.navy.mil or by mail postmarked no later than September 9, 2023 to:

NAVFAC SE PWD NAS Jacksonville Environmental
Attn: Wendy Dauberman
PO Box 5, Building 27
Jacksonville, FL 32212

Final Public Notice for Aguada Tank Replacement - English

Final Public Notice for Aguada Tank Replacement - Spanish