December 8, 2023 –
The Navy has completed the Environmental Assessment (EA) for homeporting of the Columbia Class submarines at Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay, and has determined that implementation of the Proposed Action (Action Alternative) will not significantly impact the quality of the human or natural environment. Therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required, and the Navy has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The EA and the FONSI are on file and interested parties may obtain copies by downloading the EA and the FONSI from the project website: https://www.nepa.navy.mil/Columbia-Class/
The Navy plans to establish facilities and functions at Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay to support the homeporting of Columbia Class submarines as replacements for the retiring Ohio Class submarines currently homeported at NSB Kings Bay. Under the Proposed Action, the Navy will construct eight facilities, modify five facilities, and demolish three facilities across three locations on NSB Kings Bay. Facility changes and development activities would be phased over a period of five years and completed coincident to the arrival of the first Columbia Class submarines in 2028. The Proposed Action does not modify any existing dry-docks or conduct any in-water activity.
During the fiscal year (FY) 2028–2042 transition period from the Ohio Class to the Columbia Class and at completion, the Columbia Class Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs) will be phased in as the Ohio Class SSBNs are phased out. Thus, total numbers of submarines homeported at NSB Kings Bay during this time will not exceed the number of Ohio Class SSBNs currently homeported at the base. Considering facility sustainment and planning efforts, the support operations and personnel numbers associated with the Columbia Class SSBNs are projected to be comparable to those associated with the Ohio Class SSBNs.
Maintenance activities associated with the Columbia Class SSBNs will occur at the NSB Kings Bay Dry Dock as they do for the Ohio Class SSBNs, and the transition of submarine class would not result in any changes to existing pier side activities. The Proposed Action did not include submarine movements to offshore military operating areas. Submarine movement, as well as training and testing activities, will be evaluated separately in the upcoming Phase IV Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement.
Personnel numbers associated with the facilities and functions of the Proposed Action are also not anticipated to increase. Therefore, the Proposed Action will not increase the number of personnel employed at NSB Kings Bay, although an increase in temporary workers will result during the demolition, modification, and construction of 16 facilities and various functions scheduled for completion in 2028.
The environmental resource areas analyzed in the EA include air quality, water resources, cultural resources, biological resources, and hazardous materials and wastes. Because potential impacts were considered to be negligible or nonexistent, the following resource areas were not evaluated in detail in the EA: land use, visual resources, geological resources, transportation, public health and safety, utilities and infrastructure, socioeconomics, and environmental justice and protection of children.