Announcements
Notice of Availability
The Department of the Navy Adopts the Department of the Air Force Environmental Assessment for Eastern Range Planning and Infrastructure Development, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida and Submits Final FONSI for the Naval Ordnance Test Unit (NOTU) Engineering Test Facility at CCSFS
The Department of the Navy, Strategic Systems Programs, has adopted the United States Air Force Environmental Assessment (EA) for Eastern Range Planning and Infrastructure Development, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida, to meet National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Navy NEPA policy requirements for construction of the Naval Ordnance Test Unit (NOTU) Engineering Test Facility (ETF) at CCSFS by evaluating the potential environmental impacts from clearing and construction activities. The Navy announces the availability of the Final Air Force EA, Air Force Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONPA) and Navy FONSI.
The Air Force EA evaluated the potential impacts to the human and natural environment associated with a wide range of proposed infrastructure improvements at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida. Infrastructure improvements included construction of new, state-of-the-art launch support and research and testing facilities and demolition of outdated assets. The NOTU Engineering Test Facility (ETF) was included in the EA as a proposed project. The Navy’s Proposed Action consists of constructing a 245,000 square foot facility that will include offices and laboratories to support testing and research and development requirements for the TRIDENT II (D5) missile testing program. Site preparation will include clearing brush and other native plant material, earthwork, paving, and demolition of existing roadways to allow development of parking areas, roads, concrete pedestrian walkways, retaining walls and landscaping. The No Action Alternative was also evaluated as a requirement of NEPA to serve as a baseline from which to analyze the effects of not implementing the action.
Supported by the information and environmental analysis presented in the EA, the Air Force and Navy were able to decide whether to complete the Proposed Action or to select the No Action Alternative. The Final EA evaluated several environmental/resource categories within the affected environment that potentially could be impacted to provide decision makers with sufficient information to plan and make informed decisions on the Proposed Action. The Air Force and Navy have determined that the activities associated with the Proposed Action would not result in significant impacts to the human and natural environment and have developed their respective FONSI documents.
The Final EA, Air Force FONSI, Navy FONSI, and other supporting documents are available on the Navy’s NEPA Projects website at https://www.nepa.navy.mil/ETF-EA