Scoping Process
The public involvement process for the EIS for Laurelwood Housing Area Access began with the publication of the
Notice of Intent
in the Federal Register on November 9, 2007. Additionally, an announcement of the public scoping open house was printed in the Asbury Park Press on November 9, 2007. This
announcement
also appeared in the newspaper on the day of the public scoping open house that was held on November 27, 2007 at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey. A Press Release was also sent to interested parties.
Scoping can be undertaken using various methods. An open house scoping meeting was conducted to present information about the proposed action to the public and to receive comments. This open house meeting was the first opportunity for the Navy to receive comments from the public about issues and concerns that should be evaluated in the EIS. The Navy did not make a presentation of the proposed action for attendees. Rather, there was a number of information stations manned by representatives from NWS Earle and other Navy EIS team members. This format allowed the public to review the process and provide their input directly to EIS team members. In addition to being able to talk to EIS team members, the public had a chance to view information displays, which described the EIS process, the proposed action, the alternatives that the Navy evaluated, and the environmental issues discussed in the EIS. There was an area where the public could provide hand written or electronic comments on issues they felt needed to be evaluated in the EIS. Items presented at the scoping meeting maybe downloaded and viewed below.
Public Review and Comment Period
The
Notice of Availability
of the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register (FR Doc. E8–28327) on November 28, 2008 and the
Asbury Park Press
, marking the beginning of the public comment period. The Draft EIS was provided to interested parties and made available via this website. A notice of the public hearing was published in the Asbury Park Press the day of the public hearing, which was held on December 16, 2008 at the Performing Arts Center of the Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. An open house session was held from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM where attendees could discuss the Draft EIS with Navy representatives and receive comments. The public hearing took place between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Comments received at the public hearing and throughout the formal comment period have been addressed in the Final EIS. The formal comment period was extended to January 23, 2009 at the request of several members of the public and announced in the
Federal Register
(FR Doc. E8–30937).
In addition to hosting an open house and public hearing for the Draft EIS, the Commanding Officer and staff of NWS Earle provided briefings of the proposed action to New Jersey Congressman Christopher Smith on December 16, 2009 and the Director of the New Jersey Department of Homeland Security on February 3, 2009.
Availability of Final EIS
The Notice of Availability of the Final EIS was published in the Federal Register and the Asbury Park Press on April 10, 2009. The Final EIS was provided to interested parties and made available via this website. The waiting period for the FEIS ended on May 11, 2009, or 30 days after publication of the Notice of Weekly Receipts in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Navy signed the Record of Decision on May 22, 2009. The Record of Decision is available on this website here.
Please contact Laurelwood EIS Project Manager, NAVFAC Atlantic, Code EV21 KGB, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, LRA Building A, Norfolk, VA 23508, with further questions about the proposal.
This website will be continuously updated throughout the EIS process. Please check back periodically for more information.
Notices:
Notice of Intent
Scoping Open House Announcement
Notice of Intent News Release
Federal Register Notice of DEIS Public Hearing
Federal Register Notice Extending Comment Period
Asbury Park Press Public Hearing Announcement
Federal Register Final EIS Notice of Availability
Asbury Park Press Final EIS Notice of Availability
Asbury Park Press ROD Notice of Availability
Federal Register ROD Notice of Availability
Scoping Materials:
Fact Sheets:
Scoping Open House Posters
Thank You Letter from CAPT Maynard 28 November 2007
Public Comment Period/Hearing Materials:
Written Comment Sheet
Public Hearing Open House Posters
Public Hearing Open House Fact Sheet
Important Information about the Public Hearing
801 Housing FAQs