NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the U.S. Navy, working in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with a proposed military training airspace extension in northeastern Washington state.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based on the analysis presented in the Final EA; consideration of public comments received on the Draft EA and potential impacts on historic properties; and in coordination with the FAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State Historic Preservation Office, and federally recognized tribes, the Navy has determined that implementation of its Preferred Alternative (Alternative 1) would not significantly impact the quality of the human or natural environment. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared.
The Final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact documents can be downloaded from the project website at https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/NWNEPA, and printed versions of the documents are available at the following libraries:
- Colville Public Library, 195 S. Oak St., Colville, WA 99114
- Oak Harbor Public Library, 1000 SE Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
- Okanogan Public Library, 228 Pine St., Okanogan, WA 98840
- Oroville Public Library, 1276 Main St., Oroville, WA 98844
- Twisp Public Library, 201 Methow Valley Highway #1, Twisp, WA 98856
- Winthrop Public Library, 112 Norfolk Road, Winthrop, WA 98862
The documents are also available upon request by contacting:
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Northwest
Attention: Code EV23
1101 Tautog Circle
Silverdale, WA 98315
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action includes the establishment of new military training airspace by the FAA adjacent and west of existing military airspace and would include the redistribution of where current training flights occur within the overall airspace. The total area of the proposed airspace extension would be approximately 393 square nautical miles.
The Navy’s Preferred Alternative (Alternative 1) does not include an increase in the number of flights, only an extension of the horizontal and vertical area and the redistribution of where training flights occur within the overall airspace.
The Navy is committed to a transparent and thorough Environmental Assessment review process. Please help the Navy inform the community about the availability of the Final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact by sharing this information.
For more information, visit https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/NWNEPA.
