FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE 25-10 19 August 2010 NAVY ASKS FOR PUBLIC INPUT AT OPEN HOUSE SCOPING MEETINGS The Navy is holding public meetings to gather public input for the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) which will evaluate potential environmental effects associated with training and testing activities in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, the lower Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Navy initiated the scoping process to identify community concerns and issues for analysis in the EIS/OEIS. The Navy seeks the public's involvement and input which are a fundamental part of the Navy's EIS/OEIS development. As part of the public participation process, the Navy has planned meetings to obtain public input on the scope of the EIS. The AFTT region covers approximately 2.6 million square nautical miles and encompasses the at-sea portions of Navy range complexes and research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) ranges along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. With the exception of the lower Chesapeake Bay, inland waters and land-based portions of these range complexes and RDT&E ranges are not a part of the AFTT region and will not be analyzed. Piers and channels at existing Navy ports, Navy shipyards and contractor shipyards in the AFTT region where Navy ship and submarine sonar maintenance and testing occur are also included in the AFTT EIS/OEIS. Please refer to attached map. The public is encouraged to attend the Navy's open-house style scoping meetings for additional information about the proposed action and to provide written and oral comments on concerns to be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. The public may arrive any time during the open house. There will be no formal presentation; however, Navy experts will be on hand to answer questions about the proposed action and general inquiries about the NEPA process. All written comments must be postmarked or received during the comment period to be considered in the Draft EIS/OEIS process. Written comments must be postmarked by Sept. 14 and mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic ATTN: AFTT EIS/OEIS PM - Code EV22LL 6506 Hampton Boulevard Norfolk, VA 23508-1278 Comments may also be submitted online at www.AFTTEIS.com or at one of five open house scoping meetings being held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the following locations: Monday, August 23, 2010: Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. Wednesday, August 25, 2010: Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, Va. Thursday, August 26, 2010: Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City, N.C. Tuesday, August 31, 2010: The Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, 1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 1, 2010: Gulf Coast Community College, 5230 West Highway 98, Panama City, Fla. -USN- NOTE: Media interested in attending any of the scoping meetings or in need of additional information should contact Ms. Julie Ann Ripley, Environmental Media Officer at U.S. Fleet Forces Command at (757) 836-4423 or (910) 381-8385. Media are asked to arrive one-half hour prior to the start of the meeting and are welcome to remain following any interviews. VR/ Julie Ann Ripley US Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs Environmental Media O 757 836 4423 F 757 836 3601 julie.a.ripley@navy.mil julie.a.ripley@navy.smil.mil