The U.S. Navy has prepared a Supplement to the Northwest Training and Testing Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which is available for public review and comment from now until Feb. 2, 2015. Four open-house meetings will be held the week of Jan. 12 to inform the public about the Navy's findings in the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS, to answer questions, and to solicit public comments on the Supplement. Comments can be submitted online at the project website www.NWTTEIS.com, in person at a public meeting, or by mail. The notice is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Monday. Very Respectfully, Liane Nakahara Public Affairs Specialist Navy Region Northwest Desk: (360) 396-1630 Email: liane.nakahara[at]navy.mil ---------------------------------- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2014 Release # 14-021 Supplement to the Northwest Training and Testing Draft EIS is available for public review and comment SILVERDALE, Wash. - The U.S. Navy has prepared a Supplement to the Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS), which is available for public review and comment. Following publication of the Draft EIS/OEIS on Jan. 24, 2014, the Navy determined that updated training requirements would result in changes to the Proposed Action. This Supplement presents these changes and significant new information relevant to environmental concerns. The Navy invites you to comment on the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS. The changes presented in the Supplement include an updated requirement for increased use of sonobuoys during training in the Northwest Training Range Complex. The Supplement also addresses additional analysis related to assessing impacts of ongoing maritime security operations. The types of activities that were evaluated include maritime security escorts for Navy vessels such as Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines [SSBNs]. Unless specifically included in the Supplement, the activities and analyses of effects to resources described in the original Draft EIS/OEIS remain valid and are included by reference in the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS. Availability of the Supplement and Public Comment Period: The Navy is seeking public input on the accuracy and adequacy of the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS. The Supplement is available for public review online at www.NWTTEIS.com and at the following locations: Washington: . Everett Main Library . Gig Harbor Library . Jefferson County Library - Port Hadlock . Kitsap Regional Library - Poulsbo . Kitsap Regional Library - Sylvan Way (Bremerton) . Oak Harbor Public Library . Port Angeles Main Library . Port Townsend Public Library . Timberland Regional Library - Aberdeen . Timberland Regional Library - Hoquiam Oregon: . Astoria Public Library . Driftwood Public Library . Newport Public Library . Tillamook Main Library . Hatfield Marine Science Center Northern California: . Fort Bragg Branch Library . Humboldt County Public Library, Arcata Main Library . Humboldt County Public Library, Eureka Main Library . Redwood Coast Senior Center Southeastern Alaska: . Juneau Public Library, Downtown Branch . Ketchikan Public Library The Navy is accepting comments throughout the 45-day public comment period, from Dec. 19, 2014, to Feb. 2, 2015. All comments must be postmarked or received online by Feb. 2, 2015, in order to be considered in the Final EIS/OEIS. Written comments may be submitted via the project website at www.NWTTEIS.com, in person at a public meeting, or by mail to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest Attention: Ms. Kimberly Kler - NWTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203 Silverdale, WA 98315-1101 All public comments received during the original Draft EIS comment period (Jan. 24 -April 15, 2014) are still valid and are being considered in the development of the Final EIS. Public Meetings: Four open-house meetings will be held to inform the public about the Navy's findings in the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS, to answer questions, and to solicit public comments on the Supplement. Each public meeting will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Comments will be accepted throughout each meeting. The public meetings will be held at the following locations and times: Monday, Jan. 12, 2015 Poulsbo Fire Station Conference Room 911 NE Liberty Road Poulsbo, WA Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 Grays Harbor College, Hillier Union Building 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive Aberdeen, WA Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 Isaac Newton Magnet School Commons 825 NE Seventh St. Newport, OR Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 Eureka Public Marina, Wharfinger Building Great Room 1 Marina Way Eureka, CA Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations, please contact Liane Nakahara, Navy Region Northwest Public Affairs Specialist, at 360-396-1630 or liane.nakahara@navy.mil. NWTT Draft EIS/OEIS: In the NWTT Draft EIS/OEIS that was previously released, the Navy evaluated the potential environmental effects from military readiness training and testing activities conducted primarily within existing range complexes and testing ranges in the NWTT Study Area. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to ensure that the Navy accomplishes its mission to maintain, train and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. This mission is achieved in part by training and testing within the NWTT Study Area. The NWTT EIS/OEIS also supports the renewal of federal regulatory permits and authorizations for current training and testing activities and future activities requiring environmental analysis. The NWTT Study Area is composed of Navy training and testing range complexes, operating areas, testing facilities, and select Navy pierside locations in the Pacific Northwest. Aircraft training and testing activities that take place on or within established Navy airfields at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., or Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility Boardman, Ore., are not included in this NWTT EIS/OEIS. Visit the project website at www.NWTTEIS.com to learn more about the project. -USN-