Navy drawing up EIS for new training and testing in Patuxent River

The Navy plans to formulate an environmental impact statement for military training and testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD.

The service made the announcement in a Federal Register notice published today that states the public could present relevant comments until April 1.

"The proposed action includes testing and training activities analyzed in the Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) December 1998 [Patuxent River Complex] Final [environmental impact statement] and subsequent Environmental Assessments, plus adjustments to current testing and training activities required to support projected Navy military readiness requirements into the foreseeable future," the notice reads.

The Navy also plans to host a series of "public scoping meetings" from March 4 through 7.

"The Navy invites public comments on the scope of the analysis, including potential environmental issues and viable alternatives to be considered during the development of the Draft EIS," the notice continues.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the government must compile an EIS to evaluate how an action would influence the environment.