SILVERDALE — The U.S. Navy has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the second Explosives Handling Wharf at Naval Base Kitsap at Bangor.

The completion of this Final EIS follows several years of research, analysis and public involvement, including three public scoping meetings, publication of a Draft EIS, three public hearings, and publication of a Supplement to the Draft EIS.

Potential environmental effects of the proposed action are evaluated in the Final EIS. Five action alternatives and a no-action alternative were evaluated. The preferred alternative has combined trestles and a large pile wharf. Other action alternatives include combined trestles and a small pile wharf; separate trestles with a large pile wharf, separate trestles with a small pile wharf, and combined trestles with a floating wharf.

The Final EIS can be viewed at the project website at www.nbkeis.com/ehw/.

The Final EIS addresses changes in the proposed action since publication of the Draft EIS and the Supplement to the Draft EIS. The document also incorporates additional environmental analysis in response to issues raised by the public, agencies and tribal governments during the public review periods for the Draft EIS (March 18, 2011 through May 17, 2011) and the Supplement to the Draft EIS (Oct. 7, 2011 through Nov. 21, 2011).

The Final EIS was filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Notice of Availability appeared in the Federal Register on March 30.

Council of Environmental Quality Regulations provide for a 30-day wait period after the Final EIS is published before the agency may take final action. The wait period is an opportunity for the Navy and the public to review the document.

After the 30-day wait period is completed, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations & Environment) will make a decision on the alternative to be implemented, which will be documented in the Record of Decision.

The Record of Decision will include responses to substantive comments, if any, not already addressed in the Final EIS. Any comments postmarked or received by April 30 will become part of the official record:

Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest1101 Tautog CircleAttn: Ms. Christine Stevenson — EIS Project ManagerSilverdale, WA 98315-1101