The Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) took another step forward Sept. 15 when the Navy published a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) regarding proposed actions at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF).
SIOP is a 20-year investment plan for infrastructure needed to improve shipyard operations and performance. This environmental statement will analyze the potential environmental effects associated with the construction and operation of a submarine dry-dock replacement and a waterfront production facility at the shipyard. The notice of intent is available on the Federal Register (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/15/2020-19961/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact-statement-for-a-submarine-dry-dock-and).
Part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor‐Hickam, PHNSY & IMF is on the south side of the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The proposed shipyard projects would provide required capability for depot-level maintenance on current and future classes of attack submarines, as part of the Navy's fleet maintenance mission.
The Navy initiated a 35-day public-scoping process from Sept. 15 - Oct. 19. This process will identify community interests and receive comments on the scope of the EIS and the potential impact of actions to historic properties pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Public involvement and input are also fundamental to developing the Navy’s EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navy is providing two web-based platforms for the public to learn about the proposed action and provide comments. All scoping comments are due by 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) Oct. 19.
The two web-based platforms include the following:
- A virtual open house. The virtual open house will be available at www.PearlHarborDryDockEISOpenHouse.org from 12 a.m. (HST) Sept. 15 to 11:59 p.m. (HST) Oct. 19. The virtual open house will present an overview of the proposed action, preliminary alternatives, the NEPA process, and the Section 106 process. The public can use this website to electronically submit comments on the scope of the EIS and identify specific environmental concerns or topics for consideration in the document.
- A virtual public scoping meeting. The virtual public scoping meeting will be held Sept. 29, 4:30 - 6 p.m. (HST) as an additional means to learn about the proposed action. The Navy will provide a live virtual presentation and question-and-answer session on the overall project, followed by resource-specific breakout sessions from 6 - 7 p.m. (HST). Information concerning the virtual public scoping meeting and resource-specific breakout sessions time and web location is available on the EIS website at: www.PearlHarborDryDockEIS.org.
The Navy’s four public shipyards—Norfolk Naval Shipyard; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility; and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility—are essential elements of our national defense. SIOP is a comprehensive approach to address necessary infrastructure improvements at the naval shipyards, “out-of the-box” solutions to rapidly update infrastructure with a focus on increasing efficiency.
In its February 2018 report to Congress, the Navy outlined a strategy for the optimal placement of facilities and major equipment at each naval shipyard. This included a 20-year investment plan for infrastructure needed to improve shipyard operations and performance. The plan focuses on three major areas for each shipyard:
- Dry-dock recapitalization.
- Facility layout and optimization.
- Capital equipment modernization.