The U.S. Navy has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction of a new dry dock and associated waterfront infrastructure improvements at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton and at NBK-Bangor.
To accommodate construction of the new dry dock, the Navy would need to demolish, replace, and/or construct other piers, wharves, moorings, cranes, buildings, and support facilities, per a news release. This would include demolishing the Hammerhead Crane and the shipfitter-welder shop that displays the “Puget Sound Naval Shipyard – Building on a Proud Tradition” signage on the side of the building.
The Navy would also need to relocate certain upland shipyard facilities and functions located in the footprint of the proposed construction site, to include building a new forge shop and expanding the Radio Hill complex at NBK-Bangor, per the release.
The Navy requests and welcomes public input on the environmental analysis presented in the draft EIS and on the project’s potential to affect historic properties pursuant to section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. In the draft EIS, the Navy is proposing to construct a new multi-mission dry dock that is capable of supporting Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers at the shipyard.
The Navy is proposing to build the dry dock to address critical deficiencies in dry dock capability, capacity, and seismic survivability at NBK-Bremerton, which would enable the shipyard to continue to meet its mission to support the Navy’s nuclear-powered fleet into the foreseeable future, the release says.
If the Navy decides to proceed with these projects at a later date, it will analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with those efforts in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act requirements and Department of Defense implementation policies.
Public involvement
The draft EIS is available for public review at BremertonWaterfrontImprovementsEIS.com and at Kitsap Regional Library’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. branch and Sylvan Way branch in Bremerton, as well as the Silverdale branch.
The Navy will host an open house public meeting Aug. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Marvin Williams Recreation Center, located at 725 Park Ave. in Bremerton. Navy representatives will be available to answer questions and provide further information about the proposed action and the environmental analysis.
The Navy is accepting feedback during a 45-day public comment period, which is open through Sept. 3. Comments can be submitted through the following methods:
• At the public meeting: Provide comments in writing at the public meeting taking place Aug. 7
• Submit comments via the project website: BremertonWaterfrontImprovementsEIS.com
• Email comments to: info@BremertonWaterfrontImprovementsEIS.com
• Mail comments to: Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Northwest, Attention: Bremerton EIS Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Room 210, Silverdale, WA 98315.
Comments must be postmarked or submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 3 to be considered in the development of the final EIS.
