CHIMACUM — The Navy will conduct a public meeting Tuesday on a proposal for changes at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor.
The Navy is proposing to construct a land-water interface and extend the service pier at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor in preparation for moving two nuclear-powered Seawolf Class submarines from Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton to the Bangor base.
The meeting will be at the Chimacum High School Commons, 91 West Valley Road.
An open house informational session will begin at 5 p.m. Navy representatives will provide information and answer questions about the proposed actions and the draft environmental impact statement.
A short presentation by the Navy will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a verbal comment session.
The Chimacum meeting will be followed Wednesday by one at North Kitsap High School Commons, 1780 N.E. Hostmark St., Poulsbo.
Public comment on the draft environmental impact statement for the project will be accepted through April 13.
Interface
The land-water interface would complete the perimeter of the Navy’s waterfront restricted area by constructing barrier structures at its northern and southern ends, the Navy said at www.nbkeis.com/lwi.
The structures would be either pile-supported piers or port security barriers, the Navy said.
They would connect the existing port security barrier on the water and the waterfront security enclave on land.
Pier extension
The Navy’s preferred alternative would extend the pier by 540 feet, making the total length of the service pier 1,040 feet, and build support facilities.
The 540-foot-long extension would accommodate a side-by-side berthing configuration for submarine maintenance.
The Navy said it prefers this plan, Alternative 2, in part because it would have fewer environmental impacts than the longer pier in Alternative 3.
Alternative 3 would extend the pier by 975 feet, making the entire service pier about 1,475 feet long, to allow two submarines to be berthed in an in-line configuration.
Copies of the draft EIS are available online at www.nbkeis.com/lwi.
They also are available at the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock; the Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St.; the Kitsap Regional Library offices in Poulsbo, Bremerton and Silverdale; and the Seattle Central Library.
Comments can be made at the public meeting, online at www.nbkeis.com/lwi, by email at nwnepa@navy.mil or by mail at Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Attn: Mr. Thomas Dildine, LWI/SPE EIS Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, Silverdale, WA 98315-1101.
