UPDATE:  The 31-day public scoping period for PCH Area Reutilization Project’s Environmental Assessment closed on July 31, 2022.  Navy staff have now started work on the Environmental Assessment itself.  Currently, a draft Environmental Assessment is scheduled to be ready for public review and comment in the spring of 2023.  

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the U.S. Navy is preparing an Environmental Assessment to analyze the potential impacts of changed use at and/or redevelopment of a portion of Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach (NWSSB), California.
 
The portion of Navy property is located on NWSSB northeast of the Pacific Coast Highway and the Seal Beach Boulevard intersection in the community of Seal Beach, California.
 
At this beginning stage of the process, the Navy has not yet made a determination on future uses of the property.  The Navy will use the Environmental Assessment to help determine potential future options for property use, and no final decision will be made until all environmental documentation is complete. 

The Navy is requesting public input at the earliest stage of the NEPA process to ensure that community concerns are considered and appropriately addressed. The public can participate by helping to identify environmental issues and potential additional viable alternatives to be analyzed in the Environmental Assessment.
 
Public comments for the scoping phase must be submitted by the close of the public comment period on July 31, 2022. All timely and substantive comments will be considered in preparation of the Draft Environmental Assessment.

NWSSB is the primary munitions installation for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) surface ships. Its primary role is to store and maintain Navy and Marine Corps munitions, such as missiles, torpedoes, and gun ammunition, and to load and unload Navy ships and larger Coast Guard vessels with the munitions they need to conduct their missions.
 
Under the Proposed Action, the Navy would optimize use of up to approximately 28.89 acres of non-excess, underutilized federal property located northeast of the Pacific Coast Highway and the Seal Beach Boulevard intersection. The site would include two adjacent parcels: Site 1 is 9.27 acres in size and parallels Seal Beach Boulevard; Site 2 is 19.61 acres in size and abuts PCH.

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to optimize the use of the Pacific Coast Highway site by promoting mission sustainment and quality of life improvements for NWSSB personnel, their dependents, and potentially the local community.
 
The need for the Proposed Action is to ensure the fullest possible use of non-excess, underutilized federal property.

During development of the Environmental Assessment (EA), the Navy will evaluate a Proposed Action and several alternatives for potentially accomplishing it. The public can participate in the process by helping to identify issues and potential alternatives.
 
As part of its Environmental Assessment, the Navy anticipates including analysis of a potential lease of Navy property (under the leasing authority provided under United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 2667) on the northeast corner of the Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard intersection consisting of two sites. Site 1 (9.27 acres) and Site 2 (19.61 acres).
 
The Environmental Assessment will focus on resource areas that may potentially be impacted. The public is encouraged to provide input on these and other resource areas: Land use and coastal zone management; traffic and circulation; visual resources; biological resources; utilities; noise; cultural resources; topography, geology, and soils; air quality; water resources; and environmental justice/socioeconomics.

A 30-day public comment period will be open from June 30 – July 31, 2022.
 
All timely and substantive comments will be considered in preparation of the Draft Environmental Assessment.
 
There will be another public comment opportunity when the Draft Environmental Assessment is available for public review and comment, which is anticipated to be Spring 2023. An open house information session will be held at that time to inform the public about the Proposed Action and answer questions.
 
The Navy requests and welcomes your comments.  Written comments may be submitted by email to nwssbpao@us.navy.mil, or via postal mail to:
 
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest,
Attn: Amanda Peyton
750 Pacific Highway (12th Floor, Environmental)
San Diego, CA 92132-5190
 
Comments must be postmarked by July 31, 2022. All comments submitted by the due date will be considered in preparation of the Draft EA.

Download the Project Fact Sheet (PDF version or Section 508 compliant version)

Contact the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Public Affairs Officer at 562-626-7215 or nwssbpao@us.navy.mil.