Funds Approved For Sub Facility Navy Wants To Use $7.15 Million For Two New Buildings And Other Work
The U.S. Senate approved a $7.15 million expansion of the Navy submarine test facility at Lake Pend Oreille in a 92-6 vote Thursday and sent the measure to the White House.
Coincidentally, the Navy held a public hearing at Bayview on Thursday evening, taking comments from Gov. Phil Batt’s staff and the general public on the project.
The Navy wants to consolidate its operations, erecting two new buildings, constructing a pier and log boom and replacing its hazardous-waste storage facility.
Some of the buildings on the Navy property in Bayview would be demolished to make room for the construction.
The parking area also would be increased and the main gate would be moved to provide better security and traffic movement. One plan involves purchasing Bayview Public Park.
The Navy facility employs 149 people. The expansion will add approximately 40 construction jobs for two years and 20 permanent positions, according to the governor’s office.
Batt asked that the federal government provide money for improvements at the Bayview facility while negotiating an agreement to store nuclear waste temporarily at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.
Money for the Bayview expansion was approved as part of a defense authorization bill the Senate approved Thursday. If the bill is signed by President Clinton, construction will begin next spring.
The spending measure also includes $9.4 million for Mountain Home (Idaho) Air Force Base and $1.5 million for the Idaho Air National Guard unit in Boise.
The Navy tests its submarine acoustic technology at its Bayview facility using model submarines. The pier will be used to launch the models, which are battery-driven.
The purpose of Thursday’s hearing was to collect comments on a draft environmental impact statement for the project. Copies of the statement are available at the Bayview Community Center, Kootenai County public libraries, the East Bonner County Library and the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
Written comments can be submitted until Sept. 23.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Susan Drumheller Staff writer Staff writer Ken Olsen contributed to this report.