Environmental Assessment for Lease of Lighthouse Complex at Cape San Blas

The Air Force has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to analyze the potential for impacts as a result of the proposed Lease of the Lighthouse Complex at Cape San Blas (CSB), Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Gulf County, Florida. The EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S. Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508), and Air Force environmental impact analysis process (EIAP) (32 CFR Part 989). This Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) summarizes the results of the analyses documented in the EA. The discussion is focused on activities that have the potential to impact either the natural or the human environments, or both. The Lighthouse Complex at Cape San Blas currently consists of a lighthouse, an oil house, and two Keeper's Quarters (KQ). Gulf County proposes to lease these structures and the 1.82 acres of underlying land then sublease the property to the St Joseph Historical Society, Inc, which in tum will rehabilitate, maintain, and operate the property as a historic district/museum. The leased premises would initially include the oil house; KQ #2, which has received extensive rehabilitation by the Air Force; and KQ # 1, which is in need of comprehensive rehabilitation that the County will provide. Once the lighthouse and the land underlying it have been remediated of lead contamination, this area, too, shall be part of the leased premises. In addition to the existing structures, an 80 ft x 235 ft parking lot would be built on the leased area to accommodate school buses and staff and visitor parking; only a small portion, enough for two handicapped parking spots, would be paved. The Lighthouse Complex would be operated by Gulf County in accordance with an Operating Agreement between Gulf County and Eglin AFB.