80_FR_18450 80 FR 18385 - Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Joint Military Training

80 FR 18385 - Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Joint Military Training

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 65 (April 6, 2015)

Page Range18385-18386
FR Document2015-07729

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500-1508), Presidential E. O. 12114, Department of the Navy Procedures for Implementing NEPA (32 CFR part 775), and United States (U.S.) Marine Corps NEPA implementing regulations (Marine Corps Order P5090.2A), the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS). The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with the establishment of a series of live-fire ranges, training courses and maneuver areas in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to reduce existing joint service training deficiencies and meet U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Service Components' unfilled unit and combined level training requirements in the Western Pacific. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); National Marine Fisheries Service; U.S. Air Force; and U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs are cooperating agencies for this Draft EIS/OEIS. MARFORPAC has also developed a Memorandum of Understanding with the PACOM Service Components regarding their support and engagement in the development of the EIS/OEIS. With the filing of the Draft EIS/OEIS, the Department of Defense (DoD) is initiating a 60-day public comment period and has scheduled three public comment meetings to receive oral and written comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS. Federal, state and local agencies and interested parties are encouraged to provide comments in person at any of the public comment meetings, or in writing anytime during the public comment period. This Notice announces the dates and locations of the public meetings and provides supplementary information about the environmental planning effort.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18385-18386]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07729]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact 
Statement for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Joint 
Military Training

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, and regulations implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500-1508), 
Presidential E. O. 12114, Department of the Navy Procedures for 
Implementing NEPA (32 CFR part 775), and United States (U.S.) Marine 
Corps NEPA implementing regulations (Marine Corps Order P5090.2A), the 
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) has prepared and filed 
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS). 
The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the establishment of a series of live-fire ranges, 
training courses and maneuver areas in the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands (CNMI) to reduce existing joint service training 
deficiencies and meet U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Service Components' 
unfilled unit and combined level training requirements in the Western 
Pacific. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); International 
Broadcasting Bureau (IBB); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); 
National Marine Fisheries Service; U.S. Air Force; and U.S. Department 
of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs are cooperating agencies for 
this Draft EIS/OEIS. MARFORPAC has also developed a Memorandum of 
Understanding with the PACOM Service Components regarding their support 
and engagement in the development of the EIS/OEIS.
    With the filing of the Draft EIS/OEIS, the Department of Defense 
(DoD) is initiating a 60-day public comment period and has scheduled 
three public comment meetings to receive oral and written comments on 
the Draft EIS/OEIS. Federal, state and local agencies and interested 
parties are encouraged to provide comments in person at any of the 
public comment meetings, or in writing anytime during the public 
comment period. This Notice announces the dates and locations of the 
public meetings and provides supplementary information about the 
environmental planning effort.

DATES: Three public meetings will be held, each including an 
informational open house followed by a public hearing. Each meeting 
will begin with a two-hour open house session where the public can 
learn more about the proposed action and potential environmental 
impacts from project team members and subject matter experts. A public 
hearing will follow the open house. The public is encouraged to attend 
the meetings, which will be held on the following dates, times, and 
locations:
     Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m., Saipan 
Southern High School, Saipan
     Thursday, April 30, 2015, 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m., Tinian Junior 
Senior High School, Tinian
     Friday, May 1, 2015, 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m., Garapan Elementary 
School, Saipan
    Informational posters will be displayed and project team members 
and subject matter experts will be available during the open house 
portion of the meetings to discuss the proposed action, answer 
questions, and to accept written comments from the public. A Chamorro 
and Carolinian interpreter will be available. Oral comments will be 
recorded by a court reporter during the public hearing portion of the 
meetings. In the interest of available time, speakers at the public 
hearing will be limited to three (3) minutes to ensure all who wish to 
speak have an opportunity to do so. If a long statement is to be 
presented, it should be summarized at the public hearing and the full 
text submitted in writing. Full and equal consideration will be given 
to oral and written statements. Concurrent with the NEPA process, the 
DoD is conducting National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) section 106 
consultation regarding potential effects of the proposed action on 
historic properties. During each of the above meetings, the DoD will 
hold NHPA section 106 information sessions in a separate area where 
subject matter experts will explain the NHPA section 106 process and 
solicit public input on the effects of the proposed action on historic 
properties.
    Comments: Comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS may be submitted during 
the 60-day public comment period starting on April 3, 2015 Hawaii 
Standard Time (HST) (April 4, 2015 Chamorro Standard Time [ChST]). 
Comments should be postmarked or received by June 2, 2015 HST (June 3, 
2015 ChST). There are three ways to submit written comments: (1) 
providing comments at one of the public meetings; (2) submitting 
comments through the project Web site: 
www.CNMIJointMilitaryTrainingEIS.com; and (3) mailing comments to the 
following addresses: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, 
Attn: 09PA, Public Affairs Office, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, 
JBPHH, HI 96860-3134.
    The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to federal and local agencies, 
elected officials, and other interested individuals and organizations. 
The Draft EIS/OEIS is available for public review

[[Page 18386]]

at www.CNMIJointMilitaryTrainingEIS.com, and at the following 
libraries:
    1. Joeten Kiyu Public Library, Saipan.
    2. Northern Marianas College Olympio T. Borja Memorial Library, 
Saipan.
    3. Tinian Public Library, Tinian.
    4. Antonio C. Atalig Memorial Rota Public Library, Rota.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific issued 
its Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the EIS/OEIS in March 2013 in the 
Federal Register (78 FR 16257, March 14, 2013).
    Proposed Action: The proposed action is to establish live-fire 
Range Training Areas (RTAs) within the CNMI to address the U.S. Pacific 
Command Service Components' unfilled unit level and combined level 
training requirements in the Western Pacific. To meet the purpose and 
need for the proposed action, the DoD proposes a unit level RTA on 
Tinian and a combined level RTA on Pagan.
    Purpose and Need: The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce 
joint training deficiencies for military services in the Western 
Pacific. Existing U.S. military live-fire, unit and combined level 
training ranges, training areas, and support facilities are 
insufficient to support U.S. Pacific Command Service Components' 
training requirements in the Western Pacific, specifically in the 
Mariana Islands. The proposed action is needed to enable U.S. Pacific 
Command forces to meet their U.S. Code title 10 (Armed Forces) 
requirements to maintain, equip, and train combat and humanitarian 
forces in the Western Pacific. The proposed action assists in 
correcting these training deficiencies by establishing live-fire unit 
and combined level RTAs in the CNMI. Establishing unit and combined 
level RTAs in the CNMI would support ongoing operational requirements, 
changes to U.S. force structure, geographic repositioning of forces and 
U.S. training relationships with allied nations.
    Alternatives Considered: The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts of three action alternatives on Tinian, two 
action alternatives on Pagan, and the No Action Alternative. The No 
Action Alternative would continue existing non-live-fire training 
activities on Tinian and Pagan, and construction and use of four live 
fire training ranges on Tinian as identified in the 2010 Record of 
Decision for the Guam Relocation EIS. For the action alternatives, a 
combination of one Tinian unit level alternative and one Pagan combined 
level alternative is required to meet the purpose and need for 
addressing unfilled training requirements in the Western Pacific. All 
Tinian action alternatives include common elements for unit level land, 
sea, and training operations that consist of ranges, training beaches, 
High Hazard Impact Areas and associated targets, infrastructure and 
facility construction; utilization of all DoD-leased land; and minimal 
real estate interest outside the Military Lease Area. Tinian 
Alternative 1 consists of a live-fire unit level RTA which includes a 
single Battle Area Complex and Convoy Course with some limitations on 
the range of weapons that can be employed due to the presence of the 
IBB facility. Tinian Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) consists of 
two Battle Area Complexes and a Convoy Course with a greater number of 
engagement zones than Tinian Alternative 1. Under Alternative 2, the 
IBB facility is absent, thus allowing for full range of weapons 
employment. Tinian Alternative 3 provides a similar level of training 
capability as Alternative 1, but with a single Battle Area Complex in a 
different location, and the same Convoy Course and range of weapons 
employment as Tinian Alternative 2. Both Pagan action alternatives 
include elements for combined level land, sea, and air training 
operations; infrastructure construction to support expeditionary 
military training; require the acquisition of real estate interest in 
Pagan; and allow for maneuvering and live-fire engagement. Pagan 
Alternative 1 consists of a live-fire combined level RTA to support 
proposed training and operations which includes two High Hazard Impact 
Areas, 11 landing zones, and 5 Mortar Range firing positions. Pagan 
Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) consists of a single, smaller 
High Hazard Impact Area, 13 landing zones, and 6 Mortar Firing 
Positions and provides greater ground maneuver flexibility as compared 
to Pagan Alternative 1.
    The Draft EIS/OEIS provides information on the affected environment 
and impacts of the proposed actions for 16 distinct resource areas. 
Resources evaluated include geology and soils, water resources, air 
quality, noise, airspace, land and submerged land use, recreation, 
terrestrial biology, marine biology, cultural resources, visual 
resources, transportation, utilities, socioeconomics and environmental 
justice, hazardous materials and waste, and public health and safety. 
In accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the DoD is 
consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the potential impacts of training 
activities on federally listed species. In accordance with the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, the DoD is consulting with NMFS on federally managed 
species and their essential fish habitat.
    Preferred Alternative: Based on the analysis presented in this 
Draft EIS/OEIS, DoD has identified Tinian Alternative 2 and Pagan 
Alternative 2 as its preferred alternative. This combination of 
alternatives best fulfills DoD's statutory mission and 
responsibilities, giving consideration to economic, environmental, 
technical, and other factors. DoD considered military requirements, 
infrastructure and environmental impacts and constraints, and scoping 
input from the public, resource agencies, and the CNMI Government 
during the process of identifying a preferred alternative. The 
combination of alternatives best meets the minimum U.S. Pacific Command 
Service Components' unfilled unit level and combined level training 
requirements in the Western Pacific (size and layout), and maximizes 
the use of federal land on Tinian.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please visit the project Web site 
(www.CNMIJointMilitaryTrainingEIS.com) or contact the CNMI Joint 
Military Training EIS/OEIS Project Manager by email via the project Web 
site. Please submit requests for special assistance, sign language 
interpretation for the hearing impaired, or other auxiliary aids needed 
at the public meeting directly to NAVFAC Pacific Public Affairs Office 
at 808-472-1007/472-1008 by April 16, 2015.

    Dated: March 31, 2015.
N. A. Hagerty-Ford,
Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal 
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-07729 Filed 4-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 2015 / Notices                                            18385

                                              tariff classification. Although the                     implemented by the Council on                         on the following dates, times, and
                                              HTSUS subheadings are provided for                      Environmental Quality (40 Code of                     locations:
                                              convenience and customs purposes, our                   Federal Regulations parts 1500–1508),                   • Wednesday, April 29, 2015,
                                              written description of the scope of this                Presidential E. O. 12114, Department of               5:00p.m.–8:00p.m., Saipan Southern
                                              proceeding is dispositive.                              the Navy Procedures for Implementing                  High School, Saipan
                                                                                                      NEPA (32 CFR part 775), and United                      • Thursday, April 30, 2015, 5:00p.m.–
                                              Instructions to U.S. Customs and                                                                              8:00p.m., Tinian Junior Senior High
                                              Border Protection                                       States (U.S.) Marine Corps NEPA
                                                                                                      implementing regulations (Marine Corps                School, Tinian
                                                 Because we determine that there are                  Order P5090.2A), the U.S. Marine Corps                  • Friday, May 1, 2015, 5:00p.m.–
                                              changed circumstances that warrant the                  Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) has                       8:00p.m., Garapan Elementary School,
                                              revocation of the Order, in part, we will               prepared and filed with the U.S.                      Saipan
                                              instruct U.S. Customs and Border                                                                                Informational posters will be
                                                                                                      Environmental Protection Agency a
                                              Protection (‘‘CBP’’) to liquidate without                                                                     displayed and project team members
                                                                                                      Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
                                              regard to antidumping duties, and to                                                                          and subject matter experts will be
                                                                                                      Overseas Environmental Impact
                                              refund any estimated antidumping                                                                              available during the open house portion
                                                                                                      Statement (EIS/OEIS). The Draft EIS/                  of the meetings to discuss the proposed
                                              duties on, all unliquidated entries of the              OEIS evaluates the potential
                                              merchandise covered by the revocation                                                                         action, answer questions, and to accept
                                                                                                      environmental impacts associated with                 written comments from the public. A
                                              that are not covered by the final results               the establishment of a series of live-fire
                                              of an administrative review or automatic                                                                      Chamorro and Carolinian interpreter
                                                                                                      ranges, training courses and maneuver                 will be available. Oral comments will be
                                              liquidation.                                            areas in the Commonwealth of the                      recorded by a court reporter during the
                                              Notification                                            Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to                    public hearing portion of the meetings.
                                                                                                      reduce existing joint service training                In the interest of available time,
                                                 This notice serves as a reminder to
                                              parties subject to an administrative                    deficiencies and meet U.S. Pacific                    speakers at the public hearing will be
                                              protective order (‘‘APO’’) of their                     Command (PACOM) Service                               limited to three (3) minutes to ensure all
                                              responsibility concerning the                           Components’ unfilled unit and                         who wish to speak have an opportunity
                                              disposition of proprietary information                  combined level training requirements in               to do so. If a long statement is to be
                                              disclosed under APO in accordance                       the Western Pacific. The Federal                      presented, it should be summarized at
                                              with 19 CFR 351.306. Timely written                     Aviation Administration (FAA);                        the public hearing and the full text
                                              notification of the return/destruction of               International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB);              submitted in writing. Full and equal
                                              APO materials or conversion to judicial                 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE);                 consideration will be given to oral and
                                              protective order is hereby requested.                   National Marine Fisheries Service; U.S.               written statements. Concurrent with the
                                              Failure to comply with the regulations                  Air Force; and U.S. Department of                     NEPA process, the DoD is conducting
                                              and terms of an APO is a sanctionable                   Interior, Office of Insular Affairs are               National Historic Preservation Act
                                              violation.                                              cooperating agencies for this Draft EIS/              (NHPA) section 106 consultation
                                                 We are issuing and publishing these                  OEIS. MARFORPAC has also developed                    regarding potential effects of the
                                              final results and revocation, in part, and              a Memorandum of Understanding with                    proposed action on historic properties.
                                              notice in accordance with sections                      the PACOM Service Components                          During each of the above meetings, the
                                              751(b) and 777(i) of the Tariff Act of                  regarding their support and engagement                DoD will hold NHPA section 106
                                              1930, as amended, and 19 CFR 351.216,                   in the development of the EIS/OEIS.                   information sessions in a separate area
                                              19 CFR 351.221(c)(3), and 19 CFR                          With the filing of the Draft EIS/OEIS,              where subject matter experts will
                                              351.222.                                                the Department of Defense (DoD) is                    explain the NHPA section 106 process
                                                                                                      initiating a 60-day public comment                    and solicit public input on the effects of
                                                Dated: March 30, 2015.
                                                                                                      period and has scheduled three public                 the proposed action on historic
                                              Paul Piquado,                                                                                                 properties.
                                              Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
                                                                                                      comment meetings to receive oral and
                                                                                                      written comments on the Draft EIS/                      Comments: Comments on the Draft
                                              Compliance.                                                                                                   EIS/OEIS may be submitted during the
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–07831 Filed 4–3–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                      OEIS. Federal, state and local agencies
                                                                                                      and interested parties are encouraged to              60-day public comment period starting
                                              BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
                                                                                                      provide comments in person at any of                  on April 3, 2015 Hawaii Standard Time
                                                                                                      the public comment meetings, or in                    (HST) (April 4, 2015 Chamorro Standard
                                                                                                      writing anytime during the public                     Time [ChST]). Comments should be
                                              DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                   comment period. This Notice announces                 postmarked or received by June 2, 2015
                                                                                                      the dates and locations of the public                 HST (June 3, 2015 ChST). There are
                                              Department of the Navy                                                                                        three ways to submit written comments:
                                                                                                      meetings and provides supplementary
                                                                                                      information about the environmental                   (1) providing comments at one of the
                                              Notice of Availability and Notice of                                                                          public meetings; (2) submitting
                                              Public Meetings for the Draft                           planning effort.
                                                                                                                                                            comments through the project Web site:
                                              Environmental Impact Statement/                         DATES: Three public meetings will be                  www.CNMIJointMilitaryTraining
                                              Overseas Environmental Impact                           held, each including an informational                 EIS.com; and (3) mailing comments to
                                              Statement for Commonwealth of the                       open house followed by a public                       the following addresses: Naval Facilities
                                              Northern Mariana Islands Joint Military                 hearing. Each meeting will begin with a               Engineering Command, Pacific, Attn:
                                              Training                                                two-hour open house session where the                 09PA, Public Affairs Office, 258
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                                              AGENCY: Department of the Navy,                         public can learn more about the                       Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, JBPHH, HI
                                              Department of Defense.                                  proposed action and potential                         96860–3134.
                                              ACTION: Notice.                                         environmental impacts from project                      The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to
                                                                                                      team members and subject matter                       federal and local agencies, elected
                                              SUMMARY:   Pursuant to section 102(2)(c)                experts. A public hearing will follow the             officials, and other interested
                                              of the National Environmental Policy                    open house. The public is encouraged to               individuals and organizations. The Draft
                                              Act of 1969, and regulations                            attend the meetings, which will be held               EIS/OEIS is available for public review


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                                              18386                           Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 2015 / Notices

                                              at www.CNMIJointMilitaryTraining                        purpose and need for addressing                       Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S.
                                              EIS.com, and at the following libraries:                unfilled training requirements in the                 Fish and Wildlife Service on the
                                                 1. Joeten Kiyu Public Library, Saipan.               Western Pacific. All Tinian action                    potential impacts of training activities
                                                 2. Northern Marianas College                         alternatives include common elements                  on federally listed species. In
                                              Olympio T. Borja Memorial Library,                      for unit level land, sea, and training                accordance with the Marine Mammal
                                              Saipan.                                                 operations that consist of ranges,                    Protection Act and Magnuson-Stevens
                                                 3. Tinian Public Library, Tinian.                    training beaches, High Hazard Impact                  Fishery Conservation and Management
                                                 4. Antonio C. Atalig Memorial Rota                   Areas and associated targets,                         Act, the DoD is consulting with NMFS
                                              Public Library, Rota.                                   infrastructure and facility construction;             on federally managed species and their
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S.                     utilization of all DoD-leased land; and               essential fish habitat.
                                              Marine Corps Forces, Pacific issued its                 minimal real estate interest outside the                 Preferred Alternative: Based on the
                                              Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the                   Military Lease Area. Tinian Alternative               analysis presented in this Draft EIS/
                                              EIS/OEIS in March 2013 in the Federal                   1 consists of a live-fire unit level RTA              OEIS, DoD has identified Tinian
                                              Register (78 FR 16257, March 14, 2013).                 which includes a single Battle Area                   Alternative 2 and Pagan Alternative 2 as
                                                 Proposed Action: The proposed action                 Complex and Convoy Course with some                   its preferred alternative. This
                                              is to establish live-fire Range Training                limitations on the range of weapons that              combination of alternatives best fulfills
                                              Areas (RTAs) within the CNMI to                         can be employed due to the presence of                DoD’s statutory mission and
                                              address the U.S. Pacific Command                        the IBB facility. Tinian Alternative 2                responsibilities, giving consideration to
                                              Service Components’ unfilled unit level                 (Preferred Alternative) consists of two               economic, environmental, technical,
                                              and combined level training                             Battle Area Complexes and a Convoy                    and other factors. DoD considered
                                              requirements in the Western Pacific. To                 Course with a greater number of                       military requirements, infrastructure
                                              meet the purpose and need for the                       engagement zones than Tinian                          and environmental impacts and
                                              proposed action, the DoD proposes a                     Alternative 1. Under Alternative 2, the               constraints, and scoping input from the
                                              unit level RTA on Tinian and a                          IBB facility is absent, thus allowing for             public, resource agencies, and the CNMI
                                              combined level RTA on Pagan.                            full range of weapons employment.                     Government during the process of
                                                 Purpose and Need: The purpose of the                 Tinian Alternative 3 provides a similar               identifying a preferred alternative. The
                                              proposed action is to reduce joint                      level of training capability as                       combination of alternatives best meets
                                              training deficiencies for military                      Alternative 1, but with a single Battle               the minimum U.S. Pacific Command
                                              services in the Western Pacific. Existing               Area Complex in a different location,                 Service Components’ unfilled unit level
                                              U.S. military live-fire, unit and                       and the same Convoy Course and range                  and combined level training
                                              combined level training ranges, training                of weapons employment as Tinian                       requirements in the Western Pacific
                                              areas, and support facilities are                       Alternative 2. Both Pagan action                      (size and layout), and maximizes the use
                                              insufficient to support U.S. Pacific                    alternatives include elements for                     of federal land on Tinian.
                                              Command Service Components’ training                    combined level land, sea, and air
                                                                                                                                                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                              requirements in the Western Pacific,                    training operations; infrastructure
                                                                                                      construction to support expeditionary                 Please visit the project Web site
                                              specifically in the Mariana Islands. The                                                                      (www.CNMIJointMilitaryTraining
                                              proposed action is needed to enable                     military training; require the acquisition
                                                                                                      of real estate interest in Pagan; and                 EIS.com) or contact the CNMI Joint
                                              U.S. Pacific Command forces to meet                                                                           Military Training EIS/OEIS Project
                                              their U.S. Code title 10 (Armed Forces)                 allow for maneuvering and live-fire
                                                                                                      engagement. Pagan Alternative 1                       Manager by email via the project Web
                                              requirements to maintain, equip, and                                                                          site. Please submit requests for special
                                              train combat and humanitarian forces in                 consists of a live-fire combined level
                                                                                                      RTA to support proposed training and                  assistance, sign language interpretation
                                              the Western Pacific. The proposed                                                                             for the hearing impaired, or other
                                              action assists in correcting these                      operations which includes two High
                                                                                                      Hazard Impact Areas, 11 landing zones,                auxiliary aids needed at the public
                                              training deficiencies by establishing                                                                         meeting directly to NAVFAC Pacific
                                              live-fire unit and combined level RTAs                  and 5 Mortar Range firing positions.
                                                                                                      Pagan Alternative 2 (Preferred                        Public Affairs Office at 808–472–1007/
                                              in the CNMI. Establishing unit and                                                                            472–1008 by April 16, 2015.
                                              combined level RTAs in the CNMI                         Alternative) consists of a single, smaller
                                              would support ongoing operational                       High Hazard Impact Area, 13 landing                     Dated: March 31, 2015.
                                              requirements, changes to U.S. force                     zones, and 6 Mortar Firing Positions and              N. A. Hagerty-Ford,
                                              structure, geographic repositioning of                  provides greater ground maneuver                      Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate
                                              forces and U.S. training relationships                  flexibility as compared to Pagan                      General, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison
                                              with allied nations.                                    Alternative 1.                                        Officer.
                                                 Alternatives Considered: The Draft                      The Draft EIS/OEIS provides                        [FR Doc. 2015–07729 Filed 4–3–15; 8:45 am]
                                              EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential                        information on the affected environment               BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
                                              environmental impacts of three action                   and impacts of the proposed actions for
                                              alternatives on Tinian, two action                      16 distinct resource areas. Resources
                                              alternatives on Pagan, and the No                       evaluated include geology and soils,                  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                                              Action Alternative. The No Action                       water resources, air quality, noise,
                                                                                                                                                            Office of the Secretary
                                              Alternative would continue existing                     airspace, land and submerged land use,
                                              non-live-fire training activities on                    recreation, terrestrial biology, marine               Office of Economic Adjustment;
                                              Tinian and Pagan, and construction and                  biology, cultural resources, visual                   Announcement of Federal Funding
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                                              use of four live fire training ranges on                resources, transportation, utilities,                 Opportunity
                                              Tinian as identified in the 2010 Record                 socioeconomics and environmental
                                              of Decision for the Guam Relocation                     justice, hazardous materials and waste,               AGENCY: Office of Economic Adjustment
                                              EIS. For the action alternatives, a                     and public health and safety. In                      (OEA), Department of Defense (DoD).
                                              combination of one Tinian unit level                    accordance with section 7 of the
                                                                                                                                                            ACTION:Federal Funding Opportunity
                                              alternative and one Pagan combined                      Endangered Species Act, the DoD is
                                                                                                                                                            (FFO) announcement.
                                              level alternative is required to meet the               consulting with the National Marine


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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:18:09
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:18:09
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesThree public meetings will be held, each including an informational open house followed by a public hearing. Each meeting will begin with a two-hour open house session where the public can learn more about the proposed action and potential environmental impacts from project team members and subject matter experts. A public hearing will follow the open house. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings, which will be held on the following dates, times, and locations:
ContactPlease visit the project Web site (www.CNMIJointMilitaryTrainingEIS.com) or contact the CNMI Joint Military Training EIS/OEIS Project Manager by email via the project Web site. Please submit requests for special assistance, sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired, or other auxiliary aids needed at the public meeting directly to NAVFAC Pacific Public Affairs Office at 808-472-1007/472-1008 by April 16, 2015.
FR Citation80 FR 18385 

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