81 FR 11511 - Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Non-Contiguous Region of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network and Notice of Public Meetings
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
First Responder Network Authority Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 43 (March 4, 2016)
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
First Responder Network Authority
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 43 (March 4, 2016)
| Page Range | 11511-11512 | |
| FR Document | 2016-04830 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 11511-11512] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-04830] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration First Responder Network Authority [Docket Number: 160229154-6154-01] RIN 0660-XC023 Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Non-Contiguous Region of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network and Notice of Public Meetings AGENCY: First Responder Network Authority, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Announcement of availability of a draft programmatic environmental impact statement and of public meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The First Responder Network Authority (``FirstNet'') announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Non-Contiguous Region (``Draft PEIS''). FirstNet also announces a series of public meetings to be held throughout the Non-Contiguous Region to receive comments on the Draft PEIS. The Draft PEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the proposed nationwide public safety broadband network in the Non- Contiguous Region. DATES: Submit comments on the Draft PEIS for the Non-Contiguous Region on or before May 3, 2016. FirstNet will also hold public meetings in each of the seven Non-Contiguous states and territories. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates. ADDRESSES: At any time during the public comment period, members of the public, public agencies, and other interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments, questions, and concerns about the project for FirstNet's consideration or to attend any of the public meetings. Written comments may be submitted electronically via www.regulations.gov, FIRSTNET-2016-01, or by mail to Amanda Goebel Pereira, NEPA Coordinator, First Responder Network Authority, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M/S 243, Reston, VA 20192. Comments received will be made a part of the public record and may be posted to FirstNet's Web site (www.firstnet.gov) without change. Comments should be machine readable and should not be copy-protected. All personally identifiable information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. The Draft PEIS is available for download from www.regulations.gov FIRSTNET-2016-01. A CD of this document is also available for viewing at public libraries (see Chapter 15 of the Draft PEIS for the complete distribution list). See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for public meeting addresses. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Draft PEIS, contact Amanda Goebel Pereira, NEPA Coordinator, First Responder Network Authority, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M/S 243, Reston, VA 20192. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [[Page 11512]] Public Meetings Attendees can obtain information regarding the project and/or submit a comment in person during public meetings. The meeting details are as follows:Anchorage, Alaska: March 15, 2016, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., at the Hilton Anchorage, 500 West Third Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Juneau, Alaska: March 17, 2016, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., at the Centennial Hall Convention Center, 101 Egan Drive, Juneau, Alaska 99801 Honolulu, Hawaii: March 21, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel, 2500 Kuhio Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 Tumon Bay, Guam: April 5, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Hilton Guam Resort, 202 Hilton Road, Tumon Bay, Guam 96913 Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: April 7, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Saipan, Royal Palm Avenue, Micro Beach Road, Garapan, Saipan, MP 96950 Tafuna, American Samoa: April 11, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Tradewinds Hotel, 999 Ottoville Road, Tafuna, American Samoa 69799 Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands: April 22, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Company House Hotel, No. 2 Company Street, Christiansted, Virgin Islands 00820 San Juan, Puerto Rico: April 26, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at La Concha Resort, 1077 Ashford Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907 Background The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-96, Title VI, 126 Stat. 156 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.)) (the ``Act'') created and authorized FirstNet to take all actions necessary to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of an interoperable, nationwide public safety broadband network (``NPSBN'') based on a single, national network architecture. The Act meets a longstanding and critical national infrastructure need, to create a single, nationwide network that will, for the first time, allow police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical service professionals, and other public safety entities to effectively communicate with each other across agencies and jurisdictions. The NPSBN is intended to enhance the ability of the public safety community to perform more reliably, effectively, and safely; increase situational awareness during an emergency; and improve the ability of the public safety community to effectively engage in those critical activities. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347) (``NEPA'') requires federal agencies to undertake an assessment of environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making a final decision and implementing the action. NEPA requirements apply to any federal project, decision, or action that may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. NEPA also establishes the Council on Environmental Quality (``CEQ''), which issued regulations implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (see 40 CFR parts 1500- 1508). Among other considerations, CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1508.28 recommend the use of tiering from a ``broader environmental impact statement (such as a national program or policy statements) with subsequent narrower statements or environmental analysis (such as regional or basin wide statements or ultimately site-specific statements) incorporating by reference the general discussions and concentrating solely on the issues specific to the statement subsequently prepared.'' Due to the geographic scope of FirstNet (all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories) and the diversity of ecosystems potentially traversed by the project, FirstNet has elected to prepare five regional PEISs. The five PEISs will be divided into the East, Central, West, South, and Non-Contiguous Regions. The Non- Contiguous Region consists of Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Draft PEIS analyzes potential impacts of the deployment and operation of the NPSBN on the natural and human environment in the Non-Contiguous Region, in accordance with FirstNet's responsibilities under NEPA. Next Steps All comments received by the public and any interested stakeholders will be evaluated and considered by FirstNet during the preparation of the Final PEIS. Once a PEIS is completed and a Record of Decision (ROD) is signed, FirstNet will evaluate site-specific documentation, as network design is developed, to determine if the proposed project has been adequately evaluated in the PEIS or warrants a Categorical Exclusion, an Environmental Assessment, or an Environmental Impact Statement. Dated: March 1, 2016. Amanda Goebel Pereira, NEPA Coordinator First Responder Network Authority. [FR Doc. 2016-04830 Filed 3-3-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-TL-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2016 / Notices 11511
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE amended, authorizes and empowers the SUMMARY: The First Responder Network
Administrator of RUS to make loans in Authority (‘‘FirstNet’’) announces the
Rural Utility Service the States and Territories of the United availability of the Draft Programmatic
States for rural electrification and for Environmental Impact Statement for the
Submission for OMB Review; the purpose of furnishing and Non-Contiguous Region (‘‘Draft PEIS’’).
Comment Request improving electric and telephone FirstNet also announces a series of
February 29, 2016. service in rural areas and to assist public meetings to be held throughout
The Department of Agriculture has electric borrowers to implement the Non-Contiguous Region to receive
demand side management, energy comments on the Draft PEIS. The Draft
submitted the following information
conservation programs, and on-grid and PEIS evaluates the potential
collection requirement(s) to Office of
off-grid renewable energy systems. 7 environmental impacts of the proposed
Management and Budget (OMB) for
CFR part 1786, subparts E and F are nationwide public safety broadband
review and clearance under the
authorized by this section. network in the Non-Contiguous Region.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments are Need and Use of the Information: The DATES: Submit comments on the Draft
requested regarding (1) whether the required documentation and PEIS for the Non-Contiguous Region on
collection of information is necessary information will be collected from or before May 3, 2016. FirstNet will also
for the proper performance of the electric and telecommunications hold public meetings in each of the
functions of the agency, including program borrowers. The purpose of the seven Non-Contiguous states and
whether the information will have information collected is to provide territories. See SUPPLEMENTARY
borrowers an opportunity to request INFORMATION section for meeting dates.
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of burden including prepayment of their notes and to ADDRESSES: At any time during the
the validity of the methodology and determine that the borrower is qualified public comment period, members of the
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance to prepay under the authorizing statues. public, public agencies, and other
the quality, utility and clarity of the The overall goal of Subparts E and F is interested parties are encouraged to
information to be collected; (4) ways to to allow RUS borrowers to prepay their submit written comments, questions,
minimize the burden of the collection of RUS loan and the overall goal of and concerns about the project for
information on those who are to Subpart G is to refinance. FirstNet’s consideration or to attend any
respond, including through the use of Description of Respondents: Business of the public meetings. Written
appropriate automated, electronic, or other for-profit; Not-for-profit comments may be submitted
mechanical, or other technological institutions. electronically via www.regulations.gov,
collection techniques or other forms of Number of Respondents: 38. FIRSTNET–2016–01, or by mail to
information technology. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Amanda Goebel Pereira, NEPA
Comments regarding this information On occasion. Coordinator, First Responder Network
collection received by April 4, 2016 will Total Burden Hours: 76. Authority, National
be considered. Written comments Telecommunications and Information
Charlene Parker,
should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Administration, U.S. Department of
Departmental Information Collection Commerce, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive,
Agriculture, Office of Information and Clearance Officer.
Regulatory Affairs, Office of M/S 243, Reston, VA 20192. Comments
[FR Doc. 2016–04788 Filed 3–3–16; 8:45 am]
Management and Budget (OMB), New received will be made a part of the
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P public record and may be posted to
Executive Office Building, 725 17th
Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. FirstNet’s Web site (www.firstnet.gov)
Commenters are encouraged to submit without change. Comments should be
their comments to OMB via email to: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE machine readable and should not be
OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or copy-protected. All personally
National Telecommunications and identifiable information (e.g., name,
fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Information Administration
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail address) voluntarily submitted by the
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– commenter may be publicly accessible.
First Responder Network Authority Do not submit confidential business
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may
be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958. information or otherwise sensitive or
[Docket Number: 160229154–6154–01]
An agency may not conduct or protected information. The Draft PEIS is
sponsor a collection of information RIN 0660–XC023 available for download from
unless the collection of information www.regulations.gov FIRSTNET–2016–
Notice of Availability of a Draft 01. A CD of this document is also
displays a currently valid OMB control
Programmatic Environmental Impact available for viewing at public libraries
number and the agency informs
Statement for the Non-Contiguous (see Chapter 15 of the Draft PEIS for the
potential persons who are to respond to
Region of the Nationwide Public Safety complete distribution list). See
the collection of information that such
Broadband Network and Notice of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
persons are not required to respond to
Public Meetings public meeting addresses.
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
AGENCY: First Responder Network
number. Authority, National more information on the Draft PEIS,
contact Amanda Goebel Pereira, NEPA
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Rural Utilities Service Telecommunications and Information
Administration, U.S. Department of Coordinator, First Responder Network
Title: 7 CFR part 1786, Prepayment of Commerce. Authority, National
RUS Guaranteed and Insured Loans to Telecommunications and Information
ACTION: Announcement of availability
Electric and Telephone Borrowers. Administration, U.S. Department of
of a draft programmatic environmental Commerce, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive,
Omb Control Number: 0572–0088.
impact statement and of public M/S 243, Reston, VA 20192.
Summary of Collection: The Rural
meetings.
Electrification (RE) Act of 1936, as SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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![11512 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2016 / Notices
Public Meetings (‘‘NEPA’’) requires federal agencies to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Attendees can obtain information undertake an assessment of
regarding the project and/or submit a environmental effects of their proposed Foreign-Trade Zones Board
comment in person during public actions prior to making a final decision [B–11–2016]
meetings. The meeting details are as and implementing the action. NEPA
follows: requirements apply to any federal Foreign-Trade Zone 230—Piedmont
project, decision, or action that may Triad Area, North Carolina; Notification
• Anchorage, Alaska: March 15, 2016, from have a significant impact on the quality
5:00–8:00 p.m., at the Hilton Anchorage, 500 of Proposed Production Activity;
West Third Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska of the human environment. NEPA also United Chemi-Con, Inc.; Subzone 230A
99501 establishes the Council on (Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors);
• Juneau, Alaska: March 17, 2016, from Environmental Quality (‘‘CEQ’’), which Lansing, North Carolina
5:00–8:00 p.m., at the Centennial Hall issued regulations implementing the
Convention Center, 101 Egan Drive, Juneau, procedural provisions of NEPA (see 40 The Piedmont Triad Partnership,
Alaska 99801 CFR parts 1500–1508). Among other grantee of FTZ 230, submitted a
• Honolulu, Hawaii: March 21, 2016, from considerations, CEQ regulations at 40 notification of proposed production
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Hilton Waikiki
CFR 1508.28 recommend the use of activity to the FTZ Board on behalf of
Beach Hotel, 2500 Kuhio Avenue, Honolulu, United Chemi-Con, Inc. (UCC), operator
Hawaii 96815 tiering from a ‘‘broader environmental
impact statement (such as a national of Subzone 230A, at its facility located
• Tumon Bay, Guam: April 5, 2016, from in Lansing, North Carolina. The
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Hilton Guam program or policy statements) with
Resort, 202 Hilton Road, Tumon Bay, Guam notification conforming to the
subsequent narrower statements or
96913 requirements of the regulations of the
environmental analysis (such as
• Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: April FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.22) was
regional or basin wide statements or
7, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the received on February 26, 2016.
Hyatt Regency Saipan, Royal Palm Avenue,
ultimately site-specific statements) UCC already has authority to produce
Micro Beach Road, Garapan, Saipan, MP incorporating by reference the general aluminum electrolytic capacitors within
96950 discussions and concentrating solely on Subzone 230A. The current request
• Tafuna, American Samoa: April 11, the issues specific to the statement would add new foreign components to
2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the subsequently prepared.’’ the scope of authority. Pursuant to 15
Tradewinds Hotel, 999 Ottoville Road, Due to the geographic scope of
Tafuna, American Samoa 69799 CFR 400.14(b), FTZ activity would be
FirstNet (all 50 states, the District of
• Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin limited to the specific foreign-status
Columbia, and five territories) and the
Islands: April 22, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to components and specific finished
diversity of ecosystems potentially
8:00 p.m., at the Company House Hotel, No. products described in the submitted
2 Company Street, Christiansted, Virgin traversed by the project, FirstNet has
notification (as described below) and
Islands 00820 elected to prepare five regional PEISs.
subsequently authorized by the FTZ
• San Juan, Puerto Rico: April 26, 2016, The five PEISs will be divided into the
Board.
from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at La Concha East, Central, West, South, and Non- Production under FTZ procedures
Resort, 1077 Ashford Avenue, San Juan, Contiguous Regions. The Non-
Puerto Rico 00907 could exempt UCC from customs duty
Contiguous Region consists of Alaska, payments on the foreign status
Background Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the components used in export production.
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, On its domestic sales, UCC would be
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Draft able to choose the duty rate during
Creation Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112–96,
PEIS analyzes potential impacts of the customs entry procedures that applies to
Title VI, 126 Stat. 156 (codified at 47
deployment and operation of the aluminum electrolytic capacitors (free)
U.S.C. 1401 et seq.)) (the ‘‘Act’’) created
NPSBN on the natural and human for the foreign status inputs noted below
and authorized FirstNet to take all
environment in the Non-Contiguous and in the existing scope of authority.
actions necessary to ensure the building,
Region, in accordance with FirstNet’s Customs duties also could possibly be
deployment, and operation of an
responsibilities under NEPA. deferred or reduced on foreign status
interoperable, nationwide public safety
broadband network (‘‘NPSBN’’) based Next Steps production equipment.
on a single, national network The components sourced from abroad
All comments received by the public
architecture. The Act meets a are: Boric acid; D-Mannitol; polyoxy
and any interested stakeholders will be
longstanding and critical national ethylene glyceline; polyvinyl/p-
evaluated and considered by FirstNet
infrastructure need, to create a single, nitrobenzy alcohol; ammonium
during the preparation of the Final PEIS.
nationwide network that will, for the benzoate; adipic acid; ammonium
Once a PEIS is completed and a Record
first time, allow police officers, fire adipate; maleic acid; gamma resorcylic
of Decision (ROD) is signed, FirstNet
fighters, emergency medical service acid; isomeric decanedicarboxylic &
will evaluate site-specific
professionals, and other public safety 1,2,3,4-butanetracarboxylic;
documentation, as network design is
entities to effectively communicate with developed, to determine if the proposed polyethylene glycol phosphate; KIP
each other across agencies and (gamma-butyrolactone & 1-ethyl-2,3-
project has been adequately evaluated in
jurisdictions. The NPSBN is intended to the PEIS or warrants a Categorical dimethylimidazoliniium hydrogen
enhance the ability of the public safety phthalate mixture); PEG1000
Exclusion, an Environmental
community to perform more reliably, polyethylene glycol; MMA–10R
Assessment, or an Environmental
(carbolic acid mixture); wax poly white;
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
effectively, and safely; increase Impact Statement.
situational awareness during an silicone oil; polypropylene tape;
emergency; and improve the ability of Dated: March 1, 2016. sleeving and nuts of plastic; end disks;
the public safety community to Amanda Goebel Pereira, gaskets of ethylene propylene diene
effectively engage in those critical NEPA Coordinator First Responder Network monomer; steel screws/nuts/hexes;
activities. Authority. aluminum waste/scrap/tab stock/foil/
The National Environmental Policy [FR Doc. 2016–04830 Filed 3–3–16; 8:45 am] inserts/rivets/washers/springs/lock
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4347) BILLING CODE 3510–TL–P washers; and, metal clamps and
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:22 Mar 03, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_11554/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-02 15:05:54
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 15:05:54
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Announcement of availability of a draft programmatic environmental impact statement and of public meetings. | |
| Dates | Submit comments on the Draft PEIS for the Non-Contiguous Region on or before May 3, 2016. FirstNet will also hold public meetings in each of the seven Non-Contiguous states and territories. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates. | |
| Contact | For more information on the Draft PEIS, contact Amanda Goebel Pereira, NEPA Coordinator, First Responder Network Authority, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M/S 243, Reston, VA 20192. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 11511 | |
| RIN Number | 0660-XC02 |
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