82 FR 39779 - Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Northwest Training and Testing
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 161 (August 22, 2017)
Department of the Navy
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 161 (August 22, 2017)
| Page Range | 39779-39780 | |
| FR Document | 2017-17618 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 22, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 39779-39780] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-17618] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Northwest Training and Testing AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality, the Department of the Navy (DoN) announces its intent to prepare a supplement to the 2015 Final Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS). DATES: Public comments will be accepted during the 30-day scoping period from August 22, 2017 to September 21, 2017. Public scoping meetings will not be held. However, public meetings are planned to occur following the release of the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS in early 2019. ADDRESSES: The DoN invites scoping comments on the NWTT Supplemental EIS/OEIS from all interested parties. Substantive comments may be provided by mail to the address below and through the project Web site at http://nwtteis.com/. Comments must be postmarked or received online by September 21, 2017 for consideration during the development of the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Mosher, (360) 257-3234, [email protected]. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Attention: NWTT Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 3730 North Charles Porter Avenue, Building 385, Oak Harbor, Washington 98278-3500. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DoN will assess the potential environmental effects associated with ongoing and future at-sea military readiness activities conducted within the NWTT EIS/OEIS Study Area (hereafter known as the ``Study Area'') beyond 2020. Military readiness activities include training and research, development, testing, and evaluation (hereafter known as ``testing''). The Supplemental EIS/OEIS will include an analysis of training and testing activities using new information available after the release of the 2015 Final EIS/OEIS. New information includes an updated acoustic effects model, updated marine mammal density data, and evolving and emergent best available science. Proposed activities are generally consistent with those analyzed in the 2015 Final EIS/OEIS and are representative of training and testing activities the DoN has been conducting in the Study Area for decades. The Study Area remains unchanged since the 2015 Final EIS/OEIS. The Study Area is comprised of established maritime operating areas and warning areas in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, including areas within the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and the Western Behm Canal in southeastern Alaska. The Study Area includes air and water space within and outside Washington state waters, air and water space outside state waters of Oregon and Northern California, and DoN pierside locations where sound navigation and ranging (sonar) maintenance and testing occur. In the supplement to the 2015 Final EIS/OEIS, the DoN will only analyze those training and testing activities conducted at sea within the Study Area. As part of this process, the DoN will seek the issuance of federal regulatory permits and authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act to support on-going and future at-sea military readiness activities within the Study Area beyond 2020. Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.6, the DoN will invite the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to be cooperating agencies in preparation of the Supplemental EIS/OEIS. The DoN's lead action proponent is Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Additional action proponents include Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Air Systems Command. The DoN's Proposed Action is to conduct at-sea training and testing activities within the Study Area. Activities include the use of active sonar and explosives while employing marine species protective mitigation measures. The Proposed Action does not alter the DoN's original purpose and need as discussed in the 2015 Final EIS/OEIS. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to maintain a ready force, which is needed to ensure the DoN can accomplish its mission to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready naval [[Page 39780]] forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas, consistent with Congressional direction in section 5062 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code. A Supplemental EIS/OEIS is considered the appropriate document, as there is recent scientific information including revised acoustic criteria to consider, in furtherance of NEPA, relevant to the environmental effects of the DoN's Proposed Action. The analysis will support Marine Mammal Protection Act authorization requests. Proposed training and testing activities are generally consistent with those analyzed in the 2015 Final EIS/OEIS. In the Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the DoN will analyze the proposed changes to the tempo and types of training and testing activities, accounting for the introduction of new technologies, the evolving nature of international events, advances in warfighting doctrine and procedures, and changes in the organization of vessels, aircraft, weapons systems, and DoN personnel. In the NWTT Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the DoN will reflect the compilation of training and testing activities required to fulfill the DoN's military readiness requirements beyond 2020, and therefore includes the analysis of newly proposed activities and changes to previously analyzed activities. In the Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the DoN will evaluate the potential environmental effects of a no action alternative and action alternatives. Resources to be evaluated include, but are not limited to, marine mammals, sea turtles, essential fish habitat, threatened and endangered species, and American Indian and Alaska Native Traditional Resources. The scoping process is used to identify public concerns and local issues to be considered during the development of the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. Federal agencies, state agencies, local agencies, the public, and interested persons are encouraged to provide substantive comments to the DoN on environmental resources and issue areas of concern the commenter believes the DoN should consider. Comments must be postmarked or received online by September 21, 2017 for consideration during the development of the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. Comments can be mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Attention: NWTT Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 3730 North Charles Porter Avenue, Building 385, Oak Harbor, Washington 98278-3500. Comments can be submitted online via the project Web site at http://www.nwtteis.com/. Also at this Web site, those interested in receiving electronic project updates can subscribe to receive notifications via email for key milestones throughout the environmental planning process. Dated: August 16, 2017. A.M. Nichols, Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2017-17618 Filed 8-21-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 22, 2017 / Notices 39779
Any associated form(s) for this Dated: August 16, 2017. evaluation (hereafter known as
collection may be located within this Aaron Siegel, ‘‘testing’’). The Supplemental EIS/OEIS
same electronic docket and downloaded Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison will include an analysis of training and
for review/testing. Follow the Officer, Department of Defense. testing activities using new information
instructions at http:// [FR Doc. 2017–17686 Filed 8–21–17; 8:45 am] available after the release of the 2015
www.regulations.gov for submitting BILLING CODE 5001–06–P Final EIS/OEIS. New information
comments. Please submit comments on includes an updated acoustic effects
any given form identified by docket model, updated marine mammal density
number, form number, and title. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE data, and evolving and emergent best
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To available science. Proposed activities
Department of the Navy are generally consistent with those
request more information on this
analyzed in the 2015 Final EIS/OEIS
proposed information collection or to Notice of Intent To Prepare a and are representative of training and
obtain a copy of the proposal and Supplemental Environmental Impact testing activities the DoN has been
associated collection instruments, Statement/Overseas Environmental conducting in the Study Area for
please write to the DSS Office of Impact Statement for Northwest decades.
Information Management, Russell Knox Training and Testing The Study Area remains unchanged
Building, 27130 Telegraph Rd., since the 2015 Final EIS/OEIS. The
Quantico, VA 22134 or email dss.niss@ AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice. Study Area is comprised of established
mail.mil. maritime operating areas and warning
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National areas in the northeastern Pacific Ocean,
Title; Associated Form; and OMB Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of including areas within the Strait of Juan
Number: National Industrial Security 1969 and regulations implemented by de Fuca, Puget Sound, and the Western
System (NISS); OMB Control Number the Council on Environmental Quality, Behm Canal in southeastern Alaska. The
0704–XXXX. the Department of the Navy (DoN) Study Area includes air and water space
Needs and Uses: The information announces its intent to prepare a within and outside Washington state
collection requirement is necessary for supplement to the 2015 Final Northwest waters, air and water space outside state
DSS to oversee the National Industrial Training and Testing (NWTT) waters of Oregon and Northern
Security Program (NISP) pursuant to Environmental Impact Statement/ California, and DoN pierside locations
Executive Order 12829. The National Overseas Environmental Impact where sound navigation and ranging
Industrial Security System (NISS) will Statement (EIS/OEIS). (sonar) maintenance and testing occur.
become the repository of records related DATES: Public comments will be In the supplement to the 2015 Final EIS/
to the maintenance of information accepted during the 30-day scoping OEIS, the DoN will only analyze those
pertaining to contractor facility security period from August 22, 2017 to training and testing activities conducted
clearances (FCL) and contractor September 21, 2017. Public scoping at sea within the Study Area.
meetings will not be held. However, As part of this process, the DoN will
capabilities to protect classified
public meetings are planned to occur seek the issuance of federal regulatory
information in its possession.
following the release of the Draft permits and authorizations under the
Affected Public: Cleared contractor Marine Mammal Protection Act and
companies participating in the NISP. Supplemental EIS/OEIS in early 2019.
ADDRESSES: The DoN invites scoping
Endangered Species Act to support on-
Annual Burden Hours: 11,671. going and future at-sea military
comments on the NWTT Supplemental
Number of Respondents: 11,671. readiness activities within the Study
EIS/OEIS from all interested parties.
Responses per Respondent: 1. Substantive comments may be provided Area beyond 2020.
Annual Responses: 11,671. Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.6, the DoN
by mail to the address below and
will invite the National Marine
Average Burden per Response: 60 through the project Web site at http://
Fisheries Service and the U.S. Coast
minutes. nwtteis.com/. Comments must be
Guard to be cooperating agencies in
Frequency: On occasion. postmarked or received online by
preparation of the Supplemental EIS/
Respondents are security September 21, 2017 for consideration
OEIS.
professionals who provide information during the development of the Draft The DoN’s lead action proponent is
to DSS in order to process facility Supplemental EIS/OEIS. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
security clearances (FCL), report FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Additional action proponents include
changes of the facility that may affect Mosher, (360) 257–3234, Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval
the FCL, and managing incident john.g.mosher@navy.mil. Naval Air Systems Command.
response. In addition to this standard Facilities Engineering Command The DoN’s Proposed Action is to
processing, NISS will enable security Northwest, Attention: NWTT conduct at-sea training and testing
staff to communicate with their DSS Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project activities within the Study Area.
representative pursuant to requirement Manager, 3730 North Charles Porter Activities include the use of active
DoD 5220.22–M, National Industrial Avenue, Building 385, Oak Harbor, sonar and explosives while employing
Security Program Operating Manual. Washington 98278–3500. marine species protective mitigation
The NISS will be an integrated SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DoN measures. The Proposed Action does
automated solution that will facilitate will assess the potential environmental
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
not alter the DoN’s original purpose and
efficient execution of the Agency’s core effects associated with ongoing and need as discussed in the 2015 Final EIS/
mission. NISS will allow users to future at-sea military readiness activities OEIS.
manage large amounts of information conducted within the NWTT EIS/OEIS The purpose of the Proposed Action
through increased automated workflows Study Area (hereafter known as the is to maintain a ready force, which is
to ensure accuracy, create linkages in ‘‘Study Area’’) beyond 2020. Military needed to ensure the DoN can
data, and close the gap of missing data readiness activities include training and accomplish its mission to maintain,
elements. research, development, testing, and train, and equip combat-ready naval
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![39780 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 22, 2017 / Notices
forces capable of winning wars, site at http://www.nwtteis.com/. Also at 1910–1400. Comments are invited on:
deterring aggression, and maintaining this Web site, those interested in (a) Whether the proposed collection of
freedom of the seas, consistent with receiving electronic project updates can information is necessary for the proper
Congressional direction in section 5062 subscribe to receive notifications via performance of the functions of the
of Title 10 of the U.S. Code. A email for key milestones throughout the agency, including whether the
Supplemental EIS/OEIS is considered environmental planning process. information shall have practical utility;
the appropriate document, as there is Dated: August 16, 2017. (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
recent scientific information including of the burden of the proposed collection
A.M. Nichols,
revised acoustic criteria to consider, in of information, including the validity of
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate
furtherance of NEPA, relevant to the the methodology and assumptions used;
General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
environmental effects of the DoN’s Liaison Officer. (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
Proposed Action. The analysis will and clarity of the information to be
[FR Doc. 2017–17618 Filed 8–21–17; 8:45 am]
support Marine Mammal Protection Act collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
authorization requests. burden of the collection of information
Proposed training and testing on respondents, including through the
activities are generally consistent with use of automated collection techniques
those analyzed in the 2015 Final EIS/ DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION or other forms of information
OEIS. In the Supplemental EIS/OEIS, technology.
the DoN will analyze the proposed Free Application for Federal Student
changes to the tempo and types of Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be DATES: Written comments and
training and testing activities, Verified for the 2018–2019 Award Year information are requested and will be
accounting for the introduction of new accepted on or before October 23, 2017.
Correction ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
technologies, the evolving nature of
international events, advances in In notice document 2017–09167, encouraged to submit comments using
warfighting doctrine and procedures, appearing on pages 21204 through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
and changes in the organization of 21208, in the issue of Friday, May 5, http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
vessels, aircraft, weapons systems, and 2017, make the following corrections: instructions for submitting comments.
DoN personnel. In the NWTT 1. On page 21207, in the second Alternatively, interested persons may
Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the DoN will column, on the second line, the entry submit comments, identified by docket
reflect the compilation of training and that reads ‘‘I certify that I ___’’, should number EERE–2017–BT–CRT–0054, by
testing activities required to fulfill the read: any of the following methods:
DoN’s military readiness requirements ‘‘I certify that I ___ am’’. 1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
beyond 2020, and therefore includes the 2. On the same page, in the same www.regulations.gov. Follow the
analysis of newly proposed activities column, on the nineteenth line, the instructions for submitting comments.
and changes to previously analyzed 2. Email: to
entry that reads ‘‘I certify that I ___’’,
activities. InfoCollection2017CRT0054@
should read:
In the Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the ee.doe.gov. Include docket number
DoN will evaluate the potential ‘‘I certify that I ___ am’’. EERE–2017–BT–CRT–0054 in the
environmental effects of a no action [FR Doc. C1–2017–09167 Filed 8–21–17; 8:45 am] subject line of the message.
alternative and action alternatives. BILLING CODE 1301–00–D 3. Postal Mail: Appliance and
Resources to be evaluated include, but Equipment Standards Program, U.S.
are not limited to, marine mammals, sea Department of Energy, Building
turtles, essential fish habitat, threatened DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B,
and endangered species, and American 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Indian and Alaska Native Traditional Office of Energy Efficiency and Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Resources. Renewable Energy Telephone: (202) 287–1445. If possible,
The scoping process is used to please submit all items on a compact
[EERE–2017–BT–CRT–0054]
identify public concerns and local disc (‘‘CD’’), in which case it is not
issues to be considered during the Proposed Agency Information necessary to include printed copies.
development of the Draft Supplemental Collection Extension 4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance
EIS/OEIS. Federal agencies, state and Equipment Standards Program, U.S.
agencies, local agencies, the public, and AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Department of Energy, Building
interested persons are encouraged to Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Technologies Office, 950 L’Enfant Plaza
provide substantive comments to the Energy. SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024.
DoN on environmental resources and ACTION: Information collection Telephone: (202) 287–1445. If possible,
issue areas of concern the commenter extension, with changes; notice and please submit all items on a CD, in
believes the DoN should consider. request for comment. which case it is not necessary to include
Comments must be postmarked or printed copies.
received online by September 21, 2017 SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be
for consideration during the Energy (DOE) intends to extend with accepted.
development of the Draft Supplemental changes for three years with the Office Docket: The docket for this activity,
EIS/OEIS. Comments can be mailed to: of Management and Budget (OMB), the which includes Federal Register
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Certification Reports, Compliance notices, comments, and other
Northwest, Attention: NWTT Statements, Application for a Test supporting documents/materials, is
Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Procedure Waiver, and Recordkeeping available for review at http://
Manager, 3730 North Charles Porter for Consumer Products and www.regulations.gov. All documents in
Avenue, Building 385, Oak Harbor, Commercial/Industrial Equipment the docket are listed in the http://
Washington 98278–3500. Comments can subject to Energy or Water Conservation www.regulations.gov index. However,
be submitted online via the project Web Standards Package under OMB No. some documents listed in the index,
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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:56:32
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:56:32
| 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 | Notice. | |
| Dates | Public comments will be accepted during the 30-day scoping period from August 22, 2017 to September 21, 2017. Public scoping meetings will not be held. However, public meetings are planned to occur following the release of the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS in early 2019. | |
| Contact | John Mosher, (360) 257-3234, [email protected] Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Attention: NWTT Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 3730 North Charles Porter Avenue, Building 385, Oak Harbor, Washington 98278-3500. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 39779 |
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