82_FR_60961 82 FR 60716 - Guantanamo Bay to Punta Salinas, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico Submarine Fiber Optic Cable System (GTMO-PR SFOC); Environmental Assessment (EA)/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

82 FR 60716 - Guantanamo Bay to Punta Salinas, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico Submarine Fiber Optic Cable System (GTMO-PR SFOC); Environmental Assessment (EA)/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 245 (December 22, 2017)

Page Range60716-60717
FR Document2017-27584

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is announcing that it has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) relating to DISA's evaluation of the Proposed Action and Alternatives to installing Submarine Fiber Optic Cable (SFOC) for communication purposes between the DISN Facilities at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) and Ft. Buchanan, Puerto Rico in order to supply high Bandwidth and restoration capability to DoD activities at GTMO. This SFOC will improve long-haul communications between the continental U.S. (CONUS), Puerto Rico and GTMO. The FONSI reports the studies that prove that there will be no significant environmental impact from the installation of this SFOC. This notice announces the availability of the final EA and FONSI to concerned agencies and the public.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 245 (Friday, December 22, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60716-60717]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27584]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket ID: DOD-2017-OS-0066]


Guantanamo Bay to Punta Salinas, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico Submarine 
Fiber Optic Cable System (GTMO-PR SFOC); Environmental Assessment (EA)/
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

AGENCY: U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is announcing 
that it has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and issued a 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) relating to DISA's evaluation 
of the Proposed Action and Alternatives to installing Submarine Fiber 
Optic Cable (SFOC) for communication purposes between the DISN 
Facilities at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) and Ft. 
Buchanan, Puerto Rico in order to supply high Bandwidth and restoration 
capability to DoD activities at GTMO. This SFOC will improve long-haul 
communications between the continental U.S. (CONUS), Puerto Rico and 
GTMO. The FONSI reports the studies that prove that there will be no 
significant environmental impact from the installation of this SFOC. 
This notice announces the availability of the final EA and FONSI to 
concerned agencies and the public.

DATES: The public comment period will end on January 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Requests to receive a copy of the EA or FONSI should be 
mailed to Defense Information Systems Agency, Public Affairs Officer, 
P.O. Box 549, Ft. Meade, MD 20755-0549. Arrangements must be made in 
advance to pick up the documents, due to facility security 
requirements.
    You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by 
any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Chief 
Management Officer, Directorate for Oversight and Compliance, 
Regulatory and Advisory

[[Page 60717]]

Committee Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09B, 
Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency 
name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The 
general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the 
public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without 
change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DISA Public Affairs at 301-225-8100 or 
[email protected] or DISA, P.O. Box 549, Ft. 
Meade, MD 20755-0549.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 
1500-1508) and 32 CFR part 188, Environmental Effects in the United 
States of DoD Actions, the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency 
(DISA) prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the 
installation of a submarine fiber optic cable connecting the Defense 
Information System Network (DISN) node located offshore at Guantanamo 
Bay (GTMO), Cuba to the DISN node located in Fort Buchanan, Puerto 
Rico. The DISA is a Department of Defense (DoD) combat support agency 
under the direction, authority and control of the Assistant Secretary 
of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (ASD 
[C31]).
    The proposed Guantanamo Bay to Puerto Rico Submarine Fiber Optic 
Cable system (GTMO-PR SFOC) comprises a marine cable route 
approximately 1,400 kilometers (756 nm) in length from a pre-laid shore 
end stub cable (installed in 2016 as part of Phase 1 SFOC (published at 
80 FR 12985-12986, March 12, 2015)) ending 19 kilometers (10/26 
nautical miles) offshore of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba to 
the DISN node located in Fort Buchanan, Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The 
landing location for Puerto Rico is the Puerto Rico Air National Guard 
(PRANG) Radar installation located in Punta Salinas, Toa Baja through a 
horizontally directional drilled (HDD) pipe. For the subsequent 
connection to the Army Reserves Base, Fort Buchanan in Bayamon, DISA 
will lease commercial 10 Gb/s lit services to facilitate the 
terrestrial connection.
    Purpose and Need: The DISA GTMO Cable System Project Management 
Office developed communication services by installing an SFOC during 
Phase 1 that connected the DISN node located at GTMO to the DISN node 
located in Miami, FL to substantially improve the long-haul 
communications between the continental U.S. (CONUS) and GTMO. Long-haul 
communications requirements at GTMO are rapidly expanding and require a 
secure redundant path to and from CONUS. This is currently provided by 
commercial satellite services. Phase 2 of the project for this 
additional SFOC system from GTMO to Puerto Rico will provide 
significantly more bandwidth than satellite services, exhibit very low 
latency, and not be subject to adverse atmospheric conditions, such as 
severe weather (e.g., tropical rain storms and hurricanes). Therefore, 
the Phase 2 SFOC system is proposed to increase the level and 
reliability of communication service between CONUS and GTMO. The EA and 
this FONSI were prepared in compliance with the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321-
4347), CEQ regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of 
the NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500-1508), and 32 CFR 
part 188, Environmental Effects in the United States of DoD Actions. 
The EA considers all potential impacts of the Proposed Action and 
Alternatives, including the No Action Alternative. This Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) summarizes the DISA's evaluation of the 
Proposed Action and Alternatives.
    Alternatives Considered: Prior to selection of the PRANG facility, 
several government facility sites were considered for the landing point 
in Puerto Rico. Site visits were made to each location in addition to 
development of preliminary terrestrial and marine cable routing 
concepts. The main sites considered were the U.S. Coast Guard Base, 
Aguadilla, the CBP Facility, Boquer[oacute]n, the CBP Facility, Ponce, 
the CBP Facility, Mayaguez, and the PRANG Base, Punta Salinas. The 
Preferred landing site is the PRANG Base at Punta Salinas. Once the 
general site was chosen, two approaches to the area were considered, 
one from the north/west and one from the south/east. The Northern 
approach was selected as, using a horizontal directionally drilled 
(HDD) solution, the cable will come ashore well beneath the active high 
energy surf zone. The HDD drill path is straight forward and will allow 
an easy direct lay from the main lay installation vessel.
    Deepwater Cable Route Alternatives--Several deep-water route 
alternatives were evaluated as part of the cable route planning process 
with the final route selection chosen to maximize the cable protection 
while minimizing the environmental impact. These alternatives were not 
analyzed with respect to impacts on the human or natural environment 
because the DISA determined that the action of a one-time, direct-laid 
SFOC system on the seabed has been demonstrated in past commercial and 
government project actions worldwide to ordinarily have only a minor, 
localized, and transient effect on the environment. Therefore, the 
action lacks the potential to cause significant harm to the environment 
outside the U.S. and meets the exemption requirement (E2.3.3.1.1) to 
prepare environmental documentation under Executive Order (E.O.) 12114, 
Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions.
    No Action Alternative--The No Action Alternative would be not to 
proceed with the GTMO-PR SFOC system project linking NAVSTAGTMO at 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with the Fort Buchanan facility in Puerto Rico. 
NAVSTAGTMO would continue to operate with existing Phase 1 SFOC and 
backup satellite communication capabilities which would not meet the 
operational need for reliability and additional bandwidth nor provide a 
secure disaster recovery plan.
    Conclusion: The GTMO-PR SFOC EA was prepared and evaluated pursuant 
to NEPA, CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1500-1508, and 32 CFR part 188. DISA 
has concluded that, based on the analyses presented in the GTMO-PR SFOC 
EA, no significant direct, indirect, or cumulative impacts would occur 
as a result of the Proposed Action. Therefore, no further study under 
NEPA is required, and a FONSI is thus warranted. In addition, the 
Proposed Action lacks the potential to cause significant harm to the 
environment outside the U.S. and thus is exempt from further 
environmental analyses under Executive Order 12114. Accordingly, the 
DISA approved the installation and operation of the GTMO-PR SFOC.

    Dated: December 19, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2017-27584 Filed 12-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P



                                                60716                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 245 / Friday, December 22, 2017 / Notices

                                                Federal Government identified in this                     8410–00–0SK–T523—Skirt, Service Dress,                  Fort Worth, TX
                                                notice will be required to procure the                      Air Force, Women’s, Blue, Special
                                                                                                                                                              Patricia Briscoe,
                                                products and service listed below from                      Measurement
                                                                                                        Mandatory Source of Supply: North Bay                 Deputy Director, Business Operations (Pricing
                                                nonprofit agencies employing persons                                                                          and Information Management).
                                                who are blind or have other severe                          Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Rohnert
                                                                                                            Park, CA                                          [FR Doc. 2017–27618 Filed 12–21–17; 8:45 am]
                                                disabilities.
                                                                                                        Mandatory for: 100% of the requirement of             BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
                                                  The following products and service                        the U.S. Air Force
                                                are proposed for addition to the                        Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics
                                                Procurement List for production by the                      Agency Troop Support                              DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                                                nonprofit agencies listed:
                                                                                                        Service
                                                Products                                                                                                      Office of the Secretary
                                                                                                        Service Type: Mail and Supply Center
                                                NSN—Product Name: MR 1178—Mop,                              Operations Service                                [Docket ID: DOD–2017–OS–0066]
                                                    Microfiber, Spin, Includes Bucket                   Mandatory for: DARPA, DARPA
                                                Mandatory Source of Supply: LC Industries,                  Headquarters, 675 North Randolph                  Guantanamo Bay to Punta Salinas, Toa
                                                    Inc., Durham, NC                                        Street, Arlington, VA                             Baja, Puerto Rico Submarine Fiber
                                                Mandatory for: The requirements of military                                                                   Optic Cable System (GTMO–PR SFOC);
                                                                                                        Mandatory Source of Supply: Linden
                                                    commissaries and exchanges in                                                                             Environmental Assessment
                                                                                                            Resources, Inc., Arlington, VA
                                                    accordance with the Code of Federal                                                                       (EA)/Finding of No Significant Impact
                                                                                                        Contracting Activity: Defense Advanced
                                                    Regulations, 41 CFR 51–6.4                                                                                (FONSI)
                                                Contracting Activity: Defense Commissary                    Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
                                                    Agency                                              Deletions                                             AGENCY: U.S. Defense Information
                                                NSN—Product Name: 6510–00–786–3736—                                                                           Systems Agency, DoD.
                                                    Isopropyl Alcohol Impregnated Pad                     The following products are proposed                 ACTION: Notice of availability.
                                                Mandatory Source of Supply: Lighthouse                  for deletion from the Procurement List:
                                                    Works, Orlando, FL                                                                                        SUMMARY:    The Defense Information
                                                Mandatory for: Total Government                         Products                                              Systems Agency (DISA) is announcing
                                                    Requirement                                         NSN—Product Name: PSIN TO12M—Kit,                     that it has prepared an Environmental
                                                Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics                     Wee-Deliver Starter                               Assessment (EA) and issued a Finding
                                                    Agency Troop Support                                Mandatory Source) of Supply: New Horizons             of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
                                                NSNs—Product Names:                                         Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Auburn             relating to DISA’s evaluation of the
                                                  8410–01–441–4602—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Hills, MI                                         Proposed Action and Alternatives to
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 2MS                       Contracting Activity: U.S. Postal Service,            installing Submarine Fiber Optic Cable
                                                  8410–01–441–5672—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Washington, DC                                    (SFOC) for communication purposes
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 16WS                      NSNs—Product Names:
                                                  8410–01–441–5742—Skirt, Service Dress,
                                                                                                                                                              between the DISN Facilities at U.S.
                                                                                                          7920–01–512–4960—Mop Head, Wet,                     Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 16WR                          Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 32 oz.,
                                                  8410–01–441–5747—Skirt, Service Dress,                                                                      (GTMO) and Ft. Buchanan, Puerto Rico
                                                                                                            Yellow                                            in order to supply high Bandwidth and
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 16WL
                                                                                                          7920–01–512–8967—Mop Head, Wet,                     restoration capability to DoD activities
                                                  8410–01–441–6327—Skirt, Service Dress,
                                                                                                            Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 32 oz.,
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 12MS                                                                            at GTMO. This SFOC will improve long-
                                                  8410–01–441–6644—Skirt, Service Dress,                    White
                                                                                                                                                              haul communications between the
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 12ML                        7920–01–512–8970—Mop Head, Wet,
                                                                                                                                                              continental U.S. (CONUS), Puerto Rico
                                                  8410–01–441–6695—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 32 oz., Red
                                                                                                          7920–01–512–8971—Mop Head, Wet,
                                                                                                                                                              and GTMO. The FONSI reports the
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 12WS                                                                            studies that prove that there will be no
                                                  8410–01–441–6701—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 32 oz.,
                                                                                                            Orange                                            significant environmental impact from
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 12WL
                                                  8410–01–441–6704—Skirt, Service Dress,                  7920–01–512–9340—Mop Head, Wet,                     the installation of this SFOC. This
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 14MS                          Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 22 oz., Red           notice announces the availability of the
                                                  8410–01–441–6741—Skirt, Service Dress,                  7920–01–512–9341—Mop Head, Wet,                     final EA and FONSI to concerned
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 14WS                          Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 22 oz.,               agencies and the public.
                                                  8410–01–441–6744—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Yellow                                            DATES: The public comment period will
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 14WR                        7920–01–512–9342—Mop Head, Wet,                     end on January 22, 2018.
                                                  8410–01–441–6750—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 22 oz.,               ADDRESSES: Requests to receive a copy
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 14WL                          Orange
                                                  8410–01–441–6759—Skirt, Service Dress,                                                                      of the EA or FONSI should be mailed to
                                                                                                          7920–01–512–9344—Mop Head, Wet,                     Defense Information Systems Agency,
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 16MS                          Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 22 oz.,
                                                  8410–01–441–7240—Skirt, Service Dress,                                                                      Public Affairs Officer, P.O. Box 549, Ft.
                                                                                                            White
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 18WR                                                                            Meade, MD 20755–0549. Arrangements
                                                                                                          7920–01–512–9346—Mop Head, Wet,
                                                  8410–01–441–7243—Skirt, Service Dress,
                                                                                                            Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 20 oz.,
                                                                                                                                                              must be made in advance to pick up the
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 18WL                                                                            documents, due to facility security
                                                                                                            Yellow
                                                  8410–01–441–7678—Skirt, Service Dress,                                                                      requirements.
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 20WR                        7920–01–513–4767—Mop Head, Wet,
                                                                                                            Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 24 oz.,                  You may submit comments, identified
                                                  8410–01–441–7681—Skirt, Service Dress,                                                                      by docket number and title, by any of
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 22WR                          Yellow
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                          7920–01–513–4769—Mop Head, Wet,                     the following methods:
                                                  8410–01–449–5284—Skirt, Service Dress,
                                                                                                            Looped-End, Anti-Microbial, 16 oz.,                  • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 6WR
                                                  8410–01–449–5286—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Yellow                                            www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 8WR                       Mandatory Source of Supply: Alphapointe,              instructions for submitting comments.
                                                  8410–01–449–5288—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Kansas City, MO                                      • Mail: Department of Defense, Office
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 8WL                       Contracting Activities: Department of                 of the Deputy Chief Management
                                                  8410–01–449–5297—Skirt, Service Dress,                    Veterans Affairs, Strategic Acquisition           Officer, Directorate for Oversight and
                                                    Air Force, Women’s, Blue, 4WR                           Center, General Services Administration,          Compliance, Regulatory and Advisory


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:59 Dec 21, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00021   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM   22DEN1


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 245 / Friday, December 22, 2017 / Notices                                                60717

                                                Committee Division, 4800 Mark Center                       Purpose and Need: The DISA GTMO                    were evaluated as part of the cable route
                                                Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09B,                       Cable System Project Management                       planning process with the final route
                                                Alexandria, VA 22350–1700.                              Office developed communication                        selection chosen to maximize the cable
                                                   Instructions: All submissions received               services by installing an SFOC during                 protection while minimizing the
                                                must include the agency name, docket                    Phase 1 that connected the DISN node                  environmental impact. These
                                                number and title for this Federal                       located at GTMO to the DISN node                      alternatives were not analyzed with
                                                Register document. The general policy                   located in Miami, FL to substantially                 respect to impacts on the human or
                                                for comments and other submissions                      improve the long-haul communications                  natural environment because the DISA
                                                from members of the public is to make                   between the continental U.S. (CONUS)                  determined that the action of a one-
                                                these submissions available for public                  and GTMO. Long-haul communications
                                                                                                                                                              time, direct-laid SFOC system on the
                                                viewing on the internet at http://                      requirements at GTMO are rapidly
                                                                                                                                                              seabed has been demonstrated in past
                                                www.regulations.gov as they are                         expanding and require a secure
                                                                                                        redundant path to and from CONUS.                     commercial and government project
                                                received without change, including any
                                                personal identifiers or contact                         This is currently provided by                         actions worldwide to ordinarily have
                                                information.                                            commercial satellite services. Phase 2 of             only a minor, localized, and transient
                                                                                                        the project for this additional SFOC                  effect on the environment. Therefore,
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                              the action lacks the potential to cause
                                                DISA Public Affairs at 301–225–8100 or                  system from GTMO to Puerto Rico will
                                                                                                        provide significantly more bandwidth                  significant harm to the environment
                                                disa.meade.bd.mbx.public-affairs@                                                                             outside the U.S. and meets the
                                                mail.mil or DISA, P.O. Box 549, Ft.                     than satellite services, exhibit very low
                                                                                                        latency, and not be subject to adverse                exemption requirement (E2.3.3.1.1) to
                                                Meade, MD 20755–0549.
                                                                                                        atmospheric conditions, such as severe                prepare environmental documentation
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                        weather (e.g., tropical rain storms and               under Executive Order (E.O.) 12114,
                                                  Background: Pursuant to the Council
                                                                                                        hurricanes). Therefore, the Phase 2                   Environmental Effects Abroad of Major
                                                on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
                                                                                                        SFOC system is proposed to increase the               Federal Actions.
                                                regulations for implementing the
                                                                                                        level and reliability of communication                   No Action Alternative—The No
                                                procedural provisions of the National
                                                                                                        service between CONUS and GTMO.
                                                Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40                                                                            Action Alternative would be not to
                                                                                                        The EA and this FONSI were prepared
                                                Code of Federal Regulations [CFR]                       in compliance with the NEPA (42 U.S.C.                proceed with the GTMO–PR SFOC
                                                1500–1508) and 32 CFR part 188,                         4321–4347), CEQ regulations for                       system project linking NAVSTAGTMO
                                                Environmental Effects in the United                     implementing the procedural provisions                at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with the Fort
                                                States of DoD Actions, the U.S. Defense                 of the NEPA (40 Code of Federal                       Buchanan facility in Puerto Rico.
                                                Information Systems Agency (DISA)                       Regulations [CFR] 1500–1508), and 32                  NAVSTAGTMO would continue to
                                                prepared an Environmental Assessment                    CFR part 188, Environmental Effects in                operate with existing Phase 1 SFOC and
                                                (EA) to analyze the installation of a                   the United States of DoD Actions. The                 backup satellite communication
                                                submarine fiber optic cable connecting                  EA considers all potential impacts of the             capabilities which would not meet the
                                                the Defense Information System                          Proposed Action and Alternatives,                     operational need for reliability and
                                                Network (DISN) node located offshore at                 including the No Action Alternative.                  additional bandwidth nor provide a
                                                Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba to the                      This Finding of No Significant Impact                 secure disaster recovery plan.
                                                DISN node located in Fort Buchanan,                     (FONSI) summarizes the DISA’s
                                                Puerto Rico. The DISA is a Department                                                                            Conclusion: The GTMO–PR SFOC EA
                                                                                                        evaluation of the Proposed Action and                 was prepared and evaluated pursuant to
                                                of Defense (DoD) combat support agency                  Alternatives.
                                                under the direction, authority and                         Alternatives Considered: Prior to                  NEPA, CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1500–
                                                control of the Assistant Secretary of                   selection of the PRANG facility, several              1508, and 32 CFR part 188. DISA has
                                                Defense for Command, Control,                           government facility sites were                        concluded that, based on the analyses
                                                Communications, and Intelligence (ASD                   considered for the landing point in                   presented in the GTMO–PR SFOC EA,
                                                [C31]).                                                 Puerto Rico. Site visits were made to                 no significant direct, indirect, or
                                                  The proposed Guantanamo Bay to                        each location in addition to                          cumulative impacts would occur as a
                                                Puerto Rico Submarine Fiber Optic                       development of preliminary terrestrial                result of the Proposed Action.
                                                Cable system (GTMO–PR SFOC)                             and marine cable routing concepts. The                Therefore, no further study under NEPA
                                                comprises a marine cable route                          main sites considered were the U.S.                   is required, and a FONSI is thus
                                                approximately 1,400 kilometers (756                     Coast Guard Base, Aguadilla, the CBP                  warranted. In addition, the Proposed
                                                nm) in length from a pre-laid shore end                 Facility, Boquerón, the CBP Facility,                Action lacks the potential to cause
                                                stub cable (installed in 2016 as part of                Ponce, the CBP Facility, Mayaguez, and                significant harm to the environment
                                                Phase 1 SFOC (published at 80 FR                        the PRANG Base, Punta Salinas. The                    outside the U.S. and thus is exempt
                                                12985–12986, March 12, 2015)) ending                    Preferred landing site is the PRANG                   from further environmental analyses
                                                19 kilometers (10/26 nautical miles)                    Base at Punta Salinas. Once the general               under Executive Order 12114.
                                                offshore of the Guantanamo Bay Naval                    site was chosen, two approaches to the                Accordingly, the DISA approved the
                                                Station, Cuba to the DISN node located                  area were considered, one from the                    installation and operation of the
                                                in Fort Buchanan, Bayamon, Puerto                       north/west and one from the south/east.
                                                Rico. The landing location for Puerto                                                                         GTMO–PR SFOC.
                                                                                                        The Northern approach was selected as,
                                                Rico is the Puerto Rico Air National                    using a horizontal directionally drilled                Dated: December 19, 2017.
                                                Guard (PRANG) Radar installation
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                        (HDD) solution, the cable will come                   Aaron Siegel,
                                                located in Punta Salinas, Toa Baja                      ashore well beneath the active high                   Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
                                                through a horizontally directional                      energy surf zone. The HDD drill path is               Officer, Department of Defense.
                                                drilled (HDD) pipe. For the subsequent                  straight forward and will allow an easy               [FR Doc. 2017–27584 Filed 12–21–17; 8:45 am]
                                                connection to the Army Reserves Base,                   direct lay from the main lay installation             BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
                                                Fort Buchanan in Bayamon, DISA will                     vessel.
                                                lease commercial 10 Gb/s lit services to                   Deepwater Cable Route Alternatives—
                                                facilitate the terrestrial connection.                  Several deep-water route alternatives


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Document Created: 2017-12-22 00:34:11
Document Modified: 2017-12-22 00:34:11
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 of availability.
DatesThe public comment period will end on January 22, 2018.
ContactDISA Public Affairs at 301-225-8100 or [email protected] or DISA, P.O. Box 549, Ft. Meade, MD 20755-0549.
FR Citation82 FR 60716 

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