[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 63610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25316]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplement to the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement
for Military Readiness Activities in the Northwest Training and Testing
Study Area
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DoN) announces its intent to
prepare a Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) for the Northwest
Training and Testing (NWTT) Study Area. This Supplemental DEIS/OEIS
will focus on substantial changes in the proposed action and
significant new information relevant to environmental concerns per 40
Code of Federal Regulations CFR 1502.9. The Supplemental DEIS/OEIS will
also provide additional updated information to further the purposes of
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the NEPA,
regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR
parts 1500-1508), and Presidential Executive Order 12114, the DoN
announced its intent to prepare an EIS/OEIS for the NWTT Study Area in
the Federal Register (FR) on February 27, 2012 (77 FR 11497), and
invited the public to comment on the scope of the EIS/OEIS. A Draft
EIS/OEIS was subsequently released on January 24, 2014 (79 FR 4158), in
which the potential environmental effects associated with military
readiness training and research, development, test, and evaluation
activities (training and testing) conducted within the NWTT Study Area
were evaluated.
Since the release of the DEIS/OEIS on January 24, 2014, the DoN has
determined that a Supplemental DEIS/OEIS is warranted for two reasons.
First, one activity, known as Tracking Exercises--Maritime Patrol
(Extended Echo Ranging Sonobuoys), substantially changes the type and
number of sonobuoys to be used. This change in the proposed action
warrants preparation of a Supplemental DEIS/OEIS under 40 CFR
1502.9(c)(1)(i). Second, new information relevant to air quality
emissions of inland water vessel movements associated with Maritime
Security Operations warrants further consideration and preparation of
an Supplemental DEIS/OEIS under 40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)(ii).
All public comments received during the DEIS/OEIS comment period
(January 24, 2014, through April 15, 2014) are still valid and are
being considered in the Final EIS/OEIS for this action. Previously
submitted comments need not be resubmitted. The Supplemental DEIS/OEIS
is expected to be available in early December 2014. A Notice of
Availability of the Supplemental DEIS/OEIS will be published in the
Federal Register at that time, and the Supplemental DEIS/OEIS will be
released for a public comment period of 45 days. No decision will be
made to implement any alternative in the NWTT Study Area until the NEPA
process is complete and a Record of Decision is signed by the DoN.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Northwest, Attention: Ms. Kimberly Kler--NWTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager,
1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, Silverdale, WA 98315-1101.
Authority: 35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR part 404.
Dated: October 20, 2014.
N.A. Hagerty-Ford,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-25316 Filed 10-23-14; 8:45 am]
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