[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14590-14591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7958]



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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 95-066]


National Environmental Policy Act Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement: Living Marine Resource Protection Plan for U.S. Coast Guard 
Activities Along the U.S. Atlantic Coast

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent of prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement and notice of scoping.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces its intent to prepare and circulate 
a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Protected Living 
Marine Resource Program that it is developing for the Atlantic Coast of 
the United States. In preparing the Protected Living Marine Resource 
Program, the Coast Guard plans to review the measures it develops 
during its formal Endangered Species Act consultation with the national 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to protect threatened or endangered 
species.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 2, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commandant (G-OCU), U.S. Coast 
Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20593-
0001, or may be delivered to room 3216 at the same address between 8 
a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal holidays. Comments 
will be available for inspection or copying at room 3216, U.S. Coast 
Guard Headquarters.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Captain J. A. Creech at (202) 267-1965 
or by fax at (202) 267-4674.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: .

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, views or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include 
their names and addresses and identify this notice (CGD 95-066). Please 
submit two copies of all comments and attachments in an unbound format, 
no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic 
filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments should 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    The Coast Guard invites comments and suggestions on the proposed 
scope of the DEIS. Scoping will help the Coast Guard ensure that a full 
range of issues related to this proposal are addressed, and will help 
identify potentially significant impacts.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period The DEIS and comments received will be received during 
the formal consultation between the U.S. Coast Guard and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

Background Information

    On August 9, 1995, the Coast Guard published in the Federal 
Register (60 FR 40631) a notice of availability and request for 
comments announcing the availability of an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) and a proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on Coast 
Guard activities along the U.S. Atlantic Coast. On October 11, 1995, 
the Coast Guard published in the Federal Register (60 FR 52949) a 
notice reopening and extending the comment period for the EA and FONSI.
    The EA focused on the six whale, and five turtle species listed as 
threatened or endangered found along the Atlantic coast. The Coast 
Guard received comments from Federal, State and local agencies and the 
public.
    As a result of new information concerning the October 1995 
interaction between a Coast Guard vessel and a suspected Humpback 
whale, and recent Northern Right Whale fatalities; and as a result of 
comments received in response to the EA and FONSI, the Coast Guard has 
determined that an EIS is the appropriate document to assess the 
impacts of the proposed project under Section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. All known or proposed alternatives 
will be evaluated and considered.

Proposed Action

    The Coast Guard's DEIS will examine alternative measures 
contributing to protection and recovery of species currently listed as 
threatened or endangered. The measures proposed in the EA and by 
commenters to the EA include:
    1. Reviewing vessel documentation and inspection programs.
    2. Training programs for vessel lookouts.
    3. Distributing notices of species locations via the NAVTEX 
program.
    4. Regulating minimum distances between protected species and 
vessels or aircraft.
    5. Surveying critical habitat areas, noting presence and activities 
of protected species.
    6. Increasing enforcement of existing laws.
    7. Participating in regional whale recovery implementation groups.
    8. Establishing or modifying vessel traffic routes.
    9. Developing Coast Guard-wide and regional procedures to alert 
employees of seasonally-heightened potentials for interaction with 
protected species.
    10. Including protected species awareness information in basic 
boating safety training provided to the public.
    11. Notifying the National Marine Fisheries Service regional office 
when a significant incident is brought to attention of the Coast Guard.
    12. Participating in regional species stranding networks.
    13. Surveying lighting options for Coast Guard stations in the 
vicinity of turtle nesting beaches.
    Significant areas to be explored include: identification of 
endangered or threatened species, and their habits; review of all 
present operational requirements for Coast Guard vessels and aircraft; 
identification of designated critical habitat areas and species high-
density areas; and evaluation of the potential occurrence of multiple 
activities combining to produce beneficial or harmful effects not 
otherwise likely.
    The Coast Guard will evaluate the latest data on the habits of 
protected species; and will consider the location of Coast Guard 
stations and vessels; the navigational capabilities of Coast Guard 
vessels; the training of Coast Guard

[[Page 14591]]
employees related to protected species; and possible modifications to 
vessel traffic control and aircraft operations.
    The DEIS will consider the cumulative impacts of Coast Guard assets 
operating together and in conjunction with other vessels.
    No public meeting is currently scheduled. However, if comments 
indicate that a public meeting would yield useful data or opinions, the 
Coast Guard may schedule a meeting at a later date.

    Dated: March 27, 1996.
J.A. Creech,
Capital, U.S. Coast Guard, Chairman-Endangered Species Act Compliance 
Team.
[FR Doc. 96-7958 Filed 4-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M