[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 139 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37452-37453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18264]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statements for 
Employment of Surveillance Towed Array Sonar System (SURTASS) Low 
Frequency Active (LFA) Sonar

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Executive Order 12114 (Environmental Effects 
Abroad of Major Federal Actions) and Section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the Navy is announcing its intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under each authority 
for the operational employment of the SURTASS LFA system.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in (1) Norfolk, Virginia on 
August 6, 1996 at 7:00 p.m., at the Granby High School Auditorium, in 
(2) San Diego, California on August 8, 1996 at 7:00 p.m., at the 
Roosevelt Jr. High School, and in (3) Honolulu, Hawaii on August 13, 
1996 at 7:00 p.m., at the Washington Intermediate School. Written 
comments regarding the scope of these environmental documents must be 
submitted by September 4, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for additional information should be 
addressed to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Code N874, c/
o Clayton H. Spikes (703) 418-1866, Marine Acoustics, Inc., Suite 901, 
2345 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SURTASS LFA sonar employs low frequency 
sound propagation (less than 1000 Hz) to detect return echoes from 
objects on and under the sea. The LFA system will provide the U.S. navy 
an improved detection capability that does not rely solely on noise 
generated by the object to be detected. In support of its national 
defense mission, the Navy proposes to make the LFA system available to 
Fleet Commanders for world wide employment to enhance antisubmarine 
capabilities.
    The analyses to be conducted will address the potential impact of 
low frequency sound on the marine environment, including potential 
auditory, behavioral, and physiological impacts on marine mammals and 
other marine creatures. Alternatives to be studied, in addition to the 
no action alternative, include employment of the system with various 
combinations of mitigation measures such as detection and avoidance of 
sensitive species or areas, and modification of system use to eliminate 
or minimize the potential for environmental effects.
    The analysis prepared under the authority of Executive Order 12114 
will assess potential environmental impacts beyond the U.S. territorial 
sea. The analysis prepared under NEPA will assess potential 
environmental impacts within the U.S. territorial sea. Although these 
analyses will be prepared under distinct authority, to ensure complete 
consideration of the potential for indirect and cumulative effects, and 
for the convenience of the public, these analyses will be conducted 
concurrently, will be extensively cross referenced, and will be made 
available for public review as a package.
    The Navy anticipates employment of a tiered approach to these 
studies. As a first step the Navy plans to complete a global review of 
LFA operational deployment. That review may be sufficient to evaluate 
environmental impacts and allow the development of appropriate 
mitigation measures for use in some ocean areas. The initial review may 
also identify other ocean regions which, because of their ecological 
sensitivity or marine species density, require more analysis before a 
decision can be made regarding LFA employment in these areas. These 
areas would be examined in additional studies, or tiers,

[[Page 37453]]

building upon the foundation of the initial document.
    Federal, state and local agencies, as well as interested 
organizations and individuals, are encouraged to participate in the 
scoping process for the EIS to determine the range of issues and 
alternatives to be addressed. Three public scoping meetings to receive 
oral and written information will be held: (1) At 7:00 p.m. August 6, 
1996 at the Granby High School Auditorium, 7101 Granby Street, Norfolk, 
Virginia; (2) At 7:00 p.m. on August 8, 1996 at the Roosevelt Junior 
High School, 3366 Park Boulevard, San Diego, California, and (3) at 
7:00 p.m. on August 13, 1996 at the Washington Intermediate School, 
1633 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii. In the interest of available 
time, each speaker will be asked to limit oral comments to five 
minutes. Longer comments should be summarized at the public meeting or 
mailed to the address listed at the end of this announcement. All 
written comments should be submitted no later than September 4, 1996 at 
the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Code N874, c/o Clayton H. 
Spikes (703) 418-1866, Marine Acoustics, Inc., Suite 901, 2345 Crystal 
Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202.

    Dated: July 15, 1996.
M.A. Waters,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-18264 Filed 7-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-M