[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 148 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40062-40063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19478]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[Docket No. CGD 95-066]


National Environmental Policy Act Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the USCG Atlantic Protected Living Marine Resource 
Initiative

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Protected Living Marine Resource 
Initiative for water off the Atlantic Coast of the United States. This 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement was prepared in consultation with 
the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 16, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commandant (G-O), U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second St SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001, ATTN: CDR 
Rooth; or may be delivered to room 3111 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.
    A copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement may be obtained 
by writing to CDR Rooth at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commander R. Rooth at (202) 267-1456, 
or by fax at (202) 267-4427 or (202) 267-4222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, views, or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include 
their name and address 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-addresssed postcard or envelope.

[[Page 40063]]

    The Coast Guard invites comments and suggestions on the proposed 
and alternate actions in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The 
Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the comment 
period.
    Pursuant to the court order in Richard Strahan v. Rear Admiral John 
Linnon, et. al., the comment period shall end on September 16, 1996.

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 and 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 mortalities; and as a result of 
comments received in response to the EA and FONSI, the Coast Guard 
announced in the Federal Register (61 FR 14590), of April 2, 1996, its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to assess the 
impacts of a revised proposed project under section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act.

Proposed Action

    The DEIS contains an overview of the Coast Guard missions and 
describes how the proposed action, the Atlantic Protected Living Marine 
Resources Initiative, aids the Coast Guard in enhancing conservation of 
protected species in the Atlantic, rather than only six whale and five 
turtle species focused on in the EA.
    The U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Protected Living Marine Resource 
Initiative, includes:
    1. The Internal Program which would include organizational 
directives and guidance governing the conduct of aircraft and vessel 
(boat and cutter) operations, the training of Coast Guard personnel, 
and the notification of the maritime community of threatened or 
endangered species sightings.
    2. The Conservation Program which would include the training and 
education of non-Coast Guard personnel on endangered and threatened 
species, and the participation of the Coast Guard with other federal, 
state, and local agencies in the regional recovery implementation teams 
to develop initiatives to address non-Coast Guard vessels.
    The Coast Guard evaluation includes the latest data on the habits 
of protected species, and the location of Coast Guard stations and 
vessels, the training of Coast Guard employees related to protected 
species, and possible modification to vessel and aircraft operations. 
The DEIS also analyzes the cumulative impacts of Coast Guard assets 
operating together and in conjunction with other vessels.

    Dated: July 25, 1996.
T.J. Meyers,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Aids to Navigation.
[FR Doc. 96-19478 Filed 7-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M