[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 236 (Friday, December 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64785-64786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31031]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 95-066]


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

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the record of decision.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the approved 
Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 
for the Atlantic Protected Living Marine Resource

[[Page 64786]]

Initiative (the Initiative). Pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the regulations promulgated by 
the Council on Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 
NEPA Implementing Procedures and Policy for Considering Environmental 
Impacts, the USCG has approved a Record of Decision adopting the 
Initiative. The USCG will implement the proposed action (the preferred 
alternative), the Initiative, as described in the FEIS. (The FEIS 
notice of availability was published in the Federal Register on October 
31, 1996.) The preferred alternative includes all components of the 
proposed action as stated in the FEIS and is the environmentally 
preferred alternative which incorporates mitigation and monitoring 
measures.

DATES: The Record of Decision will be available to the public on 
December 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: For further information and/or copies of the approved Record 
of Decision, contact Mr. Keith Boi, Chief, Planning and Coordination 
Staff, Operations, at Commandant (G-O-1), 2100 Second Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20593, telephone number (202) 267-1439, fax number (202) 
267-4185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USCG preferred alternative as stated in 
the FEIS is composed of two main components, an Internal Program and a 
Conservation Program. Each program is made up of several elements or 
activities designed to protect or conserve living marine resources more 
effectively. The Internal Program of the preferred alternative focuses 
on operating procedures and directives for USCG vessels and aircraft in 
the Atlantic area that would prevent, to the maximum extent possible, 
harmful interactions with protected living marine resources. The 
Conservation Program focuses on the interaction of USCG personnel with 
other Federal and state agencies and the public to promote conservation 
of protected living marine resources. The preferred alternative was 
developed from recommendations provided to the USCG by the National 
Marine Fisheries Service, in Biological Opinions issued September 1995 
and July 1996, and public comments received in response to the 
Environmental Assessment of Potential Impacts of U.S. Coast Guard 
Operations Along the U.S. Atlantic Coast and the Draft EIS.

    Dated: November 29, 1996.
Keith Boi,
Chief, Planning and Coordination Staff, Operations.
[FR Doc. 96-31031 Filed 12-5-96; 8:45 am]
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