[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12872-12873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6737]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 96-063]


Incineration of Solid Waste Aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutters, 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) of marine 
incinerators on board its certain classes of cutters (vessels larger 
than 65 feet in length) for the purpose of burning shipboard solid 
waste to mitigate its accumulation. A notice of availability of the EA 
and the FONSI was placed in the Federal Register of 26 November 96 to 
invite comments from the public. No comments were received during the 
30-day comment period. This notice announces the availability of the 
final EA and FONSI to concerned agencies and the public.

ADDRESSES: Requests to receive a copy of the EA and FONSI should be 
mailed to the Commanding Officer (ELC code 024), 2401 Hawkins Point 
Road, Baltimore, MD 21226-5000. The documents may also be picked up 
from the same address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal Holidays, by contacting Mr. Hari Bindal at 
telephone (410) 762-6732, and FAX (410) 762-6868.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Hari Bindal, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Engineering and Logistics Center, Equipment 
Management Division (ELC 024), at (410) 762-6732.

Background

    U.S. Coast Guard operates a fleet of boats and cutters on the U.S. 
domestic and international waters to accomplish its major missions of 
Law Enforcement, Defense Operations, Search and Rescue, Ice Operations, 
Marine Science, Pollution Response, and Aids to Navigation. The cutters 
going long voyages (5 days and more) and having a large crew (over 50), 
face problems with shipboard generated solid waste (trash, garbage), 
and waste oil. To comply with the International Convention for the 
Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the U.S. Act to Prevent 
Pollution from Ships (APPS), which prohibit disposal of plastics 
anywhere at sea and restrict discharge of other waste to certain 
distances from shore, and to comply with other U.S. and international 
environmental laws and regulations, the Coast Guard considered several 
alternatives of handling the shipboard generated solid waste and waste 
oil. After evaluating the pro and cons of all considered alternatives, 
Coast Guard proposed incineration as the means to handle the shipboard 
solid waste and waste oil.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of

[[Page 12873]]

1969; and the Coast Guard's NEPA Implementing Procedures, to evaluate 
the potential environmental impacts of the proposed installation of 
incinerators on certain classes of Coast Guard cutters. The EA 
concluded in to `finding of no significant impact (FONSI), that mean 
the concentrations of pollutants generated by the proposed installation 
of incinerators on board certain classes of Coast Guard cutters are low 
enough that the physical, biological, and atmospheric effects on the 
marine environment are insignificant for all areas of operation. 
Consequently, an Environmental Impact Statement was not required.
    As required by NEPA, the EA and FONSI were made available to 
concerned government agencies and a `notice of availability' appeared 
in the Federal Register of 26 November 1996 [61 FR 60137] to invite 
peoples' comment. No adverse comments were received by the end of the 
30-days comment period.
    The EA and FONSI are now final. Concerned agencies and the public 
may request copies of the EA and FONSI from the address above under 
ADDRESSES, and by contacting Mr. Hari Bindal, at (410) 762-6732.

    Dated: February 26, 1997.
Debabrata Ghosh,
Acting Chief, Equipment Management Div. (ELC-02).
[FR Doc. 97-6737 Filed 3-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M