[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 144 (Monday, July 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 44311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19089]



[[Page 44311]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Overseas Environmental 
Impact Statement/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for 
Employment of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency 
Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
Regulations 40 CFR 1502.9, and pursuant to Executive Order 12114, the 
Department of the Navy (Navy) is announcing its intent to prepare a 
Supplemental Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (SOEIS)/
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the operational 
employment of SURTASS LFA sonar.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final Overseas Environmental Impact 
Statement and Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS/EIS) for the 
Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS 
LFA) Sonar was completed in January 2001. The Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of the Navy for Environment (DASN[E]) reviewed the SURTASS 
LFA Sonar OEIS/EIS and, after carefully weighing the operational, 
scientific, technical, and environmental implications of the 
alternatives considered, announced the decision to employ two SURTASS 
LFA sonar systems with certain geographical restrictions and monitoring 
mitigation designed to reduce adverse effects on the marine 
environment. This decision, which pertained to the employment of two 
SURTASS LFA systems, implemented the preferred alternative, Alternative 
1, identified in the Final OEIS/EIS.
    DASN(E) found that the analysis in the OEIS/EIS had taken the 
requisite ``hard look'' at the environmental consequences of the 
decision to employ the SURTASS LFA sonar and issued the Record of 
Decision (ROD) on 16 July 2002.
    However, in recognition of concerns raised in Federal Court over 
employment of the SURTASS LFA system and to further the Navy's 
commitment to responsible stewardship of the marine environment, 
DASN(E) has determined that the purposes of NEPA would be furthered by 
the preparation of a supplemental analysis related to employment of the 
system. This analysis will take the form of a SOEIS/SEIS and will 
provide additional information regarding the environment that could be 
potentially affected by employment of SURTASS LFA and additional 
information related to mitigation of the potential impacts of the 
system, focusing on identifying geographic areas and seasonal periods 
of high marine mammal abundance in those areas where the Navy intends 
to use SURTASS LFA for routine training and testing. The SOEIS/SEIS 
will consider this information in the context of specific potential 
operational areas. The SOEIS/SEIS will comply with both NEPA and 
Executive Order 12114.

    Dated: July 16, 2003.
E. F. McDonnell,
Major, U.S. Marine Corps, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-19089 Filed 7-25-03; 8:45 am]
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