[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 36413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12460]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of the Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact 
for a Marine Geophysical Survey in the Arctic Ocean

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact 
for proposed activities in the Arctic Ocean.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation gives notice of the 
availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact for proposed 
activities in the Arctic Ocean.
    The Office of Polar Programs (OPP) has prepared an Environmental 
Assessment of a marine geophysical survey by the Coast Guard cutter 
Healy across the Arctic Ocean, August-September 2005. Given the United 
States Program's mission to support polar research, the proposed action 
is expected to result in substantial benefits to science. The draft 
Environmental Assessment was available for public review for a 45-day 
period.

DATES: Comments on the FONSI must be submitted on or before July 25, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Finding of No Significant Impact and the 
Environmental Assessment are available upon request from: Dr. Polly A. 
Penhale, National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 401 
Wilson Blvd., Suite 755, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-
8033.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation prepared a 
draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EA) for a marine geophysical 
survey across the Arctic Ocean and solicited public comments (Federal 
Register: April 11, 2005, Vol. 70, No. 68, Page 18431-18432; and April 
27, 2005, Vol. 70, No. 80, Page 21819). The National Science Foundation 
has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) based on this 
EA, in accordance with CEQ regulations Sec.  1500-1508 and 45 CRF 640. 
It was determined that the proposed activity would not result in a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment within the 
meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. 
Therefore, a FONSI was issued, and no environmental impact statement is 
required.
    Copies of the FONSI and the Environmental Assessment titled, An 
Environmental Assessment of a Marine Geophysical Survey b the Coast 
Guard Cutter Healy Across the Arctic Ocean August-September 2005, are 
available upon request from: Dr. Polly A. Penhale, National Science 
Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 755, 
Arlington, VA 22230, Telephone: (703) 292-8033 or at the agency's Web 
site at: http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/arc_envir/healy_ea.pdf and 
http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/arc_envir/healy_fonsi.pdf. The 
National Science Foundation invites interested members of the public to 
provide written comments on this FONSI.

Polly A. Penhale,
Environmental Officer, Office of Polar Programs, National Science 
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-12460 Filed 6-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M