[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59032-59033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20363]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for 
Analysis of Remediation Alternatives for the Pacific Crossing--1 North 
and East Submarine Fiber Optic Cables in the Olympic Coast National 
Marine Sanctuary

AGENCY: National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce.

[[Page 59033]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The draft environmental assessment (EA) evaluates the effects 
of submarine fiber optic cables owned by Pacific Crossing, Ltd. in the 
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS). The EA evaluates eight 
alternative actions NOAA may take to address impacts associated with 
the current disposition of the cables. NOAA is soliciting comments and 
recommendations from the public regarding remediation alternatives and 
their impacts. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is a cooperating 
agency in this EA.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 24, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the draft environmental 
assessment to Carol Bernthal, OCNMS Superintendent (PC-1 Cables 
Remediation Review), 115 E. Railroad Ave. Suite 301, Port Angeles, 
Washington 98362 or via e-mail to [email protected]. Copies of 
the draft environmental assessment document can be downloaded from the 
NMSP Web site at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/library/library.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In November 1999, NOAA issued an 
authorization/special use permit to Pacific Crossing, Ltd. for 
installation by its contractor, Tyco Submarine Systems, Ltd., of two 
fiber optic cables through OCNMS. NOAA is considering amending the 
permit or issuing a new permit to address the condition of the cables. 
NOAA's goal is to fully achieve the objectives of the terms and 
conditions of the permit, which would prevent chronic damage to 
resources, substantially reduce risks to resources and fishers, and 
restore access to Native Americans to their treaty-reserved fishing 
grounds. NOAA is evaluating various remedial options to determine which 
option or combination of options would be most suitable to achieve this 
goal. The options range from no action to complete removal and reburial 
of the cables. ACOE, pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors 
Act of 1899, has permitting authority for obstructions to navigation, 
and pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act has permitting 
authority for the discharge of dredge or fill material in waters of the 
United States. As a cooperating agency, ACOE is considering modifying 
the existing Section 10/404 permit it issued for the Pacific Crossing 
cables to allow the proposed remediation in OCNMS to be performed.

    Dated: October 5, 2005.
Charles W. Challstrom,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-20363 Filed 10-7-05; 8:45 am]
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