[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 66452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21875]



[[Page 66452]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2005-22850]


Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant 
Impact for the Decommissioning and Excessing of the U.S. Coast Guard 
Cutter MACKINAW (WAGB-83)

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces the availability of the 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) for the Decommissioning and excessing of the U.S. Coast 
Guard Cutter USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) in Cheboygan, Michigan and 
invites comments as part of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) process. The EA evaluates the environmental and socioeconomic 
impacts of the Proposed Action. The Draft FONSI records the USCG's 
determination that the Proposed Action would have no significant impact 
on the environment. The U.S. Coast Guard also announces the development 
of a Memorandum of Agreement to resolve potential adverse effects to a 
historic property and invites comments as part of the public 
involvement process under Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (NHPA).

DATES: Comments and related material must reach Coast Guard 
Headquarters on or before November 26, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments by only one of the following means, 
and in choosing among the options for submitting your comments, please 
give due regard to any difficulties and delays associated with delivery 
of mail through the U.S. Postal Service to Federal facilities:
    (1) Electronically to Susan Hathaway at [email protected]
    (2) By delivery to Commandant, United States Coast Guard Office of 
Logistics and Engineering, Environmental Management (CG-443), 2100 
Second St. SW., Rm. 6109, Washington, DC 20593 Attn: S. Hathaway.
    (3) By fax send to Susan Hathaway at (202) 267-4219.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commandant, United States Coast Guard, 
Office of Logistics and Engineering, Environmental Management (CG-443), 
2100 Second St. SW., Rm. 6109, Washington, DC 20593 ATTN: Susan 
Hathaway, or send by fax at (202) 267-4219 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].
    To view and download the EA and Draft FONSI, please go to http://www.uscg.mil/systems/gse/gsec-3H.htm and scroll down the left side to: 
Planning--NEPA, and then to USCGC MACKINAW.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the EA 
and the MOA. If you do so, please include your name and address. You 
may submit your comments and material by mail, hand delivery, fax, or 
electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the address under 
ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one 
means. If you submit them by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would 
like to know they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-
addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.

Proposed Action

    The USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83), constructed in 1944, was the largest 
and most powerful icebreaker at the time and represented the state of 
the art in icebreaking technology. After over 60 years of continuous 
service, USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) has reached the end of its service 
life. The USCG is required to identify and declare excess property. The 
USCG would decommission and excess the USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) in 2006 
through the Federal Real Property Service Act and Federal Real Property 
Management Regulations, unless a Congressional mandate to transfer 
ownership of the vessel to another entity is issued.
    Preparation of the EA for the decommissioning and excessing of 
USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) is being conducted in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (Section 102[2][c]) 
and its implementing regulations at Title 40 Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1500.

Environmental Assessment

    An EA has been prepared for the proposed action. The EA identifies 
and examines reasonable alternatives and assesses their potential 
impact to the environment.
    As a result of the USCG reporting the vessel as ``excess personal 
property,'' as that term is defined in the Federal Property Management 
Regulations, Title 41, Part 102, Section 36.40 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (41 CFR 102-36.40), the vessel could eventually be removed 
from USCG custody and control, and possibly Federal ownership through 
one of the following processes: (1) Specific or ``special'' legislation 
directing or authorizing conveyance of the vessel to a specific entity 
(requires enactment of legislation by Congress and subsequent signing 
into law by President); (2) the General Services Administration (GSA) 
personal property disposal process for transfer to other Federal 
agencies, (41 CFR 102-36); (3) the GSA personal property disposal 
process for conveyance to a state or local government, or non-profit 
organization (41 CFR 102-37); (4) the GSA personal property disposal 
process for sale to the highest bidder; (5) direct Coast Guard transfer 
to the USCG Auxiliary, Service Educational Activities (SEA's), or a 
non-profit public body or private organization, (14 U.S.C. 641); ) or 
(6) if transfer of ownership through one of the above processes is not 
possible, scrapping of the vessel.
    The Coast Guard initiated Section 106 consultation under that 
National Historic Preservation Act. The consultation was conducted with 
the Michigan State Historic Preservation Officer (MISHPO) acting as the 
lead State Historic Preservation Officer for states bordering the Great 
Lakes. USCG and MISHPO developed a Memorandum of Agreement for the 
decommissioning of the USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) and its declaration as 
excess property. The General Services Administration and the Illinois 
State Historic Preservation Officer also participated in consultation 
and concur with the MOA.
    We are requesting your comments on environmental concerns you may 
have related to the EA.

    Dated: October 25, 2005.
G.T. Blore,
Director, Operations Policy.
[FR Doc. 05-21875 Filed 11-1-05; 8:45 am]
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