[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 11681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2192]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of the Availability of an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for 
proposed activities in the Arctic Ocean.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation gives notice of the 
availability of a draft Environmental Assessment 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 in the western Canada Basin, Chukchi Borderland and Mendeleev 
Ridge, Arctic Ocean, during July--August, 2006. Given the United States 
Arctic Program's mission to support polar research, the proposed action 
is expected to result in substantial benefits to science. The draft 
Environmental Assessment is available for public review for a 30-day 
period.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 7, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment are available 
upon request from: Dr. Polly A. Penhale, National Science Foundation, 
Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 755, Arlington, VA 
22230 at 703-292-8031 or [email protected] or at the agency's Web site 
at http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/arc_envir/healy_ea_06.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The University of Texas, Austin, with 
research funding from the National Science Foundation plans to conduct 
a marine seismic survey in the western Canada Basin, Chukchi Borderland 
and Mendeleev Ridge, Arctic Ocean, during the period of 15 July to 25 
August 2006 (approximately). This project will include collection of 
seismic reflection and refraction data as well as sediment coring 
intended to collect crustal structure samples. The purpose of the 
seismic survey is to study the origin and kinematics of the Amerasian 
Basin's opening. The data collected will be used to analyze the 
internal structure of the ridges and plateaus of the Amerasian basin 
allowing current theories of its formation to be tested. The proposed 
study will consists of a geophysical survey in the Arctic Ocean with 
seven interspersed periods of coring.
    Several species of cetaceans and pinnipeds inhabit the Arctic 
Ocean. The increased underwater noise from the research may result in 
avoidance behavior by some marine mammals and fish, and other forms of 
disturbance. An integral part of the planned survey is a monitoring and 
mitigation program to minimize impacts of the proposed activities on 
marine species present, and on fishing and subsistence activities, and 
to document the nature and extent of any effects. Injurious impacts to 
marine mammals have not been proven to occur near equipment proposed to 
be used in this research; however, the planned monitoring and 
mitigation measures would minimize the possibility of such effects 
should they otherwise occur.
    With the planned monitoring and mitigation measures, unavoidable 
impacts to each of the species of marine mammal that might be 
encountered are expected to be limited to short-term localized changes 
in behavior and distribution near the seismic vessel. At most, such 
effects may be interpreted as falling within the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) definition of ``Level B Harassment'' for those 
species managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service. No long-term 
or significant effects are expected on individual marine mammals, or 
the populations to which they belong, or their habitats. The agency is 
currently consulting with both the National Marine Fisheries Service 
and the Fish & Wildlife Service regarding species within their 
respective jurisdictions potentially affected by this proposed 
activity.
    Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment entitled 
``Environmental Assessment of a Marine Geophysical Survey by the USCG 
Healy of the Western Canada Basin, Chukchi Borderland and Mendeleev 
Ridge, Arctic Ocean, July-August 2006'' are available upon request 
from: Dr. Polly A. Penhale, National Science Foundation, Office of 
Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 755, Arlington, VA 22230 at 
703-292-8031 or [email protected]. or at the agency's website at http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/arc_envir/healy_ea_06.pdf.
    The National Science Foundation invites interested members of the 
public to provide written comments on this draft Environmental 
Assessment.

Polly A. Penhale,
Environmental Officer, Office of Polar Programs, National Science 
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 06-2192 Filed 3-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M