[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57489-57490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16064]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) for Atlantic Fleet 
Active Sonar Training and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR pts 1500-1508), and Executive 
Order (EO) 12114, ``Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal 
Actions'' (44 Fed. Reg. 62,18722 (Mar. 29, 1979)), the Department of 
the Navy (DON) announces its intent to prepare a combined NEPA EIS and 
EO 12114, OEIS, to evaluate the potential environmental consequences 
associated with mine warfare (MIW) and antisubmarine warfare (ASW) 
active sonar training exercises along the east coast and Gulf of 
Mexico. The MIW/ASW sonar training exercises include Independent Unit 
Level Training, Coordinated Unit Level Training, and Strike Group 
Training exercises. These active sonar training exercises include air, 
surface, and subsurface sonar platforms that are manned by personnel 
who require training in order to maintain certification and readiness 
for deployment. Additionally, effective MIW and ASW are dependent on 
training involving coordination among these platforms. The EIS/OEIS 
will consider two Action Alternatives to accomplish these objectives, 
in addition to the No Action Alternative.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held at the following seven 
sites to receive comments on environmental concerns that should be 
addressed in the EIS/OEIS:
    New London, CT; Chesapeake, VA; Morehead City, NC; Charleston, SC; 
Jacksonville, FL; Panama City, FL; and Corpus Christi, TX, on the 
following dates:

1. Monday, October 23, 2006, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Chesapeake Conference 
Center, 900 Greenbrier Circle, Chesapeake, VA.
2. Thursday, October 26, 2006, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., American Bank Center, 
1901 North Shoreline Boulevard, Corpus Christi, TX.
3. Thursday, November 2, 2006, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Radisson Hotel New 
London, 35 Governor Winthrop Boulevard, New London, CT.
4. Tuesday, November 7, 2006, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Ramada Inn Mandarin, 3130 
Hartley Road, Jacksonville, FL.
5. Thursday, November 9, 2006, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Marriott Bay Point 
Resort, 4200 Marriott Drive, Panama City, FL.
6. Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., National Guard Armory, 
3609 Bridge Street, Morehead City, NC.
7. Thursday, November 16, 2006, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Town and Country Inn and 
Conference Center, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC.

    Each of the seven scoping meetings will consist of an informal, 
open house session with information stations staffed by DON 
representatives. Additional information concerning the meetings will be 
available on the EIS/OEIS Web page located at: http://www.AFASTEIS.GCSAIC.COM.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Atlantic Division Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command, Attn: Code EV21 (Atlantic Fleet Sonar PM), 6506 
Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278; telephone 1-757-322-4767; 
Fax 757-322-4894.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Navy currently uses active sonar for ASW 
and MIW training associated with ongoing Independent Unit Level 
Training (single unit events including sonar maintenance), Coordinated 
Unit Level Training (Intermediate and Squadron events), and Strike 
Group Training (Composite Training Unit Exercise, Expeditionary Strike 
Group Exercises, and Joint Task Force Exercises) along the east coast 
and Gulf of Mexico. The proposed action is to identify areas in which 
to conduct ASW and MIW active sonar training along the east coast and 
Gulf of Mexico. The proposed EIS/OEIS will address the potential 
consequences to the marine environment associated with ASW and MIW 
active sonar training along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to provide and maintain the 
long-term viability of Navy active sonar training for the U.S. Atlantic 
Fleet ship, submarine, and aircraft crews to meet deployment 
requirements and maintain proficiency of ASW and MIW skills, while 
protecting human health and the environment. The need for the proposed 
action is to meet the legal mandate for the Chief of Naval Operations 
to organize, equip, and train all naval forces for combat as directed 
in 10 U.S.C. 5062. Navy forces must train to deal with the threat of 
modern quiet submarines; the most effective detection technology 
available is active sonar detection. In addition, Navy forces must 
train to detect mines which can prevent access to strategic areas, 
damage fleet forces, and disrupt commerce.
    Three alternatives, which each meet the requirement to train and 
maintain combat-ready Navy forces, will be analyzed in the EIS/OEIS. 
The No Action Alternative is the continuation of year-round training 
within and adjacent to current Navy East Coast and Gulf of Mexico 
Operating Areas. Two action alternatives evaluate the capability of 
fixed and seasonal active sonar training areas along the east coast and 
Gulf of Mexico to meet operational criteria and provide year-round 
training capacity and fidelity, include short notice and surge 
deployments of U.S. Atlantic Fleet units. Additionally, the EIS/OEIS 
may also incorporate other reasonable alternatives that meet the Navy's 
purpose and need as informed by the public scoping process.
    All alternatives would consider the protective measures used during 
Navy training to minimize potential effects to the marine environment.
    The EIS/OEIS will evaluate the potential environmental effects of 
ASW and MIW active sonar training associated with each alternative. 
Effects to be addressed will include, but not be limited to, the 
following:
    (1) Physical environment--air and water quality and ambient sound 
levels.
    (2) Biological resources--wildlife, including threatened and 
endangered species and otherwise protected wildlife such as marine 
mammals and migratory birds, fish and fisheries, including analysis of 
essential fish habitat, coastal, marine, and benthic communities, and 
special biological resource areas.
    (3) Socioeconomic resources--including recreational, commercial and 
industrial activities, safety and occupational health and hazardous 
materials, airspace, artificial reefs, and cultural resources.

[[Page 57490]]

    The analysis will include an evaluation of the direct, indirect, 
short-term, and cumulative impacts.
    The Navy is initiating the scoping process to identify public 
concerns and local issues that should be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. 
Federal, state, and local agencies and interested persons are 
encouraged to provide comments to the Navy to identify specific issues 
or topics of environmental concern. All comments provided at the 
scoping meetings will be evaluated in developing the scope of the EIS/
OEIS.
    Written comments on the EIS/OEIS should be postmarked no later than 
December 1, 2006. Comments may be mailed to Atlantic Division Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command, Attn: Code EV21 (Atlantic Fleet Sonar 
PM), 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23508-1278.

    Dated: September 26, 2006.
M.A. Harvison,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-16064 Filed 9-28-06; 8:45 am]
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