[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 207 (Thursday, October 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62601-62602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17900]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2006-24851]


Draft Environmental Assessment, Draft Finding of No Significant 
Impact, and Draft Memorandum of Agreement for the Decommissioning and 
Excessing of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutters STORIS (WMEC-38) and ACUSHNET 
(WMEC-167)

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, and 
seeks comment on, the Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No 
Significant Impact for the proposed decommissioning of the USCG cutters 
STORIS (WMEC-38) and ACUSHNET (WMEC-167) in Ketchikan and Kodiak, 
Alaska. The USCG is also announcing the availability and seeking 
comment on a related Draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the 
Alaska State Historic Preservation Office (AK SHPO) and the General 
Services Administration (GSA).

DATES: Comments and related material must reach Coast Guard 
Headquarters on or before November 27, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments by only one of the following means:
    (1) By e-mail to Susan Hathaway at [email protected].
    (2) By conventional mail delivery to Susan Hathaway, Headquarters, 
United States Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and 
Logistics, Environmental Management (CG-443), 2100 Second St., SW., Rm. 
6109, Washington, DC 20593.
    (3) By fax to Susan Hathaway at (202) 475-5956.
    (4) Through the Web Site for the Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov. The Docket Management Facility maintains the public 
docket. Comments will become part of this docket and will be available 
for inspection or copying at the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Room PL-401, Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except for Federal holidays. You may also view this 
docket, including this notice and comments, on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on Simple Search and enter the docket number 
(24851).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Susan Hathaway, Headquarters, 
United States Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and 
Logistics, Environmental Management (CG-443), 2100 Second St., SW., Rm. 
6109, Washington, DC 20593; by telephone: (202) 475-5688; by fax: (202) 
475-5956; or by e-mail: [email protected].
    To view and download the Environmental Assessment (EA), Draft 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and Memorandum of Agreement 
(MOA), please go to http://www.uscg.mil/systems/gse/NEPAhot.htm and 
scroll to ACUSHNET and STORIS Decommissioning EA for Public Review. The 
EA, Draft FONSI, and MOA can also be viewed and downloaded from the 
Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on Simple Search 
and enter the docket number (24851). The Draft FONSI is after the cover 
sheet at the front of the EA and the MOA is Appendix D of the EA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments on the EA, Draft FONSI, and 
MOA. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the 
docket number for this notice (USCG-2006-24851), and give the reasons 
for each comment. You may submit your comments by mail, hand delivery, 
fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the 
addresses under ADDRESSES but please submit your comments 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 received 
during the comment period.

Proposed Action

    After over 60 years of continuous service, the USCGCs STORIS (WMEC-
38) and ACUSHNET (WMEC-167) have reached the end of their service 
lives. The USCG intends to decommission the USCGC STORIS (WMEC-38) in 
2007 and the USCGC ACUSHNET (WMEC-167) between 2008 and 2010, and 
report the vessels as excess personal property to the U.S. General 
Services Administration (GSA) pursuant to the Federal Property and 
Administrative Services Act of 1949 and its implementing regulations at 
Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 102-36 (41 CFR part 
102-36).
    Preparation of the EA for the decommissioning of the USCGCs STORIS 
(WMEC-38) and ACUSHNET (WMEC-167) is being conducted in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (Section 
102[2][c]) and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR Part 1500.

Environmental Assessment

    An EA has been prepared that identifies and examines alternatives 
including a no action alternative and the preferred alternative, the 
decommissioning and subsequent reporting of the vessels to GSA, as well 
as a third possible outcome, that is beyond the control of the Coast 
Guard and entails passage by Congress of specific legislation that 
directs the vessels' disposition. The EA assesses the potential 
environmental impacts of these alternatives and the additional 
possibility of specific legislation.
    As the Coast Guard has determined that the vessels are historic for 
purposes of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 
1966, the Coast Guard has engaged in Section 106 consultation with the 
Alaska State Historic Preservation Office (AK SHPO) in developing a MOA 
on the Coast Guard's intended action of decommissioning of the USCGCs 
STORIS (WMEC-38) and ACUSHNET (WMEC-167) and then reporting the vessels 
as excess personal property to

[[Page 62602]]

GSA. GSA also participated in the development of the MOA.
    The Draft FONSI records the USCG's determination that the Proposed 
Action would have no significant impact on the environment.
    The USCG will consider all comments received by the close of 
business on November 27, 2006.

    Dated: October 19, 2006.
Captain Douglas J. Wisniewski,
Acting Director of Enforcement and Incident Management Directorate, 
U.S. Coast Guard.
 [FR Doc. E6-17900 Filed 10-25-06; 8:45 am]
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