[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 149 (Friday, August 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43252-43253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15128]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability of Finding

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 12114, Environmental Effects 
Abroad of Major Federal Actions, the

[[Page 43253]]

Department of the Navy gives notice that a Finding of No Significant 
Harm (FONSH) has been issued and is available for exercise ``Valiant 
Shield 07.''

DATES: The effective date of availability is August 3, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the FONSH are available for public 
viewing or downloading at http://www.navydocuments.com. Single copies 
of the FONSH may be obtained by written request from: Commander, Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, 258 Makalapa Drive Suite 100, 
Pearl Harbor, HI, 96860-3134 (ATTN: Code EV 21KF).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Public 
Affairs, Mr. Mark Matsunaga 808-471-3769 or visit http://www.navydocuments.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Valiant Shield 2007 (VS 07) is a major Navy 
training exercise proposed to occur in August 2007 in a large open 
ocean area, beyond any territorial seas, in the western Pacific Ocean. 
The purpose of this exercise is to demonstrate the Navy's ability to 
operate a large Naval force in coordination with other United States 
military services, supporting the Navy's requirement to maintain, train 
and equip combat-ready naval forces. Activities conducted during the 
exercise include anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare including 
sinking exercise(s), and anti-submarine warfare, including use of 
active sonar.
    The FONSH is based on analysis contained in an Overseas 
Environmental Assessment (OEA) evaluating environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed offshore Navy training. Environmental 
concerns addressed in the OEA include air quality, water resources, 
ocean physical environment, airborne noise, underwater sound, and 
biological resources, including fish, essential fish habitat, marine 
mammals and threatened and endangered species. The OEA includes an 
analysis of mid-frequency active sonar use, sinking exercises, and 
other Navy training activities that will occur over the exercise 
period. VS 07 incorporates the use of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor 
System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) sonar in accordance with 
current authorizations.
    Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation between the Navy and 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) resulted in a biological 
opinion from NMFS concluding that the proposed exercise is not likely 
to jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened or endangered 
species, nor to adversely modify or destroy any designated critical 
habitat.
    This action includes mitigation measures that will be implemented 
to protect marine mammals, sea turtles and federally listed endangered/
threatened species during the exercise. Based on information gathered 
during preparation of the OEA, consultation with NMFS, and evaluation 
of the nature, scope and intensity of the proposed action, the Navy 
finds that the conduct of Valiant Shield 2007 will not significantly 
harm the environment and, therefore, an Overseas Environmental Impact 
Statement is not required.

    Dated: July 30, 2007.
M.C. Holley,
Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Administrative Law 
Division, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-15128 Filed 8-2-07; 8:45 am]
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