[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 183 (Friday, September 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54015-54016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18701]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for the Undersea 
Warfare Training Range and Notice of Request for Public Scoping 
Comments

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice is issued to advise the public that the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS/OEIS) for the Undersea Warfare Training Range (USWTR) will be 
revised, and to invite the public to provide comments for consideration 
during preparation of the revised EIS/OEIS.
    In compliance with Section (102)(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council 
on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and 
Executive Order 12114, the Department of Navy (Navy) announced the 
preparation of an EIS for the then ``East Coast Shallow Water Training 
Range EIS/OEIS'' on May 13, 1996 (FR 22028) and invited the public to 
comment on the scope of the EIS/OEIS. Subsequently, a Draft EIS/OEIS 
was released on October 28, 2005 (FR 62107) to evaluate the potential 
environmental consequences associated with constructing and operating 
an Undersea Warfare Training Range (USWTR). In response to comments 
received from federal agencies, state agencies, and members of the 
public, Navy determined that the DEIS should be revised and a new DEIS 
issued, incorporating suggestions received during the public review and 
comment period. The changes contemplated involve the addition of an 
alternative and a modification of the methodology used to analyze 
impacts on marine mammals. Given the nature of these changes, the Navy 
has decided to reopen the scoping process and invites the public to 
submit any comments relevant to the scope of issues to be addressed in 
the revised EIS/OEIS.
    Scoping comments previously submitted following publication of the 
1996 NOI are still valid and will be considered.
    All comments received during the Oct 2005 DEIS public review and 
comment period will be considered during the course of this scoping 
process and need not be resubmitted.
    The proposed action is to instrument an approximate 500-square-
nautical-mile area of the ocean with undersea cables and sensor nodes, 
creating a USWTR, and to use the USWTR for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) 
training. The purpose of the proposed action is to enable the Navy to 
train effectively in an ocean environment encompassing required water 
depths (e.g., 120 to 900 feet depth) at a suitable location for Navy 
Atlantic Fleet units. Training typically would involve an individual 
unit or up to three vessels and two aircraft using the range at any one 
time.
    The Navy anticipates analyzing four alternative sites. The 
candidate sites are located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 30 to 
50 nautical miles offshore, within existing Navy Operating Areas 
(OPAREAs). The three candidate sites previously identified as 
alternatives would continue to be considered: Offshore of northeastern 
Virginia, offshore of southeastern North Carolina, and offshore of 
northeastern Florida. A site offshore of central South Carolina will be 
added as a fourth alternative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USWTR EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 
Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, 
Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278; telephone: 757-322-4398; facsimile: 757-
322-4894. Additional background information on the USWTR, including the 
prior DEIS and the public comments received, will remain available 
during this re-opened scoping process via the Web site http://projects.earthtech.com/USWTR/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Navy requires an undersea warfare 
training range off the east coast of the U.S. to support training in 
safe and controlled locations while providing an ocean environment that 
is consistent with real-world threat conditions. Range instrumentation 
is required to provide real-time feedback to Navy participants. The 
offshore instrumented area would be connected to shore via a trunk 
cable, which allows data gathered during exercises to be transferred 
for participant feedback.
    The Navy's mission is to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready 
naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and 
maintaining freedom of the seas. For that reason, 10 U.S.C. 5062 
directs the Chief of Naval Operations to train all naval forces for 
combat. Therefore, naval forces must have access to training areas 
where they can develop and maintain skills for wartime missions. ASW is 
a Navy core capability and is critical to the Navy's mission. The Navy 
must be trained and capable with active sonars in littoral

[[Page 54016]]

waters to provide assured access for the U.S. to strategic areas 
worldwide. Surface ships, aircraft, and submarines conduct ASW and 
would be the principal users of the USWTR. The proposed action also 
would require logistical support for ASW training, for example, the 
handling (launch and recovery) of non-explosive exercise torpedoes.
    The EIS/OEIS will evaluate the potential environmental effects 
associated with: Physical environment; water resources; sound in the 
water; biological resources, including marine mammals, fish, and 
threatened and endangered species; coastal uses and resources; 
socioeconomic resources; and cultural resources. The analysis will 
include an evaluation of direct and indirect impacts, and will account 
for cumulative impacts from other actions. No decision will be made to 
implement any alternative until the EIS/OEIS process is completed and a 
Record of Decision is signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy 
(Installations and Environment).
    The Navy is re-opening a scoping period to identify new community 
concerns and local issues to be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Federal 
agencies, state agencies, local agencies, and interested persons are 
encouraged to provide written comments to the Navy to identify specific 
issues or topics of environmental concern that should be addressed in 
the EIS/OEIS. Comments previously submitted in response to the October 
2005 draft EIS will be considered as scoping comments, and need not be 
resubmitted. Written comments must be postmarked by October 22, 2007, 
and should be mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278, 
Attention: USWTR EIS/OEIS Project Manager, telephone: 757-322-4398, 
facsimile: 757-322-4894.

    Dated: September 18, 2007.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-18701 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
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