[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 12 (Thursday, January 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3242-3243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-796]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplement to the Hawaii Range 
Complex Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental 
Impact Statement (SDEIS/OEIS) for a Proposal To Enhance Training, 
Testing, and Operational Capability Within the Hawaii Range Complex 
(HRC)

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DON) announces its intent to 
prepare a Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS/OEIS) for the Hawaii 
Range Complex (HRC). This SDEIS/OEIS will be focused on the methodology 
used to analyze potential marine mammal behavioral effects related to 
mid-frequency active sonar exposure. In addition, DON may make 
adjustments to the alternatives.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 29, 2006, pursuant to section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as 
implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508), and Executive Order 12114 (Environmental Effects 
Abroad of Major Federal Actions), the DON announced its intent to 
prepare an EIS/OEIS for the HRC and invited the public to comment on 
the scope of the EIS/OEIS (71 FR 51188). A DEIS/OEIS was subsequently 
released on July 27, 2007, (72 FR 41324), which evaluated the potential 
environmental effects of increasing usage and enhancing the 
capabilities of the HRC to achieve and maintain Fleet readiness and to 
conduct current, emerging, and future training and research, 
development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities. As described in 
the DEIS/OEIS at section 4.1.2.4.9, a dose function approach was used 
to evaluate potential behavioral harassment of marine mammals 
incidental to the use of mid-frequency active sonar during Navy 
training and testing within the HRC. Since the release of the DEIS/OEIS 
in July 2007, the DON, in cooperation with NMFS, has further refined 
the dose function approach. Given the nature of these refinements, the 
Navy has decided to prepare a SDEIS/OEIS to provide opportunity for 
public review of the methodology. In addition, DON may make adjustments 
to the alternatives.

[[Page 3243]]

    All public comments previously received during the July through 
September 2007 DEIS/OEIS public review period on the dose function 
approach and the marine mammals effects analysis are still valid and 
will be considered in the SDEIS/OEIS and Final EIS/OEIS for this 
action. Previously submitted comments need not be resubmitted. A notice 
of availability of the SDEIS/OEIS and dates of the public hearings will 
be published in the Federal Register at a later date. No decision will 
be made to implement any alternative in the HRC until the EIS/OEIS 
process is completed and a Record of Decision is signed by the DON.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Officer, Pacific 
Missile Range Facility, Attention: HRC EIS/OEIS, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, 
Kauai, Hawaii 96752-0128. Voice mail 1-866-767-3347 or facsimile at 
808-335-4520.

    Dated: January 14, 2008.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal 
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-796 Filed 1-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P