[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8856-8858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2810]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Public Hearings for the Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar Training 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact 
Statement

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 and regulations implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500 to 1508), and Presidential 
Executive Order 12114, the Department of the Navy (Navy) has prepared 
and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS/OEIS) on February 8, 2008, which evaluates the potential 
environmental effects associated with the use of mid- and high-
frequency active sonar technology and the improved extended echo 
ranging (IEER) system during Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar Training 
(AFAST) activities within and adjacent to existing Navy Operating Areas 
(OPAREAs) located along the East Coast of the United States and in the 
Gulf of Mexico. Navy OPAREAs include designated ocean areas near fleet 
concentration areas (i.e., homeports). OPAREAs are where the majority 
of routine Navy training and research, development, test, and 
evaluation (RDT&E) activities occur. However, Navy training exercises 
are not confined to the OPAREAs. Some training exercises or portions of 
exercises are conducted seaward of the OPAREAs and a limited amount of 
active sonar use is conducted in water areas shoreward of the OPAREAs. 
A Notice of Intent for this Draft EIS/OEIS was published in the Federal 
Register on 29 September 2006 (71 FR 57489).

[[Page 8857]]

    The Navy will conduct six public hearings to receive oral and 
written comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS. Federal agencies, state 
agencies, and local agencies and interested individuals are invited to 
be present or represented at the public hearings. This notice announces 
the dates and locations of the public hearings for this Draft EIS/OEIS.

DATES AND ADDRESSES:  An open house session will precede the scheduled 
public hearing at each of the locations listed below and will allow 
individuals to review the information presented in the AFAST Draft EIS/
OEIS. Navy representatives will be available during the open house 
sessions to clarify information related to the AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS. 
All meetings will start with an open house session from 5 p.m. to 7 
p.m. A formal presentation and public comment period will be held from 
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Public hearings will be held on the following dates 
and at the following locations: March 4, 2008 at the Tidewater 
Community College, Advanced Technology Center, Technology Theater, 
Faculty Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia; March 6, 2008 at Boston 
University, Kenmore Classroom Building, Room 101, 565 Commonwealth 
Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts; March 11, 2008 at the Crystal Coast 
Civic Center, 1st Floor, Quads 1 and 2, 3505 Arendell Street, Morehead 
City, North Carolina; March 13, 2008 at the Charleston Harbor Resort 
and Marina, Atlantic Ballroom, 20 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, 
South Carolina; March 18, 2008 at the Florida Community College at 
Jacksonville, Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts, Lakeside Conference 
Room, 11901 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida; and March 19, 2008 
at the Florida State University, Panama City Campus, Auditorium, 4750 
Collegiate Drive, Panama City, Florida.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Atlantic, Attention, Code EV22 (Atlantic Fleet Sonar Project Manager), 
6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278; phone 757-322-
4767 for a recorded message; or http://afasteis.gcsaic.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action is to designate areas 
where mid- and high-frequency active sonar and the IEER system 
training, maintenance, and RDT&E activities will occur, and to conduct 
these activities. AFAST training and RDT&E activities involving active 
sonar and the IEER system are collectively described as active sonar 
activities in the AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS. These active sonar activities 
are not new and do not involve significant changes in systems, tempo, 
or intensity from past activities. The purpose of the Proposed Action 
is to provide active sonar training for U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet ship, 
submarine, and aircraft crews, and to conduct RDT&E activities to 
support the requirements of the Fleet Readiness Training Plan (FRTP) 
and stay proficient in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Mine Warfare 
(MIW) skills. The FRTP is the Navy's training cycle that requires naval 
forces to build up in preparation for operational deployment and to 
maintain a high level of proficiency and readiness while deployed.
    The FRTP requires Basic Unit Level Training (ULT), Intermediate 
ULT, and Sustainment Training. The Navy meets these requirements during 
Independent ULT, Coordinated ULT, and Strike Group Training. At the 
beginning of the cycle, basic combat skills are learned and practiced 
during basic Independent ULT activities. Basic skills are then refined 
during Coordinated ULT. Strike Group Training is integrated training 
using progressively more difficult, complex, and large-scale exercises 
conducted at an increasing tempo. This training provides the warfighter 
with the skills necessary to function as part of a coordinated fighting 
force in a hostile environment with the capacity to accomplish multiple 
missions.
    Surface ships and submarines participating in the training also 
must conduct active sonar maintenance pier side and during transit to 
the training exercise location. The active sonar maintenance is 
required to ensure that the sonar system is operating properly before 
engaging in the training exercise or when the sonar systems are 
suspected of operating at levels below optimal performance.
    Additionally, RDT&E provides the Navy the capability of developing 
new active sonar systems and ensuring their safe and effective 
implementation for the Atlantic Fleet. The RDT&E activities analyzed in 
the AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS are similar to, and coincident with, Atlantic 
Fleet training events and have not been previously evaluated in other 
environmental planning documents.
    The Navy's need for training and RDT&E is found in Title 10 of the 
USC, Section 5062 (10 U.S.C. 5062). Title 10 U.S.C. 5062 requires the 
Navy to be ``organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and 
sustained combat incident to operations at sea.'' The current and 
emerging training and RDT&E activities addressed in this Draft EIS/OEIS 
are conducted in fulfillment of this legal requirement.
    The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of 
four alternatives. Under Alternative 1, Designate Fixed Active Sonar 
Areas, fixed active sonar areas would be designated using an 
environmental analysis to determine locations that would minimize 
environmental effects to biological resources while still meeting 
operational requirements. These areas would be available for use year-
round. Under Alternative 2, Designate Seasonal Active Sonar Areas, 
active sonar training areas would be designated using the same 
environmental analysis conducted under Alternative 1. The areas would 
be adjusted seasonally to minimize effects to marine resources while 
still meeting minimum operational requirements. Under Alternative 3, 
Designate Areas of Increased Awareness, the results of the 
environmental analysis conducted for Alternative 1 and 2 were used in 
conjunction with a qualitative environmental analysis of sensitive 
habitats to identify areas of increased awareness. Active sonar would 
not be conducted within these areas of increased awareness. The No 
Action Alternative can be regarded as continuing with the present 
course of action. Under the No Action Alternative, the Navy would 
continue conducting active sonar activities within and adjacent to 
existing OPAREAs rather than designate active sonar areas or areas of 
increased awareness. The No Action Alternative is the Navy's 
Operationally Preferred Alternative.
    The Navy analyzed potential impacts on multiple resources 
including, but not limited to, the marine environment, marine life, and 
socioeconomic resources. No significant adverse impacts are identified 
for any resource area in any geographic location within the AFAST Study 
Area that cannot be mitigated, with the exception of exposure of marine 
mammals and sea turtles to underwater sound. NMFS has received a 
request for Letter of Authorization (LOA) in accordance with the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act to authorize the incidental take of marine 
mammals that may result from the implementation of the activities 
analyzed in the AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS. In addition, the AFAST Draft EIS/
OEIS will serve as the Biological Evaluation (BE) to enter into 
consultation with NMFS in accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) to authorize the incidental take of endangered or 
threatened marine mammals and sea turtles that may result from the 
implementation of the

[[Page 8858]]

activities analyzed in the AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS. ESA consultation is 
complete once NMFS prepares a final Biological Opinion and issues an 
incidental take statement.
    The AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to Federal, State, and 
local agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and 
organizations on February 8, 2007. The public comment period will end 
on March 31, 2008. Copies of the AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS are available for 
public review at the following libraries: Portland Public Library, 5 
Monument Square, Portland, Maine; New London Public Library, 63 
Huntington Street, New London, Connecticut; Kirn Memorial Library, 301 
East City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia; Carteret County Public 
Library, 210 Turner Street, Morehead City, North Carolina; Charleston 
County Public Library, 68 Calhoun Street, Charleston, South Carolina; 
Jacksonville Public Library, 303 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, 
Florida; Bay County Public Library, 25 West Government Street, Panama 
City, Florida; Corpus Christi Public Library--Central Library, 805 
Comanche, Corpus Christi, Texas; Boston Public Library--Central 
Library, 700 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts; Ann Arundel County 
Public Library, 1410 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland; and Camden 
County Public Library, 1410 Highway 40 East, Kingsland, Georgia.
    The AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS is also available for electronic public 
viewing at http://afasteis.gcsaic.com. A paper copy of the Executive 
Summary or a single CD with the AFAST Draft EIS/OEIS will be made 
available upon written request by contacting Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command, Atlantic, Attention: Code EV22 (Atlantic Fleet 
Sonar Project Manager), 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 
23508-1278, Fax: 888-875-6781.
    Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties are 
invited to be present or represented at the public hearing. Written 
comments can also be submitted during the open house sessions preceding 
the public hearings. Oral statements will be heard and transcribed by a 
stenographer; however, to ensure the accuracy of the record, all 
statements should be submitted in writing. All statements, both oral 
and written, will become part of the public record on the Draft EIS/
OEIS and will be responded to in the Final EIS/OEIS. Equal weight will 
be given to both oral and written statements.
    In the interest of available time, and to ensure all who wish to 
give an oral statement have the opportunity to do so, each speaker's 
comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. If a long statement is 
to be presented, it should be summarized at the public hearing with the 
full text submitted either in writing at the hearing, or mailed or 
faxed to Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Attention: 
Code EV22 (Atlantic Fleet Sonar Project Manager), 6506 Hampton 
Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278, Fax: 888-875-6781. In 
addition, comments may be submitted on-line at http://afasteis.gcsaic.com during the comment period. All written comments 
must be postmarked by March 31, 2008 to ensure they become part of the 
official record. All comments will be addressed in the Final EIS/OEIS.

    Dated: February 8, 2008.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-2810 Filed 2-14-08; 8:45 am]
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