[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10232-10233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3633]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Meetings for the Supplement to the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS/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.

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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 1500-1508), and Presidential 
Executive Order 12114, the Department of the Navy (Navy) prepared and 
filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on February 15, 
2008, a Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS for a Proposal to Enhance 
Training, Testing, and Operational Capability within the HRC. The 
Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential for behavioral 
harassment of marine mammals incidental to the use of mid-frequency 
active sonar during Navy training and testing within the HRC. The 
methodology used in the Supplement is a modification of the methodology 
previously used in the Draft EIS/OEIS. The Supplement to the Draft EIS/
OEIS also addresses a change in the number of sonar hours for each of 
the alternatives and the potential effects of an additional 
alternative. A Notice of Intent for the Supplement to the Draft EIS/
OEIS was published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2008 (73 FR 
3242).
    The Navy will conduct four public meetings to received oral and 
written comments on the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS. Federal 
agencies, State agencies, and interested individuals are invited to be 
present or represented at the public meetings. This notice announces 
the dates and locations of public meetings for the Supplement to the 
Draft EIS/OEIS.
    Dates and Addresses: Information sessions and receipt of public 
comments will be held at each of the locations listed below between 5 
p.m. to 9 p.m. The information sessions will allow individuals to 
review the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS in an open house format. 
Navy and NMFS representatives will be available during the information 
sessions to clarify information related to the Supplement to the Draft 
EIS/OEIS. Oral comments from the public will also be taken during the 
session. Public meetings will be held on the following dates and at the 
following locations in Hawaii:
    1. March 13, 2008 at the Kauai Community College Cafeteria, 3-1901 
Kaumualii Highway, Lihue, Kauai;
    2. March 14, 2008 at Maui Waena Intermediate School 795 Onehee 
Avenue, Kahului, Maui;
    3. March 17, 2008 at Disabled American Veterans Hall 2685 North 
Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, Oahu;
    4. March 18, 2008, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 71 Banyan Drive, Hilo, 
Hawaii.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Navy previously conducted public 
hearings on the Draft EIS/OEIS in August 2007 following publication of 
the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on July 27, 2007 (72 
FR 41324). Since the publication of the Draft EIS/OEIS, Navy, in 
coordination with NMFS, has

[[Page 10233]]

conducted a re-evaluation of the analysis concerning the analytical 
methodology used in the July 2007 document to assess the potential for 
behavioral harassment of marine mammals incidental to the use of mid-
frequency active sonar during Navy training and testing. Modifications 
to this analytical methodology have led Navy to determine that the 
preparation of a Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS is appropriate. 
Besides the modifications to the analytical methodology, the Supplement 
to the Draft EIS/OEIS incorporates changes in sonar hours for each 
alternative. The Supplement also includes the evaluation of the 
potential effects of a new alternative. Alternative 3 (which is also 
identified as the Navy's preferred alternative) includes all of the 
training and testing activities identified for Alternative 2, but with 
reduced mid-frequency sonar hours (the same number of sonar hours 
identified for the No-action Alternative).
    The Proposed Action assessed in the Supplement to the Draft EIS/
OEIS is unchanged from the Draft EIS/OEIS and involves increasing the 
usage and enhancing the capabilities of the HRC with the purpose of 
achieving and maintaining Fleet readiness and to conduct current, 
emerging, and future training and research, development, test, and 
evaluation (RDT&E) operations. This action is consistent with U.S. Code 
Title 10, section 5062.
    The Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS has been distributed to 
various Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as other interested 
individuals and organizations. Additionally, copies of the Supplement 
to the Draft EIS/OEIS have been distributed to the following libraries 
in Hawaii for public review: Kahului Public Library, 90 School Street, 
Kahului, Maui, Hawaii 96732; Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, 
Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii 96793; Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue 
Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii 96720; Hawaii State Library, Hawaii and 
Pacific Section Document Unit, 478 South King Street, Honolulu, Oahu, 
Hawaii 96813-2994; Lihue Public Library, 4344 Hardy Street, Lihue, 
Kauai, Hawaii 96766; Waimea Public Library, P.O. Box 397, Waimea, 
Kauai, Hawaii 96766; Princeville Public Library, 4343 Emmalani Drive, 
Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii 96722.
    An electronic copy of both the Supplement and the Draft EIS/OEIS 
are also available for public viewing at: http://www.govsupport.us/hrc. 
Single copies of the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS are available 
upon written request by contacting Public Affairs Officer, Pacific 
Missile Range Facility, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii, 96752-
0128, ATTN: HRC EIS/OEIS, voice mail 1-866-767-3347, facsimile 808-335-
4520.
    Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties are 
invited to be present or represented at the public meetings. Written 
comments can also be submitted during these meetings. Oral statements 
will either recorded or be heard and transcribed by a stenographer. All 
statements, both oral and written, will become part of the public 
record on the Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS and will be addressed 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 at the public meetings 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 meeting and the full text submitted in writing either at the 
meeting or mailed to Public Affairs Officer, Pacific Missile Range 
Facility, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii, 96752-0128, ATTN: HRC 
EIS/OEIS, faxed to 808-335-4520, or submitted via e-mail to [email protected].
    All written comments must be post marked or received by April 7, 
2008, to ensure they become part of the official record. All comments 
will be addressed in the Final EIS/OEIS.

    Dated: February 20, 2008.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal 
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-3633 Filed 2-25-08; 8:45 am]
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