[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 66 (Friday, April 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18543-18544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6988]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2007-0042]


Application for the Containerized Cargo Ship ATLANTIC COMPASS, 
review for inclusion in the Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program; 
Draft Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Draft 
Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the containerized cargo ship 
ATLANTIC COMPASS. The DEA describes the ATLANTIC COMPASS' application 
for the Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program (STEP) Ballast Water 
Treatment System demonstration initiative. The DEA for the ATLANTIC 
COMPASS also addresses effects on the human and natural environments 
from installing, testing, and using the Ecochlor, Inc. ballast water 
treatment system as the vessel operates in U.S. waters.

DATES: Comments and related materials must reach the Docket Management 
Facility on or before June 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket 
number USCG-2007-0042 to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one 
of the following methods:
    (1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    (3) Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the Ground Floor of the West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The 
telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    (4) Fax: 202-493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on the Draft 
Environmental Assessment (DEA) or would like a copy of the DEA, please 
contact LCDR Brian Moore, telephone 202-372-1434 or e-mail: 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, please call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

[[Page 18544]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments and related materials about the 
Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) described in this notice. Persons 
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, the 
docket number for this notice (USCG-2007-0042), and the reasons for 
each comment. You may submit your comments and materials by mail, hand 
delivery, fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility 
listed under ADDRESSES. If you choose to submit them by mail or hand 
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no longer than 8\1/2\ by 11 
inches, and suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit 
them by mail and would like to know if they reached the Facility, 
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will 
consider all comments and materials received during the comment period.

Public Meetings

    We do not intend to hold any public meetings in association with 
this DEA.

Legislative and Regulatory History

    In the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 
1990, as reauthorized, and as amended by the National Invasive Species 
Act of 1996, Public Law 101-646 and Public Law 104-332, respectively, 
Congress directed the Coast Guard to prevent introduction of aquatic 
nonindigenous species (NIS) from ballast water discharged by ships. 16 
U.S.C. 4711. To achieve this objective, the Coast Guard wrote new 
regulations in 33 CFR 151, subparts C and D. 58 FR 18330, April 8, 
1993, and 69 FR 44952, July 28, 2004, respectively.
    On December 8, 2004, the Coast Guard published a notice in the 
Federal Register announcing its Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program 
(STEP) for experimental shipboard ballast water treatment systems. 69 
FR 1802. The program goal is to promote development of alternatives to 
ballast water exchange as a means of preventing invasive species 
entering U.S. waters through ships' ballast water. The comments we 
received support testing prototype treatment equipment and developing 
effective and practicable standards for approving this equipment.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(Section 102(2)(c)), as implemented by the Council of Environmental 
Quality regulations in 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and Coast Guard 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, ``National Environmental Policy Act 
Implementing Procedures and Policy for Considering Environmental 
Impacts'', the Coast Guard prepared a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment (PEA) for the STEP to evaluate the environmental impacts 
from installing and operating a limited number of prototype ballast 
water treatment systems. 69 FR 71068. The PEA can be found in docket 
USCG-2001-9267. That PEA addresses potential effects to the natural and 
human environments including fish, marine mammals, invertebrates, 
microorganisms and plankton, submerged and emergent species, threatened 
and endangered species, and essential fish habitat. It also requires 
each system to be evaluated for localized effects on the ports and 
waterways where a vessel involved in the program operates.
    We request your comments on the potential impacts of installing, 
using, and testing the Ecochlor, Inc. ballast water treatment system on 
the containerized cargo ship ATLANTIC COMPASS, as analyzed in the DEA. 
We also request your comments on sources of data, reference material, 
or other information not included in the DEA. Your comments will be 
considered in preparing a Final Environmental Assessment for the 
ATLANTIC COMPASS.

    Dated: March 25, 2008.
J.G. Lantz,
U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
 [FR Doc. E8-6988 Filed 4-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P