[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 126 (Monday, June 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36846-36847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14811]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability of Finding

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 the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), implementing procedural 
provisions of NEPA, and Executive Order (EO) 12114, Environmental 
Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions, the Department of the Navy 
(DON) gives notice that a combined Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI)/Finding of No Significant Harm (FONSH) has been issued and is 
available for Expeditionary Strike Group Composite Training Unit 
Exercise (ESG COMPTUEX) July 2008.

DATES: The effective date of the finding is June 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the combined FONSI/FONSH are available 
for public viewing or downloading at http://www.navydocuments.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commander, Second Fleet Public 
Affairs, Commander Phillips, telephone: 757-443-9822 or visit http://www.navydocuments.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ESG COMPTUEX (July 2008) is a major Navy 
Atlantic Fleet training exercise proposed to occur in July 2008 in the 
offshore Cherry Point, Charleston, and Jacksonville Operating Areas 
(OPAREAs) and adjacent military installations. The purpose of this 
exercise is to certify naval forces as combat-ready. Activities 
conducted during the exercise include air-to-ground bombing, shore fire 
control party training, amphibious landings, non-explosive naval 
gunfire, fast attack craft/fast inshore attack craft, maritime 
interdiction operations and anti-submarine warfare, including use of 
mid-frequency active sonar.
    The FONSI is based on analysis contained in a Comprehensive 
Environmental Assessment (EA)

[[Page 36847]]

addressing environmental impacts associated with land-based training 
for Major Atlantic Fleet Training Exercises on the East and Gulf Coasts 
of the U.S. (February 2006) and the EA for Routine Shore Fire Control 
Party (SFCP) Training, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (July 2002). The 
FONSH is based on analysis contained in a Comprehensive Overseas 
Environmental Assessment (OEA) (February 2006) and a Supplement to the 
Comprehensive OEA (SOEA) for environmental impacts associated with 
Navy's conduct of major exercise training in offshore operating areas 
along the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. (April 2008).
    Environmental concerns addressed in the EA included land use, 
community facilities, coastal zone management, socioeconomics, cultural 
resources, airspace, air quality, noise, geology, soils, water 
resources, biological resources, munitions and hazardous materials 
management, and safety.
    The EA and OEA addressed potential impacts to the ocean physical 
environment, fish and Essential Fish Habitat; sea turtles and marine 
mammals; seabirds and migratory birds; endangered and threatened 
species; socioeconomics; and cultural resources. The SOEA included an 
updated analysis of MFA sonar use.
    This action includes mitigation measures to reduce impacts to a 
level that is less than significant. In accordance with the Major 
Atlantic Fleet Training Exercise EA and OEA and the SOEA and the 
evaluation of the nature, scope and intensity of the proposed action, 
the Navy finds that the conduct of the ESG COMPTUEX in July 2008 will 
not significantly impact or harm the environment and, therefore, an 
Environmental Impact Statement or Overseas Environmental Impact 
Statement is not required.

    Dated: June 24, 2008.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-14811 Filed 6-27-08; 8:45 am]
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