[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 227 (Monday, November 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70981-70982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27788]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL85


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Replacement of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center Located in La Jolla, CA

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Impact Report (EIR); 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NOAA announces the availability for comment a joint Draft EIS/
EIR analyzing the environmental impacts of replacing its Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) near the Scripps Institution of 
Oceanography (SIO) within the University of California at San Diego 
(UCSD) campus in La Jolla, California.
    Publication of this notice is to request public comment on the 
Draft EIS/EIR and its associated environmental findings and to provide 
information as to how to participate.

DATES: A public meeting will be held on the following date: Tuesday, 
December 9, 2008--6 p.m. meeting start time, Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center, Building A, Large Conference Room, 8604 La Jolla Shores 
Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR must be postmarked or 
transmitted via e-mail by January 12, 2009. Comments should be 
submitted to Anne Elston, Environmental Research Analyst, SRI 
International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, G 234, Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493; 
e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Elston, Environmental Research 
Analyst, SRI International, (650) 859-2693; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Marine Fisheries Services 
(NMFS) is responsible for the management, conservation, and protection 
of living marine resources within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The 
SWFSC in La Jolla, California, manages and conducts research involving 
Pacific fisheries and marine mammal research for the protection and 
management of these resources throughout Western Pacific and 
Antarctica. The existing SWFSC facility, built in 1964, is currently 
adjacent to a coastal bluff that is undergoing severe erosion and 
retreat. NOAA proposes to construct a new SWFSC building to replace its 
existing NMFS administrative and marine research facilities currently 
located in La Jolla, California. A minimum of two existing at-risk 
SWFSC structures would be removed and the property currently used by 
NOAA would be returned to UCSD for other appropriate uses.
    NOAA is the lead Federal agency for implementation of the NEPA. The 
University of California is the lead agency under the CEQA. The 
existing and preferred sites for the SWFSC headquarters are at the UCSD 
campus. The NMFS, SIO and other marine research organizations conduct 
independent and joint research at the SWFSC and its salt water 
laboratory facilities.
    The proposed project will require construction of a new facility to 
support SWFSC administrative and marine research operations. The 
preferred site will enable NMFS, SIO, and others to

[[Page 70982]]

continue collaboration within a wide range of programmatic marine 
research disciplines. NOAA, in cooperation with UCSD, has prepared a 
joint EIS/EIR to analyze the environmental impacts of relocating the 
SWFSC facilities at UCSD.
    Other alternative actions considered were: Use of other NOAA 
facility locations in California and other Pacific Coast states; use of 
alternative sites at or adjacent to SIO for collaborative research; and 
use of existing alternative NOAA facilities and properties away from 
UCSD.
    This joint Draft EIS/EIR analyzes environmental impacts that may 
result from construction and/or operation of the proposed facilities. 
The environmental issues addressed in the Draft EIS/EIR include: Land 
use and coastal zone management, geology, hydrology and water 
resources; biological resources and protected species; utilities and 
public services; transportation and traffic circulation, recreational 
resources; air quality; noise and vibration; visual effects and 
aesthetics; cultural resources; and socioeconomics and environmental 
justice; public services and utilities; population and housing; solid 
waste and hazardous materials; and cumulative effects.
    Copies of the draft EIS/EIR have been made available at the UCSD 
library, at the existing SWFSC, and at La Jolla Public Library.

Decision Process

    Following due consideration of all comments received during the 
official comment period, a Final EIS/EIR will be prepared. The 
government decision as to how to proceed will be announced in a Record 
of Decision (ROD) to be issued no earlier than 30 days after issuance 
of the Final EIS/EIR. The official responsible for a final decision is 
William F. Broglie, Chief Administrative Officer, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.

    Dated: November 18, 2008.
Sandra R. Manning,
Acting Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-27788 Filed 11-21-08; 8:45 am]
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