[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 19 (Friday, January 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 5650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2052]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Record of Decision for Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar 
Training

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DON), after carefully weighing the 
operational and environmental consequences of the proposed action, 
announces its decision to designate areas along the East Coast of the 
United States and in the Gulf of Mexico where mid- and high-frequency 
active (MFA and HFA) sonar and the improved extended echo ranging 
(IEER) system training; maintenance; and research, development, test, 
and evaluation (RDT&E) activities will occur, and to conduct these 
activities. The Navy's decision regarding MFA sonar activities includes 
the advanced extended echo ranging (AEER) system as a replacement for 
the IEER system. The Navy considered applicable executive orders, 
including an analysis of the environmental effects of its actions 
outside the United States or its territories under Executive Order (EO) 
12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions, and the 
requirements of EO 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations.
    The proposed action will be accomplished as set forth in the No-
Action Alternative, described in the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) as the 
preferred alternative. Implementation of the preferred alternative 
could begin immediately. The preferred alternative represents the 
active sonar training and RDT&E activities necessary for Navy to meet 
its Title 10 obligation to organize, train, equip and maintain combat-
ready naval forces and to successfully fulfill its current and future 
global mission of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining 
freedom of the seas.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Record of Decision (ROD) has been 
distributed to all those individuals who requested a copy of the Final 
EIS/OEIS and agencies and organizations that received a copy of the 
Final EIS/OEIS. The complete text of the Navy's ROD is available for 
public viewing on the project Web site at http://www.afasteis.gcsaic.com, along with copies of the Final EIS/OEIS and 
supporting documents. Single copies of the ROD will be made available 
upon request by contacting Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Atlantic, Attention: Code EV22 (AFAST Project Manager), 6506 Hampton 
Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23508-1278.

    Dated: January 27, 2009.
A. M. Vallandingham
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E9-2052 Filed 1-29-09; 8:45 am]
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