[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 59 (Monday, March 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 14109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7049]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability of Department of the Navy Report to the 
Council on Environmental Quality on the Use of Alternative Arrangements

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (Navy) announces the availability 
of its report to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on the 
value and effectiveness of the Alternative Arrangements for the U.S. 
Navy's Composite Training Unit Exercises (COMPTUEXs) and Joint Task 
Force Exercises (JTFEXs) that occurred between January 15, 2008 and 
January 23, 2009, in the Southern California (SOCAL) Operating Area. 
The full text of the Navy's report to the CEQ is available for public 
viewing on the Web site established for the SOCAL Range Complex 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) at http://www.socalrangecomplexeis.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 15, 2008, the Navy accepted 
alternative arrangements approved by the CEQ, for implementing the 
procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. for five COMPTUEXs and four JTFEXs that occurred 
between January 15, 2008 and January 23, 2009 in the SOCAL Operating 
Area. These alternative arrangements specifically addressed the use of 
mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar and its effects on marine mammals 
during Navy exercises in the SOCAL Operating Area.
    The Secretary of the Navy's decision memorandum documenting the 
Navy's acceptance of these alternative arrangements was published in 
the Federal Register on January 24, 2008. The decision memorandum 
provided that, after the conclusion of the alternative arrangements, 
and no later than March 23, 2009, the Navy would provide a report to 
the CEQ that reviewed the value and effectiveness of the approved 
alternative arrangements.
    This notice announces the public availability of the Navy's report 
to the CEQ. The full text of the report is available for public viewing 
on the Web site established for the SOCAL Range Complex EIS at http://www.socalrangecomplexeis.com.

    Dated: March 25, 2009.
A. M. Vallandingham,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E9-7049 Filed 3-27-09; 8:45 am]
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