[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 23683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11783]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL85


Notice of Availability of a Final 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 Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), NOAA announces the availability of the joint 
Final EIS/EIR analyzing the environmental impacts of replacing the 
Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). This Final EIS/EIR is 
prepared pursuant to NEPA to assess the environmental impacts of 
replacing the existing SWFSC buildings with a new facility located on 
campus of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) within the 
University of California at San Diego (UCSD) campus in La Jolla, 
California. The Final EIS/EIR includes consideration of all comments 
received during the official comment period for the Draft EIS/EIR. The 
Final EIS/EIR has been distributed to interested parties and 
responsible government agencies.

DATES: Any written comments on the Final EIS/EIR must be postmarked or 
transmitted to the responsible official below by June 19, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul N. Doremus, Ph.D, NOAA, 301 713-
3372 x180, or Anne Elston, Environmental Research Analyst, 333 
Ravenswood Avenue, G 234, Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493, SRI International 
(650) 859-2693; e-mail [email protected]. NOAA is not required to 
respond to comments received as a result of issuance of the Final EIS/
EIR; however comments will be reviewed and considered for their impact 
on issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD).

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 action would require construction of a new facility to 
support SWFSC administrative and marine research operations. The 
preferred site will enable NMFS, SIO, and others to continue 
collaboration within a wide range of programmatic marine research 
disciplines.
    Alternative actions analyzed in the Final EIS/EIR include:
     Bluff stabilization
     On-site redevelopment
     On- and near-site redevelopment
     Off-site development at SIO Deep Sea Drilling Site
     Off-site development at UCSD Hillside Neighborhood Site
     Leased office and research space
     Collocation of SWFSC with other existing NOAA facilities
     No Action
    This joint Final EIS/EIR analyzes environmental impacts that may 
result from implementation of the proposed and alternative actions and 
identifies measures to avoid or reduce the intensity of environmental 
impacts.

Decision Process

    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 
publication of this NOA.

    Dated: May 13, 2009.
William F. Broglie,
Chief Administrative Officer, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-11783 Filed 5-19-09; 8:45 am]
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