[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22829-22831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10092]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2006-24163]


National Environmental Policy Act; Final Environmental Impact 
Statement on U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Operations: Districts 11 and 
13

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard announces the availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to implement enhanced 
environmental protection measures, as necessary, for marine protected 
species (MPS) and marine protected areas (MPAs) that occur in the Coast 
Guard's District 11 (California) and 13 (Oregon and Washington) areas 
of responsibility (AORs). The FEIS analyzes the potential environmental 
impacts of specific Coast Guard vessel and aircraft operations on MPS 
and MPAs when engaged in the following missions and activities: law 
enforcement, national security, search and rescue (SAR), aids to 
navigation (ATON), and oil pollution and vessel grounding response. We 
request your comments on the FEIS.

DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to our 
online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before June 1, 2010 
or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2006-24163 using any of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call or e-mail LCDR Jeff Bray, Office of Environmental and Real 
Property Law, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-3752, e-mail 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the 
FEIS. All comments received will be posted, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have 
provided.
    Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the 
docket number for this notice (USCG-2006-24163) and provide a reason 
for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and 
material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only 
one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a 
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a telephone number in the body 
of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions 
regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become 
highlighted in blue. In the ``Document Type'' drop down menu select 
``Notices'' and insert ``USCG-2006-24163'' in the ``Keyword'' box. 
Click ``Search'' then click on the balloon shape in the ``Actions'' 
column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit 
them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable 
for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.
    Viewing the comments, Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), 
FEIS, and associated documents: To view the comments, FEIS, DEIS, and 
other documents, go to http://www.regulations.gov, click on the ``read 
comments'' box, which will then become highlighted in blue. In the 
``Keyword'' box, insert ``USCG-2006-24163'' and click ``Search.'' Click 
the ``Open Docket Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column. If you do not 
have access to the Internet, you may view the docket online by visiting 
the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of 
the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement with the 
Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility. In 
addition, the Coast Guard has posted the FEIS at the following Web 
site: http://pacareaeis.uscg.e2m-inc.com.
    Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a 
Privacy Act, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in 
the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Background and Purpose

Final Environmental Impact Statement

    We have prepared an FEIS to implement enhanced protective measures, 
as necessary, for MPS and MPAs that occur in the Eleventh Coast Guard 
District (California) (D11) and Thirteenth Coast Guard District 
(Washington and Oregon) (D13) AORs. The FEIS analyzes the potential 
environmental impacts of specific Coast Guard vessel and aircraft 
operations on MPS and MPAs when engaged in law enforcement, national 
security, SAR, ATON, and oil pollution and vessel grounding response.
    The Coast Guard published a notice of intent to prepare an EIS in 
the Federal

[[Page 22830]]

Register (71 FR 14233, Mar. 21, 2006). The Cost Guard provided a 45-day 
public review period for the DEIS. The public review period was 
initiated through publication of a Notice of Availability in the 
Federal Register (73 FR 77043, Dec. 18, 2008).

Alternatives Analyzed

    The FEIS evaluates a variety of actions, listed below as 
Alternatives 1 through 6, to determine whether modification or 
supplementation of current procedures is required to accomplish the 
wide variety of Coast Guard missions in a manner that lessens the 
probability of adverse impacts on MPS and MPAs. Alternative 1, the No 
Action Alternative, documents baseline strategies the Coast Guard 
currently employs to protect marine resources in the D11 and D13 AOR. 
Alternatives 2 through 5 present discrete actions and are evaluated 
individually to determine whether their implementation is reasonable 
and would serve the purpose and need of minimizing and avoiding 
negative impacts on MPS and MPAs. Alternatives 2 through 5 are designed 
to augment or otherwise amend all those actions described in the No 
Action Alternative. Alternative 6, the Coast Guard's Preferred 
Alternative, represents a combination of select components of 
Alternatives 1 through 5.
    Alternative 1--No Action Alternative: Under the No Action 
Alternative, the Coast Guard would continue current operations, without 
augmentation or modification. Existing strategic plans, directives, 
guidance, and permits would continue to guide Coast Guard vessel and 
aircraft operations in a manner intended to minimize, to the maximum 
extent possible, adverse impacts on MPS and MPAs. The level of 
protected living marine resources (LMR) efforts would continue to be 
balanced with other Coast Guard missions and requirements, and would 
remain constantly in flux due to other mission responsibilities and 
requisite operational tempo. The analysis of the No Action Alternative 
takes into account the increased number of vessels and aircraft 
operating in the D11 and D13 AORs since September 11, 2001, and the 
associated expansion of asset mission duties and responsibilities.
    Alternative 2--Enhanced Operational Procedures: Implement Improved 
Local Operating Procedures; Revise Coast Guard Speed and Approach 
Guidance; and Enhance Law Enforcement Operations to include ``pulse 
operations'': This alternative would amend, append, eliminate portions 
of, or wholly incorporate the No Action Alternative and would build 
upon the existing Protected Living Marine Resources Program (PLMRP) at 
each district by formalizing localized operational mitigation 
procedures and protection efforts, strengthening and expanding Coast 
Guard speed and approach guidance, and better unifying interdistrict 
and intradistrict law enforcement strategies, including engaging in 
``pulse operations.''
    Alternative 3--Enhanced Training Program: Enhance Marine Protected 
Species and Marine Protected Area Awareness Training for Coast Guard 
Personnel: This alternative would amend, append, eliminate portions of, 
or wholly incorporate the No Action Alternative and would build upon 
the existing PLMRP at each district by requiring the Coast Guard to 
review and, if necessary, implement enhanced training for Officer of 
the Deck, coxswain, vessel lookouts, and air station personnel.
    Alternative 4--Reporting Program: Implement a Web-based Whale 
Reporting Program: This alternative would amend, append, eliminate 
portions of, or wholly incorporate the No Action Alternative and would 
build upon the existing PLMRP at each district by implementing a Whale 
Reporting Program for D11 and D13 surface and aviation units. This 
reporting program would establish real-time, Web-based whale reporting 
protocols within the Region of Influence. This program would be 
maintained centrally by Pacific Area (PACAREA) personnel and would 
collect vital information on real-time locations of live, dead, 
injured, or entangled whales. The Web site would allow for regional 
sorting so that units could prepare for a patrol by logging on to the 
Web site and receiving vital real-time sighting information for the 
area they would be transiting or patrolling. Implementation of this 
Alternative would allow deploying Coast Guard assets to have heightened 
situational awareness of the possible presence of marine species along 
their intended transit path and patrol area, and would allow units to 
alter operations accordingly.
    Alternative 5--Enhanced Partnership Program: Strengthen 
Partnerships to Facilitate Marine Protected Species and Marine 
Protected Area Public Outreach Programs: This alternative would amend, 
append, eliminate portions of, or wholly incorporate the No Action 
Alternative and would build upon the existing PLMRP at each district by 
strengthening joint partnerships and efforts to support the 
conservation and recovery of MPS and MPAs.
    Alternative 6--Environmentally Preferred Alternative: Combination 
Enhancements: Under the Preferred Alternative, the Coast Guard would 
further minimize or avoid impacts on MPS and MPAs by strengthening its 
current operations (No Action Alternative) by incorporating some of the 
various components described in Alternatives 1, 2, 3, and 5 that could 
be implemented reasonably and would likely provide some enhancement to 
marine resource protection. Specifically, this would entail:

1. Implement Improved Local Operating Procedures, Revised Guidance, and 
Enhanced Law Enforcement Operations

     Annually review and update formal PLMRPs for the 
districts.
     Require all Sectors, Air Stations, and major Cutters to 
designate a MPS Point of Contact.
     Update and amend speed and approach guidance to include 
both vessels and aircraft and continue to update regularly.
     Have each district plan, execute, and document one 
collaborative MPS-driven pulse operation per year, thereby utilizing 
resources and the subject matter expertise of our partners.
     Expand an existing program in which National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) representatives periodically accompany Coast 
Guard personnel on LMR missions.

2. Enhance In-House Marine Protected Species and Marine Protected Area 
Training

     Enhance regional lookout, coxswain, and deck watch officer 
skills by providing D11 and D13 units a standardized regionally focused 
MPS awareness training module. Module will include methods for 
detecting, identifying, and avoiding MPS and ensuring adequate 
awareness of and responsiveness to the enforcement needs of MPAs.

3. Enhance Partnerships To Facilitate Marine Protected Species and 
Marine Protected Area Outreach and Conservation

     Require each district to participate in one collaborative 
MPS public outreach campaign per year.
     Broadcast Notices to Mariners advising caution in known 
areas of high MPS concentration in bays.
     Include National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the National Marine Sanctuary Program, and the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service educational resources on PACAREA's Internet site.

[[Page 22831]]

     Utilize the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Sea Partners Program 
as main vehicles for public outreach. Provide educational materials to 
the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Sea Partners programs for public 
distribution.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: April 10, 2010.
Jody A. Breckenridge,
Vice Admiral, United Stated Coast Guard, Pacific Area Commander.
[FR Doc. 2010-10092 Filed 4-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P