[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31326-31327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12780]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL85


Notice of Availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement for Replacement of NOAA National Marine Fisheries 
Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, CA

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS); Opportunity for comments.

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SUMMARY: NOAA announces the public release of the Final SEIS in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, and NOAA Administrative 
Order 216-6 Environmental Review Procedures for Implementing the 
National Environmental Policy Act. Since completion of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) in 
April of 2009, substantial changes to the proposed action are being 
considered by NOAA within portions of the project area containing the 
2.5-acre property currently occupied by Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center (SWFSC) and managed by NOAA under long-term lease from the 
University of California Office of the President (UCOP). These newly 
proposed actions were not previously analyzed in the Final EIS/EIR and 
involve additional demolition activities, substantial excavation and 
grading, installation of a geohazard soil stabilization system, 
structural upgrade to remaining structures, and other site alterations. 
These proposed actions were deemed necessary by NOAA based on 
additional geotechnical information and design recommendations received 
since approval of the Final EIS/EIR. A Draft and Final SEIS evaluated 
each environmental topic addressed in the Final EIS/EIR, and focused on 
the newly proposed action and its potential effects to the human 
environment. The No-Action Alternative was analyzed and assumes the 
newly proposed actions would not be implemented. Comments on the Draft 
SEIS were received during a 45-day public comment period that ended 
October 31, 2011. The Final SEIS evaluates and responds to these 
comments. An opportunity to comment on the Final SEIS is provided for 
30 days following this Notice of Availability.

DATES: Written comments and input will be accepted on or before June 
25, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Robb Gries, Project 
Engineer, NOAA, Project Planning & Management--Western Region, 7600 
Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Seattle, WA 98115; email 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robb Gries, NOAA Project Engineer, 
at the address provided above. A copy of the Final SEIS can be viewed 
or downloaded at http://www.seco.noaa.gov/HTML_Blue/OCAO_NEPA.html

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action evaluated in the April 
2009 Final EIS/EIR consisted of the demolition of Buildings B and C and 
the construction of a new SWFSC building on a property across La Jolla 
Shores Drive from the existing NMFS facilities. Currently, construction 
of the SWFSC building at the preferred site is underway. Demolition of 
Buildings B and C at the existing NOAA property would not occur until 
construction of the new SWFSC building has been completed.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare the SEIS was published in the Federal 
Register on June 30, 2011, and a Notice of Availability of the Draft 
SEIS was published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2011. 
Consistent with 40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)(i), this SEIS focuses on the 
environmental effects of the proposed changes and feasible alternatives 
including the no-action alternative, and analyzes the potential effects 
to affected resources such as: geological conditions, hydraulic 
processes, construction noise, traffic/pedestrian circulation, air 
emissions, and protected wildlife. Separately, the University of 
California--San Diego (UCSD) and UCOP intend to determine what 
additional CEQA documentation is necessary, such as an Addendum to the 
Final EIS/EIR, based on the findings of the SEIS and other factors.
    NOAA has submitted the Final SEIS to the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency for review and comment, in conformance with NEPA 
implementing regulations. Copies of this document have been made 
available to persons who commented on the Draft SEIS, to other 
individuals expressing interest, and posted on the NOAA Web page noted 
above in order to be accessible to the general public. NOAA is 
accepting comments on the Final SEIS during a minimum 30-day ``cooling 
off'' period beginning May 25, 2012, and ending on June 25, 2012.


[[Page 31327]]


    Dated: May 14, 2012.
Edward Horton,
Chief Administrative Officer, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-12780 Filed 5-24-12; 8:45 am]
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