[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36998-36999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14998]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment for Office of Coast Survey Hydrographic Survey Projects

AGENCY: Office of Coast Survey (OCS), National Ocean Service (NOS), 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of 
Commerce.

[[Page 36999]]


ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment; Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NOAA's Office of Coast Survey (OCS) seeks comment on a draft 
programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) of the hydrographic surveys 
and related activities that OCS regularly conducts in navigationally 
significant waters around the nation. These surveys use a vessel 
equipped with high-frequency side scan sonar, single beam, and 
multibeam echosounders, which use sound waves to find and identify 
objects in the water and to determine water depth. Hydrographic survey 
projects support the OCS mission to provide reliable nautical charts 
and other products necessary for safe navigation and sound decision-
making in U.S. ocean and coastal waters. The intended effects of the 
surveys are to provide the foundation for navigational charts required 
by all domestic ships moving people and products in and out of U.S. 
ports every year. Charts help prevent mariners from running ships 
aground or hitting dangerous obstructions (e.g., ship wrecks, marine 
debris, or pinnacle rocks). Groundings or collisions with other objects 
in the sea can result in the release of oil or dangerous chemicals into 
the marine environment.
    Date and Time: The above document is available for public review 
and comment through July 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the OCS Draft Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment, you may email comments to Jeff Ferguson, 
Chief, Hydrographic Surveys Division at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Jamison, Office of Coast 
Survey at 301-713-2777 x153 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment for Office of Coast Survey Hydrographic Survey Projects is 
available for review at http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/Legal/.

    Authority:  Coast and Geodetic Survey Act (33 U.S.C. 883a et 
seq.); Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 
892).

    Dated: June 8, 2012.
Kathryn Ries,
Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-14998 Filed 6-19-12; 8:45 am]
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