[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 45647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18858]



[[Page 45647]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Extension of Public Comment Period for the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Joint Military Training

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On April 03, 2015, the Department of Navy (DoN) published a 
Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement 
for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Joint Military 
Training. A notice extending the public comment period by 60 days was 
published on May 14, 2015. The purpose of this notice is to announce an 
additional 14-day extension of the public comment period to August 17, 
2015 Eastern Daylight Time (E.D.T.) [August 18, 2015, Chamorro Standard 
Time (ChST)]. This extension is made in recognition of the 
communications disruptions in the CNMI caused by the damage to the 
undersea cable between Guam and Saipan.

DATES: The public comment period for the Draft EIS began on April 03, 
2015, EDT [April 04, 2015, ChST) with the publication of the Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, and with this extension, will end on August 17, 
2015, EDT [August 18, 2015, ChST] for a total of 134 days. Mailed 
comments should be postmarked no later than August 17, 2015, EDT 
[August 18, 2015, ChST] to ensure they are considered.

ADDRESSES: The public may provide comments through the project Web site 
at www.CNMIJointMilitaryTrainingEIS.com, or by mail at: Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Attn: 09PA, Public Affairs 
Office, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, JBPHH, HI 96860-3134.
    The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to federal and local agencies, 
elected officials, and other interested individuals and organizations. 
The Draft EIS/OEIS is available for public review at 
www.CNMIJointMilitaryTrainingEIS.com, and at the following libraries:
    (1) Joeten Kiyu Public Library, Saipan; (2) Northern Marianas 
College Olympio T. Borja Memorial Library, Saipan; (3) Tinian Public 
Library, Tinian; (4) Antonio C. Atalig Memorial Rota Public Library, 
Rota; (5) University of Guam Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Guam; 
(6) Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library, Guam.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 03, 2015, the Department of Navy 
(DoN) published a Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings 
for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental 
Impact Statement for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Joint 
Military Training (80 FR 18385, April 03, 2015). A notice extending the 
public comment period by 60 days was published on May 14, 2015 (80 FR 
27678). The purpose of this notice is to announce an additional 14-day 
extension of the public comment period to August 17, 2015 Eastern 
Daylight Time (E.D.T.) [August 18, 2015, Chamorro Standard Time 
(ChST)]. This extension is made in recognition of the communications 
disruptions in the CNMI caused by the damage to the undersea cable 
between Guam and Saipan.
    The DoN's proposed action is to establish live-fire Range Training 
Areas (RTAs) within the CNMI to address the U.S. Pacific Command 
Service Components' unfilled unit level and combined level training 
requirements in the Western Pacific. The DoN recognizes that public 
comments are an essential part of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) process. Accordingly, the DoN established a 60-day public 
comment period in lieu of the minimum 45-day period required by NEPA 
implementing regulations. A notice extending the public comment period 
by 60 days was published on May 14, 2015 (80 FR 27678). Due to a break 
in an undersea cable and associated communications disruptions in the 
CNMI, the DoN is further extending the Draft EIS public comment period 
by 14 days to August 17, 2015, EDT [August 18, 2015, ChST] for a total 
of 134 days.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CNMI Joint Military Training EIS/OEIS 
Project Manager by email via the project Web site 
(www.CNMIJointMilitaryTrainingEIS.com).

    Dated: July 27, 2015.
N.A. Hagerty-Ford,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-18858 Filed 7-30-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P