[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 7538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02537]



[[Page 7538]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplement to the Gulf of Alaska 
Navy Training Activities Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 and regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental 
Quality, the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its intent to 
prepare a supplement to the 2011 Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Navy Training 
Activities Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas Environmental 
Impact Statement (OEIS) and 2016 Gulf of Alaska Navy Training 
Activities Supplemental EIS/OEIS. New information includes a new 
acoustic effects model, updated marine mammal density data, and 
evolving and emergent best available science. Proposed activities are 
consistent with those analyzed in the 2016 GOA Navy Training Activities 
Supplemental EIS/OEIS and 2017 Record of Decision.

DATES: The public 30-day scoping period begins on February 10, 2020 and 
extends to March 11, 2020. Comments must be postmarked no later than 
March 11, 2020 for consideration in the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS.

ADDRESSES: The DON invites all interested parties to submit scoping 
comments on the GOA Supplemental EIS/OEIS by mail to the address below 
and through the project website at http://www.GOAEIS.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Northwest, Attn: Ms. Kimberly Kler, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, 
Silverdale, Washington 98315, 360-315-5103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Supplemental EIS/OEIS is a supplement 
to the 2011 GOA EIS/OEIS and 2016 GOA Supplemental EIS/OEIS, and 
supports renewal of current regulatory permits and authorizations for 
training requirements to achieve and maintain Fleet readiness as 
required by Title 10 of the U.S. Code. The DON's Proposed Action is 
unchanged since the 2016 GOA Supplemental EIS/OEIS and 2017 Record of 
Decision, and includes conducting one large-scale carrier strike group 
exercise per year, as well as the inclusion of anti-submarine warfare 
activities with the use of active sonar. The Proposed Action does not 
alter the Navy's original purpose and need as discussed in the 2016 GOA 
Supplemental EIS/OEIS. The DON needs to continue conducting at-sea 
joint exercises in the GOA to support the training of combat-capable 
naval forces.
    The Study Area for the Supplemental EIS/OEIS is the same as the 
2011 GOA EIS/OEIS and 2016 GOA Supplemental EIS/OEIS. As part of this 
process, the DON will seek the issuance of regulatory permits and 
authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered 
Species Act to support continued at-sea training and testing 
requirements within the Study Area. The renewed permits would begin in 
2022 and extend for a period of 7 years; thereby ensuring critical 
Department of Defense requirements into the future are met.
    Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.6, the DON will invite the National Marine 
Fisheries Service to be a cooperating agency in preparation of this 
Supplemental EIS/OEIS.
    The analysis in the Supplemental EIS/OEIS will address the 
following resources: Marine mammals, fishes, threatened and endangered 
species, and Alaska Native Traditional Resources.
    The DON will use the scoping process to identify public concerns 
and local issues to address in the Supplemental EIS/OEIS. Federal 
agencies, Alaska Native Tribes, state agencies, local agencies, the 
public, and interested persons are encouraged to provide comments to 
the DON to identify specific issues or topics of environmental concern 
the commenter believes the DON should consider. Written comments must 
be postmarked no later than March 11, 2020 for review and consideration 
in the development of the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS and mailed to: 
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Attention: GOA 
Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, 
Silverdale, Washington 98315-1101. Comments can also be submitted 
online via the project website at http://www.GOAEIS.com. Also at this 
website, those interested in receiving electronic project updates can 
subscribe to receive notifications via email for key milestones 
throughout the environmental planning process.

    Dated: February 4, 2020.
D.J. Antenucci,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-02537 Filed 2-7-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P