[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2214-2216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00564]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Adoption of Department of Navy Categorical Exclusion Pursuant to
Section 109 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
AGENCY: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Department
of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice of adoption of the Department of Navy's (DoN)
categorical exclusion for passive scientific measurement devices
pursuant to section 109 of the NEPA.
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SUMMARY: DARPA is adopting the DoN's categorical exclusion 19 for the
installation and operation of passive scientific measurement devices.
This notice describes the proposed action for which DARPA intends to
use the DoN categorical exclusion and details the consultation between
the agencies.
DATES: This action is effective January 12, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Catherine Campbell, 703-526-2044
(Voice), [email protected] (Email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
National Environmental Policy Act and Categorical Exclusions
NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, requires all Federal agencies to assess
the environmental impacts of their actions. Congress enacted NEPA to
encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between humans and the
environment, recognizing the profound impact of human activity and the
critical
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importance of restoring and maintaining environmental quality to the
overall welfare of humankind. NEPA seeks to ensure agencies consider
the environmental effects of their proposed actions in their decision-
making processes and inform and involve the public in that process.
NEPA created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which
promulgated NEPA implementing regulations, 40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) parts 1500 through 1508 (CEQ regulations).
To comply with NEPA, agencies determine the appropriate level of
review--an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Environmental
Assessment (EA), or categorical exclusion. (42 U.S.C. 4336). If a
proposed action is likely to have significant environmental effects,
the agency must prepare an EIS and document its decision in a record of
decision. Id. If the proposed action is not likely to have significant
environmental effects or the effects are unknown, the agency may
instead prepare an EA, which involves a more concise analysis and
process than an EIS. Id. Following the EA, the agency may conclude the
process with a finding of no significant impact if the analysis shows
that the action will have no significant effects. If the analysis in
the EA finds that the action is likely to have significant effects,
however, then an EIS is required.
Under NEPA and the CEQ regulations, a Federal agency may establish
in its NEPA implementing procedures categorical exclusions, which are
categories of actions the agency has determined normally do not
significantly affect the quality of the human environment. (40 CFR
1501.4, 1507.3(e)(2)(ii), 1508.1(d)). If an agency determines that a
categorical exclusion covers a proposed action, it then evaluates the
proposed action for extraordinary circumstances in which a normally
excluded action may have a significant effect. (40 CFR 1501.4(b)). If
no extraordinary circumstances are present or if further analysis
determines that the extraordinary circumstances do not involve the
potential for significant environmental impacts, the agency may apply
the categorical exclusion to the proposed action without preparing an
EA or EIS. (40 CFR 1501.4). If the extraordinary circumstances have the
potential to result in significant effects, the agency is required to
prepare an EA or EIS.
Section 109 of NEPA, enacted as part of the Fiscal Responsibility
Act of 2023, allows a Federal agency to adopt a categorical exclusion
listed in another agency's NEPA procedures for a category of proposed
agency actions for which the categorical exclusion was established 42
U.S.C. 4336(c). To adopt another agency's categorical exclusion under
section 109, an agency must identify the relevant categorical exclusion
listed in that agency's (``establishing agency'') NEPA procedures that
cover its category of proposed actions or related actions; consult with
the establishing agency to ensure that the proposed adoption of the
categorical exclusion to a category of actions is appropriate; identify
to the public the categorical exclusion that the agency plans to use
for its proposed actions; and document adoption of the categorical
exclusion. Id.
This notice documents DARPA's adoption of DoN's categorical
exclusion under Section 109 of NEPA.
II. Identification of the Categorical Exclusion
DoN's categorical exclusion for the use of passive scientific
measurement devices is codified in DoN's NEPA procedures as categorical
exclusion 19 in 32 CFR 775.6(f)(19).
Proposed Action
DARPA proposes to deploy a single reef mimicking structure (RMS,
258.2 ft\2\) on the seafloor of the Kilo Nalu Observatory (KNO) on the
south shore of O[revaps]ahu, Hawai[revaps]i for a period of no longer
than five years. A Particle Image Velocimeter (PIV), coral larval
settlement modules (20 to 40 dome-shaped concrete structures), and two
Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters (ADVs) would be attached to the RMS to
test material durability and water flow characteristics. The overall
footprint on the seafloor does not increase beyond the size of the RMS
when the instruments are attached. The need to collect oceanographic
data with this equipment is to inform the design and deployment of reef
mimicking structures as part of DARPA's Reefense Program.
III. Rationale for the Categorical Exclusion
The RMS is a passive oceanographic tool developed to dissipate wave
energy. The amount of wave energy that is dissipated will be measured
by the attached oceanographic instruments (PIV, larval settlement
modules, and ADVs). The RMS would not be shallow enough to function as
a breakwater; it is a tool to learn whether consistent wave energy can
be effectively dissipated (e.g., energy coming in through the exterior
holes then bouncing around within the RMS) and to ensure the durability
of the materials. The PIV and ADVs would measure velocity fields of
ocean currents and the larval settlement modules would measure material
durability. The RMS would not be deployed with any living organisms
attached to it. KNO is an established research site managed by the
University of Hawaii at Manoa. The site was chosen for this testing
because it is already supplied with infrastructure (e.g., electric
power) to support other ongoing scientific research and the ground
swell is consistent and predictable, thus it can allow for better data
collection.
IV. Consideration of Extraordinary Circumstances
If an agency determines that a categorical exclusion covers a
proposed action, the agency must evaluate the proposed action for
extraordinary circumstances in which a normally excluded action may
have a significant effect. (40 CFR 1501.4(b)). DARPA does not currently
have its own NEPA implementing procedures to guide its application of
extraordinary circumstances. Until DARPA establishes NEPA implementing
procedures, for purposes of considering extraordinary circumstances in
connection with the DoN categorical exclusion discussed in this notice,
DARPA has considered whether the proposed action has the potential to
result in significant effects, including by considering the factors
listed in DoN's definition of extraordinary circumstances. (32 CFR
775.6(e)(1)).
DARPA has assessed the extraordinary circumstances and determined
they are not present.
V. Consultation With DoN and Determination of Appropriateness
DARPA and DoN consulted on the appropriateness of DARPA's adoption
of the categorical exclusion from July to November 2023. This
consultation included a review of DoN's experience applying the
categorical exclusion and the proposed action for which DARPA plans to
utilize it. Following this consultation and review, DARPA has
determined that the impacts of the proposed action to install and
operate passive scientific measurement devices for a temporary period
of time, no longer than five years, in an existing scientific
observatory, KNO, is similar to the impacts, which are not significant,
of projects for which DoN may apply the categorical exclusion.
Additionally, DARPA determined that there are no extraordinary
circumstances. Therefore, DARPA has determined that its proposed use of
DoN's categorical
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exclusion 19, as described within this notice, would be appropriate.
Notice to the Public and Documentation of Adoption
This notice documents adoption of the DoN categorical exclusion
listed above in accordance with 32 CFR 775.6(e)(1) and is available for
use by DARPA, effective immediately.
Dated: January 9, 2024.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2024-00564 Filed 1-11-24; 8:45 am]
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