[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67630-67631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18573]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Pacific 
Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar 
Training and Testing

AGENCY: Department of the Navy (DoN), Department of Defense (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 (Navy) announces its intent to 
prepare the Pacific Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low 
Frequency Active Sonar Training and Testing (PAC SURTASS LFA) 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas EIS (SEIS/OEIS). 
The PAC SURTASS LFA SEIS/OEIS will include an analysis of training 
activities, as well as research, development, testing, and evaluation 
activities (hereafter referred to as ``testing'') that will be 
conducted in the PAC SURTASS LFA Study Area. The Navy is initiating a 
30-day public scoping process to receive comments on the scope of the 
SEIS/OEIS including identification of potential alternatives and 
environmental concerns, information and analyses relevant to the 
Proposed Action, and issues the public would like to see addressed in 
the SEIS/OEIS.

DATES: The 30-day public scoping period begins on August 21, 2024 and 
extends to September 19, 2024. Comments must be postmarked or submitted 
electronically via the website no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on 
September 19, 2024 for consideration in the Draft SEIS/OEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Pacific Fleet Command, Attn: Ms. 
Heather Paynter, Environmental Public Affairs Specialist, by telephone 
(808-471-3769) or email ([email protected]), or visit 
the project website: https://www.nepa.navy.mil/surtass-lfa/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SEIS-007-17-USN-1723661233. Commander, U.S. 
Pacific Fleet is the Navy's lead action proponent, with Naval Sea 
Systems Command acting as an additional Navy action proponent.
    In continuance of the Navy's commitment to responsible stewardship 
of the marine environment and building upon analyses and information 
included in the Navy's 2001 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/
OEIS, 2007 Final SEIS, 2012 Final SEIS/Supplemental OEIS (SOEIS), 2015 
Final SEIS/SOEIS, and 2019 Final SEIS/SOEIS, the Navy intends to 
prepare an updated supplemental assessment of the environmental effects 
associated with the continued employment of SURTASS LFA sonar systems. 
The SEIS/OEIS and associated analysis will be used to support 
consultations associated with expiring regulatory permits and 
authorizations in 2026.
    The PAC SURTASS LFA Study Area (hereafter referred to as the 
(``Study Area'') is comprised of the western North Pacific and Indian 
Oceans. For the purposes of analyzing the impacts of SURTASS LFA sonar 
systems on marine mammals, fifteen representative locations were 
considered for acoustic modeling.
    The Navy proposes to continue employing up to four SURTASS LFA 
sonar systems onboard U.S. Navy surveillance ships for routine training 
and testing in the Study Area with certain geographical restrictions 
and other preventive measures designed to mitigate adverse effects on 
the marine environment. As part of the SEIS/OEIS analyses, the Navy 
will continue to assess potential impacts of SURTASS LFA sonar systems 
to offshore biologically important areas (OBIAs). Effectiveness of the 
mitigation measures that are the foundation of the Navy's operation of 
SURTASS LFA sonar will also be re-assessed in the context of new 
technologies and methodologies as well as operational practicability.
    The Navy has identified two preliminary action alternatives to 
carry forward for analysis in the SEIS/OEIS along with the No Action 
Alternative. Alternative 1 reflects the minimum number of SURTASS LFA 
sonar transmission hours per year needed to meet the Navy's purpose and 
need, while Alternative 2 reflects the number of hours accounting for 
the possible need to deploy two additional SURTASS LFA-equipped vessels 
(increase from four vessels to six). As required by NEPA for the 
purpose of establishing a baseline for analysis, a No Action 
Alternative will be evaluated which represents a scenario where 
training and testing with SURTASS LFA sonar would not be conducted in 
the Study Area.
    Environmental resources that are determined to be potentially 
affected are carried forward for full analysis. Resources to be 
evaluated include, but are not limited to, biological resources 
(including marine mammals, reptiles, fishes, and habitats), sediments 
and

[[Page 67631]]

water quality, air quality, and socioeconomic resources. Some other 
environmental resources have been analyzed in previous SURTASS LFA 
NEPA/E.O. 12114 documents and are incorporated by reference moving 
forward. The SEIS/OEIS will also analyze measures that would avoid, 
minimize, or mitigate environmental effects. The Navy will conduct all 
coordination and consultation activities required by the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and other laws and 
regulations determined to be applicable to the project. As part of this 
process, the Navy will seek the issuance of regulatory permits and 
authorizations under MMPA and ESA to support at-sea mission readiness 
activities within the Study Area, beginning in August 2026.
    Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.8, the Navy invited the National Marine 
Fisheries Service to be a cooperating agency in preparation of the 
SEIS/OEIS. On August 7, 2024 National Marine Fisheries Service agreed 
to be a cooperating agency.
    The scoping process invites comments on the scope of the SEIS/OEIS 
including identification of potential alternatives, information and 
analyses relevant to the Proposed Action, identification of 
environmental concerns, and issues the public would like to see 
addressed in the SEIS/OEIS. Federal agencies, state agencies, local 
agencies, Tribal Organizations, the public, and interested persons are 
encouraged to provide comments.
    Comments must be postmarked or submitted electronically via the 
website no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on September 19, 2024 for 
consideration during the development of the Draft SEIS/OEIS. Comments 
can be submitted electronically via the project website at https://www.nepa.navy.mil/surtass-lfa/.
    After the scoping period, Navy will coordinate with participating 
and cooperating agencies to develop a Draft SEIS/OEIS. The Navy intends 
to release the Draft SEIS/OEIS in the spring of 2025, release the Final 
SEIS/OEIS in the winter of 2026, and sign a Record of Decision 
following the 30-day Final SEIS/OEIS wait period.

    Dated: August 14, 2024.
A.J. Gioiello,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-18573 Filed 8-20-24; 8:45 am]
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