[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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