[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 113 (Friday, June 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25038-25039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10454]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Public Meetings for Surveillance Towed Array Sensor
System Low-Frequency Array Sonar Training and Testing Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement
in the Western North Pacific and Indian Oceans (ID# SEIS-007-17-USN-
1727716941)
AGENCY: Department of the Navy (DoN), Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
Presidential Executive Order 12114, DoN has prepared and filed with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS/OEIS)
for Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low-Frequency Active
(SURTASS LFA) Sonar Training and Testing in the Western North Pacific
and Indian Oceans. The Draft SEIS/OEIS includes an analysis of the
potential environmental impacts associated with conducting at-sea
training and testing activities within the SURTASS LFA Study Area. The
purpose of the Proposed Action is to perform training and testing
activities that ensure the Navy remains proficient in the use of
SURTASS LFA sonar in support of the Navy's mission.
DATES: The 45-day public comment period begins June 13, 2025 and ends
July 28, 2025. In support of NEPA requirements, virtual public meetings
will be held in July 2025 to provide an overview of the Draft SEIS/OEIS
and answer questions from the public. The public can submit comments
during the Draft SEIS/OEIS public review and comment period via the
project website (www.nepa.navy.mil/surtass-lfa/), or via U.S. mail.
Public comments on the Draft SEIS/OEIS must be postmarked or received
online by 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) Monday, July 28, 2025,
for consideration in the preparation of the Final SEIS/OEIS.
Two virtual public meetings will be held as follows:
1. July 8, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. HST
2. July 14, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. HST
During the virtual public meetings, Navy representatives will
provide a short presentation and answer questions submitted by the
public. Questions concerning the Draft SEIS/OEIS will be accepted in
advance through July 8, 2025, via the question form on the project
website. Questions may also be submitted in writing during the meeting.
Questions submitted during the question-and-answer session are not
official public comments; public comments should be submitted via the
project website (www.nepa.navy.mil/surtass-lfa/), or via U.S. mail. An
audio-only option will be available for the virtual public meeting. The
project website has more information on attending the virtual public
meeting.
Additional materials will be available on the project website to
provide more
[[Page 25039]]
information related to the Proposed Action, its purpose and need,
environmental resource areas analyzed in the SEIS/OEIS and potential
impacts, the NEPA process, and public involvement opportunities. The
public can view the online materials at the project website anytime
during the Draft SEIS/OEIS public review and comment period.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS may be provided through the
project website at: www.nepa.navy.mil/surtass-lfa/, or by U.S. mail to:
U.S. Department of the Navy; Attention: SURTASS LFA SEIS/OEIS Project
Manager (N46); 250 Makalapa Drive, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3131.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Pacific Fleet Command, Attn: Ms.
Heather Paynter, Environmental Public Affairs Specialist, 808-474-8441,
[email protected], or visit the project website:
www.nepa.navy.mil/surtass-lfa/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the DoN'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 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 Western Pacific and Indian Oceans SURTASS LFA Study Area
(hereafter referred to as the ``Study Area'') is comprised of the
western North Pacific and Indian Oceans. 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. Effectiveness of the mitigation measures that are the foundation
of the Navy's training and testing with SURTASS LFA sonar will also be
re-assessed in the context of new technologies and methodologies as
well as operational practicability.
Potential impacts on environmental resources resulting from
activities included in the two Action Alternatives and the No Action
Alternative were evaluated in accordance with NEPA. Resources evaluated
include, but are not limited to, biological (including marine mammals,
sea turtles, fishes, and habitats), ambient acoustic environment, and
economics. The SEIS/OEIS also includes an analysis of measures that
would avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental effects potentially
resulting from military readiness activities. Direct, indirect, and
reasonably foreseeable effects on these resource areas are analyzed in
the SEIS/OEIS.
The DoN is coordinating and consulting with appropriate federal
agencies as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA),
Endangered Species Act (ESA), and National Marine Sanctuaries Act. As
part of this process, the Navy is seeking the issuance of regulatory
permits and authorizations under MMPA and ESA to support at-sea
military readiness activities within the Study Area, beginning in
August 2026. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is a
cooperating agency in the preparation of the SEIS/OEIS. NMFS will
consider the potential impacts of the Proposed Action on the marine
environment. The SEIS/OEIS will support its rule making process to
determine whether to issue an MMPA authorization.
The Navy distributed the Draft SEIS/OEIS to government agencies
they are consulting with and to other stakeholders. The Draft SEIS/OEIS
is available for public review on the project website at
www.nepa.navy.mil/surtass-lfa/ and at these public libraries:
1. Hawaii State Library, 478 S King St., Honolulu, HI 96813.
2. Nieves M. Flores Memorial Public Library, 254 Martyr St.,
Hag[aring]t[ntilde]a, Guam 96910.
3. Antonio C. Atalig Memorial Library, P.O. Box 537, Rota, MP
96951.
4. Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, The State Library of the
Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands, P.O. Box 501092, Saipan, MP
96950-1092.
5. Tinian Public Library, P.O. Box 520704, Tinian, MP 96952.
The public involvement process is helpful in identifying public
concerns and local issues to be considered during the development of
the SEIS/OEIS and assessing the accuracy and adequacy of the
environmental impact analysis. Federal, state, and local agencies;
nongovernmental organizations; and interested persons are encouraged to
provide comments that are substantive to the analysis of potential
impacts on environmental resources. All comments provided
electronically via the project website or mailed to the address
provided in the ADDRESSES section will be taken into consideration
during the development of the Final SEIS/OEIS.
Dated: June 4, 2025.
A.R. DeMaio,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-10454 Filed 6-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P