Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Construction and Operation of Solar Photovoltaic Renewable Energy Projects on Army Installations, 87025-87026 [2016-28842]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 232 / Friday, December 2, 2016 / Notices clause might more generally state that ‘‘nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit any party from disclosing relevant safety information to a regulatory agency or government entity that has an interest in the subject matter of the underlying suit.’’ The CPSC, however, is not endorsing any particular language since the parties themselves are in the best position to determine how that may be accomplished. IV. Conclusion The CPSC is publishing this Litigation Guidance to provide recommendations for best practices when drafting protective orders, confidentiality agreements, and settlement agreements. The Litigation Guidance should be reviewed by judges, plaintiffs, and defendants, as well as those parties wishing to submit amicus briefs relating to protective orders and confidentiality agreements in ongoing litigation. The Commission believes this Litigation Guidance is simple. Protective orders, confidentiality agreements and settlements (as well as other similar documents), should include language that allows any party to report consumer product safety information, incidents, injuries and deaths to the CPSC.4 The Commission notes that this Litigation Guidance is not a binding or enforceable rule and would not change any person’s rights, duties or obligations under the CPSIA or any other Act administered by the Commission. Dated: November 29, 2016. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission. [FR Doc. 2016–29004 Filed 12–1–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6355–01–P CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meeting Notice Wednesday, December 7, 2016; 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. PLACE: Hearing Room 420, Bethesda Towers, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland. STATUS: Closed to the Public. Matter To Be Considered: Compliance Matters: The Commission staff will brief the Commission on the status of various compliance matters. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES TIME AND DATE: 4 The public is always encouraged to report relevant consumer product safety information to the CPSC via the CPSC’s hotline [(800) 638–CPSC (2772)]; the CPSC’s online reporting tool: www.saferproducts.gov; and by contacting the CPSC’s Office of Compliance and Field Operations directly [(301) 504-7547]. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Dec 01, 2016 Jkt 241001 87025 CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd A. Stevenson, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 504–7923. Please contact the U.S. Army Environmental Command Public Affairs Office, (210) 466–1590 or toll-free 855– 846–3940, or email at usarmy.jbsa.aec.nepa@mail.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to construct, operate, and maintain solar PV arrays and/or ancillary power systems on Army installations, to include U.S. Army Reserve facilities, Army National Guard sites, and joint bases managed by the Department of the Army (with all henceforth referred to only as ‘‘Army installations’’ or ‘‘installations’’). The proposed action includes, for those solar PV projects where the existing infrastructure is insufficient, constructing (or upgrading) and maintaining the associated infrastructure required for the transmission and management of the generated electricity to the electric grid. Associated infrastructure includes but is not limited to electricity transformers, transmission and distribution lines, and sub or switching stations; as well as ancillary power control systems such as energy storage systems, micro-grid components, and back-up power generators. The proposed action may include real estate actions on Army lands where the projects could be funded and constructed by the Army, funded through a third party Power Purchase Agreement utilizing a lease of Army or Joint Base land to an independent power producer or the local regulated utility company, or funded via some other relationship with a private or public entity. The projects being evaluated and analyzed would generally range from approximately 10 megawatt (MW) to 100 MW per site; however, the projects outside of this MW range (e.g., less than 10 MW) are inclusive in this proposed action. On average, seven acres of land are currently required to produce one MW of power. As this technology has evolved, the acreage requirement for one MW generating capacity has decreased; therefore, it is possible that future solar PV technologies may require even less acreage per MW; currently, approximately 70 acres of land would be required for a 10 MW site and 700 acres of land for a 100 MW site. PV systems on rooftops would generally expect to have capacity measured in watts or kilowatts (kW), not MW, and be of a much smaller size and scope. After construction, equipment monitoring, routine maintenance (including vegetation control, snow removal, solar module washing, and periodic module/other equipment Dated: November 29, 2016. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–29061 Filed 11–30–16; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 6355–01–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Construction and Operation of Solar Photovoltaic Renewable Energy Projects on Army Installations Department of the Army, DoD. Notice of availability. AGENCY: ACTION: The Department of the Army has completed a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for construction, operation, and maintenance of solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy projects on Army installations and is making the PEA and a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) available for public comment. The draft FNSI incorporates the PEA, which does not identify any significant environmental impacts from the proposed action or any of the alternatives. The draft FNSI concludes that preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required, and therefore will not be prepared. The PEA is programmatic and nationwide in scope. For years, the Army has analyzed and implemented solar PV projects at Army installations across the country. In the PEA, the Army leveraged this experience with the goal of streamlining the National Environmental Policy Act process for future solar PV proposals, as appropriate, in a manner consistent with Council on Environmental Quality and Department of the Army regulations. SUMMARY: The public comment period will end 30 days after publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by the Department of the Army. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: U.S. Army Environmental Command, Attn: Solar PV PEA Public Comments, 2450 Connell Road (Building 2264), JBSA—Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234–7664; email: usarmy.jbsa.aec.nepa@mail.mil. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM 02DEN1 87026 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 232 / Friday, December 2, 2016 / Notices replacement), and as-needed repairs by the system operator would follow to ensure proper operation of the solar PV system. The alternatives considered and analyzed in the PEA are the No Action alternative and three action alternatives, which are to implement the proposed action on greenfield sites (Alternative 1), on previously developed sites (Alternative 2), and on or over structures or impervious surfaces, such as buildings and carports (Alternative 3). Installations may choose any or all of the action alternative approaches to solar PV. The goal of this programmatic approach is to streamline the NEPA process for the construction, operation, and maintenance of solar PV renewable energy projects by providing installations with sufficient detail about environmental impacts on resources to enable them to tier off of the PEA, as appropriate. Tiering from this PEA would avoid or reduce the costs of repetitive, similar analyses, and allow the Army to focus resources on only those site-specific environmental issues that merit a deeper analysis. Installations tiering from the PEA would use the checklist contained in the PEA to identify site-specific NEPA requirements. Where further analysis would be required to meet site-specific NEPA requirements, the PEA may still be used for tiering, allowing the installation to focus on those resources which require site-specific analysis. Members of the public, federallyrecognized Native American Tribes, Alaska Native Tribes, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies are invited to submit written comments on the PEA and/or draft FNSI. The PEA and draft FNSI may be accessed at: https://www.aec.army.mil/ Services/Support/NEPA/ Documents.aspx. Brenda S. Bowen, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2016–28842 Filed 12–1–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–03–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES [Docket No.: ED–2016–ICCD–0136] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program— 150% Limitation Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Dec 01, 2016 Jkt 241001 In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing an extension of an existing information collection. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before January 31, 2017. ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use https://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED– 2016–ICCD–0136. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 2E–347, Washington, DC 20202–4537. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, 202–377–4018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department’s information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program—150% Limitation. OMB Control Number: 1845–0116. Type of Review: An extension of an existing information collection. Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; Individuals or Households; Private Sector. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 7,770,494. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 282,713. Abstract: These data will allow the Department to calculate the borrowers maximum eligibility period, subsidized usage period, and remaining eligibility period as described in 685.200(f)(1)(ii)– (f)(1)(iv), determine whether the borrower is eligible to receive an additional Direct Subsidized Loan, and ensure that borrowers do not receive Direct Subsidized Loans if they are no longer eligible to receive a Direct Subsidized Loan under 685.200(f)(2). The Department will determine whether the borrower is responsible for accruing interest on their previously received Direct Subsidized Loans. To ensure that the Department has the information to necessary to make that determination, institutions will be required to report additional information to NSLDS. For example, institutions will be required to report: The CIP code and the credential level for the program in which a borrower is enrolled; the length of the program in academic years, weeks, or months (consistent with current institutional reporting in the COD System); and a more detailed enrollment status of the borrower (e.g., full-time, three-quartertime, half-time, or less-than-half-time). These data will allow the Department to determine whether a borrower who is not eligible for additional Direct Subsidized Loans is responsible for accruing interest on his or her previously received Direct Subsidized Loans. The regulations implement a new statutory requirement that significantly limits a borrowers eligibility for Direct Subsidized Loans and potentially results in the borrower becoming responsible for accruing interest on existing Direct Subsidized Loans. Under section 485(l) of the HEA, which requires that borrowers be provided with entrance and exit counseling on the provisions governing federal student aid, institutions will be required to revise the entrance and exit counseling provided to borrowers. E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM 02DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87025-87026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28842]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Construction and 
Operation of Solar Photovoltaic Renewable Energy Projects on Army 
Installations

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army has completed a Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment (PEA) for construction, operation, and 
maintenance of solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy projects on 
Army installations and is making the PEA and a draft Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FNSI) available for public comment. The draft FNSI 
incorporates the PEA, which does not identify any significant 
environmental impacts from the proposed action or any of the 
alternatives. The draft FNSI concludes that preparation of an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required, and therefore 
will not be prepared.
    The PEA is programmatic and nationwide in scope. For years, the 
Army has analyzed and implemented solar PV projects at Army 
installations across the country. In the PEA, the Army leveraged this 
experience with the goal of streamlining the National Environmental 
Policy Act process for future solar PV proposals, as appropriate, in a 
manner consistent with Council on Environmental Quality and Department 
of the Army regulations.

DATES: The public comment period will end 30 days after publication of 
the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by the Department of 
the Army.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: U.S. Army Environmental 
Command, Attn: Solar PV PEA Public Comments, 2450 Connell Road 
(Building 2264), JBSA--Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-7664; email: 
usarmy.jbsa.aec.nepa@mail.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the U.S. Army 
Environmental Command Public Affairs Office, (210) 466-1590 or toll-
free 855-846-3940, or email at usarmy.jbsa.aec.nepa@mail.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to construct, 
operate, and maintain solar PV arrays and/or ancillary power systems on 
Army installations, to include U.S. Army Reserve facilities, Army 
National Guard sites, and joint bases managed by the Department of the 
Army (with all henceforth referred to only as ``Army installations'' or 
``installations''). The proposed action includes, for those solar PV 
projects where the existing infrastructure is insufficient, 
constructing (or upgrading) and maintaining the associated 
infrastructure required for the transmission and management of the 
generated electricity to the electric grid. Associated infrastructure 
includes but is not limited to electricity transformers, transmission 
and distribution lines, and sub or switching stations; as well as 
ancillary power control systems such as energy storage systems, micro-
grid components, and back-up power generators. The proposed action may 
include real estate actions on Army lands where the projects could be 
funded and constructed by the Army, funded through a third party Power 
Purchase Agreement utilizing a lease of Army or Joint Base land to an 
independent power producer or the local regulated utility company, or 
funded via some other relationship with a private or public entity.
    The projects being evaluated and analyzed would generally range 
from approximately 10 megawatt (MW) to 100 MW per site; however, the 
projects outside of this MW range (e.g., less than 10 MW) are inclusive 
in this proposed action. On average, seven acres of land are currently 
required to produce one MW of power. As this technology has evolved, 
the acreage requirement for one MW generating capacity has decreased; 
therefore, it is possible that future solar PV technologies may require 
even less acreage per MW; currently, approximately 70 acres of land 
would be required for a 10 MW site and 700 acres of land for a 100 MW 
site. PV systems on rooftops would generally expect to have capacity 
measured in watts or kilowatts (kW), not MW, and be of a much smaller 
size and scope.
    After construction, equipment monitoring, routine maintenance 
(including vegetation control, snow removal, solar module washing, and 
periodic module/other equipment

[[Page 87026]]

replacement), and as-needed repairs by the system operator would follow 
to ensure proper operation of the solar PV system.
    The alternatives considered and analyzed in the PEA are the No 
Action alternative and three action alternatives, which are to 
implement the proposed action on greenfield sites (Alternative 1), on 
previously developed sites (Alternative 2), and on or over structures 
or impervious surfaces, such as buildings and carports (Alternative 3). 
Installations may choose any or all of the action alternative 
approaches to solar PV.
    The goal of this programmatic approach is to streamline the NEPA 
process for the construction, operation, and maintenance of solar PV 
renewable energy projects by providing installations with sufficient 
detail about environmental impacts on resources to enable them to tier 
off of the PEA, as appropriate. Tiering from this PEA would avoid or 
reduce the costs of repetitive, similar analyses, and allow the Army to 
focus resources on only those site-specific environmental issues that 
merit a deeper analysis. Installations tiering from the PEA would use 
the checklist contained in the PEA to identify site-specific NEPA 
requirements. Where further analysis would be required to meet site-
specific NEPA requirements, the PEA may still be used for tiering, 
allowing the installation to focus on those resources which require 
site-specific analysis.
    Members of the public, federally-recognized Native American Tribes, 
Alaska Native Tribes, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and federal, 
state, and local agencies are invited to submit written comments on the 
PEA and/or draft FNSI.
    The PEA and draft FNSI may be accessed at: https://www.aec.army.mil/Services/Support/NEPA/Documents.aspx.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-28842 Filed 12-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-03-P

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