Integrated Anti-Swimmer System; Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment, 57612-57613 [05-19662]

Download as PDF 57612 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 190 / Monday, October 3, 2005 / Notices The catastrophic destruction brought about by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina has dramatically impeded, and in some places in the affected region stopped altogether, production and transportation or transmission of oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, and electricity. Much of the lost oil production is from producing areas in the Gulf of Mexico which have been leased pursuant to programs of the Department of the Interior. This lost production, refining, and transportation capacity has resulted in the actual or threatened unavailability of gasoline, jet fuel and other refined products, and threatens the Nation’s economic and national security. I believe that waiver of the coastwise laws would facilitate the transportation of oil and refined petroleum products in and from portions of the United States affected by the hurricanes, and to other regions affected by the disruptions that have occurred in the Gulf Coast area. Therefore, I am exercising my discretion and authority to waive the coastwise laws generally for the transportation of petroleum and refined petroleum products for the period until 12:01 a.m., October 24, 2005. On September 1, 2005, I exercised my discretion and authority to waive the coastwise laws generally for the transportation of petroleum released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, whether pursuant to an exchange, sale or otherwise, undertaken in response to the circumstances arising from Hurricane Katrina. I am today exercising my discretion and authority to extend that waiver of the coastwise laws generally for the transportation of petroleum released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, whether pursuant to an exchange, sale, or otherwise, undertaken in response to the circumstances arising from Hurricane Rita. I find, for the reasons set forth above, that such waivers are necessary in the interest of national defense. Executed this 26th day of September, 2005. Michael Chertoff, Secretary. [FR Doc. 05–19820 Filed 9–29–05; 1:23 pm] BILLING CODE 4410–10–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:26 Sep 30, 2005 Jkt 205001 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [USCG–2005–22499] Integrated Anti-Swimmer System; Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of availability and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) of the Integrated Anti-Swimmer System (IAS). The Coast Guard is proposing to deploy and operate the IAS for temporary periods at various U.S. ports throughout the U.S. Maritime Domain, when necessary. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to increase the Coast Guard’s ability to detect, track, classify, and interdict, if necessary, potential underwater threats and as a result, protect personnel, ships, and property from sabotage and/or other subversive acts. Potential threats targeted by the IAS include combat divers and unmanned vehicles. The IAS will be co-located with, and used by, the Coast Guard’s newly established Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSSTs). The IAS is proposed to be used at a range necessary to maintain situational awareness and allow the MSSTs sufficient time to react and counter a detected threat. Extensive research and analysis of alternatives has led to the conclusion that an active sonar system is the only currently available technology that affords this capability. Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before November 17, 2005. DATES: To make sure that your comments and related material are not entered more than once in the docket, please submit them by only one of the following means: (1) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management System at https://dms.dot.gov. (2) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG–2005–22499), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL– 401, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001. (3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202–493–2251. (4) By delivery to room PL–401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202–366– 9329. The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this notice. Comments and material received from the public, as well as the draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room PL–401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket, including the PEA, on the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, the proposed project, or the associated PEA, call Mr. Kenneth McDaniel at (202) 267– 1505 or by e-mail at kmcdaniel@comdt.uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Andrea M. Jenkins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202–366–0271. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Request for Comments We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this notice (USCG–2005–22499) and give the reasons for each comment. You may submit your comments and material by mail, hand delivery, fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you submit them by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. Proposed Action Domestic port safety and security has long been a core Coast Guard mission. However, in the wake of the terrorist attacks committed on September 11, 2001, emerging threats to the U.S. homeland have prompted an increased Coast Guard focus on protecting domestic ports and the U.S. Maritime Transportation System from terrorist threats. As part of the U.S. response to these threats, the Coast Guard has undertaken E:\FR\FM\03OCN1.SGM 03OCN1 57613 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 190 / Monday, October 3, 2005 / Notices a PEA to examine alternatives and assess the significance of the impacts on the quality of the human environment for the decision to deploy and operate IASs at various U.S. ports throughout the U.S. Maritime Domain, when necessary. Dated: September 23, 2005. Kevin G. Quigley, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Defense Operations. [FR Doc. 05–19662 Filed 9–30–05; 8:45 am] Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY We have prepared a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). The draft PEA identifies and examines the reasonable alternatives and assesses their potential environmental impact. Our preferred alternative is to use the IAS to protect personnel, ships, and property from sabotage or other subversive acts. The IAS consists of five primary components: A land-based sonar, a portable (vessel mounted) sonar, a data processor, a vehicle guidance system, and an underwater loud hailer. Use of the IAS would be limited to existing harbor infrastructure and adjacent waters. The IAS is not designed or intended for use offshore. The system would be used for specific and finite periods of time to protect specific assets. During these times, the sonar would be operated and monitored continuously. The loud hailer would be used only if an actual threat was identified. Recently, the Coast Guard completed environmental assessments (EAs) that address the impact of IAS deployment and operation in Galveston Bay, TX and San Pedro Bay, CA. The result of these EAs was a finding of no significant impact. The Coast Guard also engaged in informal consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant to the section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, which resulted in a determination that deployment and operation of the IAS in Galveston Bay, TX and San Pedro Bay, CA is not likely to adversely affect threatened or endangered species or critical habitat, nor is it likely to result in the take of marine mammals in those bays. Similarly, there was no evidence to suggest that IAS deployment and operation would adversely affect essential fish habitat or have an impact on coastal uses and resources. We are requesting your comments on environmental concerns you may have related to the PEA. This includes suggesting analyses and methodologies for use in the PEA or possible sources of data or information not included in the PEA. Your comments will be considered in preparing the final PEA. Coast Guard VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:26 Sep 30, 2005 Jkt 205001 AGENCY: panel presented its conclusions at the April 2005 NBSAC meeting. Minutes of the panel’s February 2005 meeting may be obtained from the person listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. A professional facilitator will moderate the second meeting. The panel will further consider, analyze, and propose recreational boating safety objectives and strategies that can be supported by the government, industry, and the boating public. A representative of the panel will present its conclusions at the November 2005 NBSAC meeting. We will also prepare minutes of the second meeting. You may obtain them from the person listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. ACTION: Procedural BILLING CODE 4910–15–U [USCG–2005–22569] Meeting of the Office of Boating Safety’s Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Planning Panel Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety is sponsoring a panel of representatives of the recreational boating community to discuss strategic planning goals, objectives and strategies that the Coast Guard may use to improve recreational boating safety. This meeting is open to the public. DATES: The meeting will occur on Monday and Tuesday, October 17 and 18, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: This meeting will occur at the Holiday Inn National Airport, 2650 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. This notice is available on the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov and at https:// uscgboating.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dionca Williams, Administrative Assistant, Office of Boating Safety, U.S. Coast Guard telephone 202–267–1077, fax 202–267–4285. If you have questions on viewing material in the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, Department of Transportation, telephone 202–493– 0402. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the 2004 Fall meeting of the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC), the Office of Boating Safety proposed to assemble a Goal-Setting Recommendation Panel. NBSAC endorsed this proposal. To facilitate this, the Coast Guard invited representatives of the recreational boating community to participate on this panel. The Coast Guard held the meeting on February 8 and 9, 2005 at the Crystal City Sheraton Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, in Arlington, VA. The panel considered, analyzed, and proposed recreational boating safety performance goals that can be supported by the government, industry, and the boating public. A representative of the PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The meeting is open to the public. Please note that the meeting may close early if all business is finished. Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION as soon as possible. Dated: September 26, 2005. James M. Hass, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Director of Operations Policy. [FR Doc. 05–19663 Filed 9–30–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–15–U DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Notice of Cancellation of Customs Broker License Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. AGENCY: ACTION: General Notice. SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 U.S.C. 1641) and the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 111.51), the following Customs broker licenses are cancelled without prejudice. Name Action International, Inc.. Aries International Import Services. E:\FR\FM\03OCN1.SGM 03OCN1 License No. Issuing port 12875 Tampa. 12704 New York.

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 190 (Monday, October 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57612-57613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19662]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2005-22499]


Integrated Anti-Swimmer System; Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Draft 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) of the Integrated Anti-
Swimmer System (IAS). The Coast Guard is proposing to deploy and 
operate the IAS for temporary periods at various U.S. ports throughout 
the U.S. Maritime Domain, when necessary. The purpose of the Proposed 
Action is to increase the Coast Guard's ability to detect, track, 
classify, and interdict, if necessary, potential underwater threats and 
as a result, protect personnel, ships, and property from sabotage and/
or other subversive acts. Potential threats targeted by the IAS include 
combat divers and unmanned vehicles. The IAS will be co-located with, 
and used by, the Coast Guard's newly established Maritime Safety and 
Security Teams (MSSTs). The IAS is proposed to be used at a range 
necessary to maintain situational awareness and allow the MSSTs 
sufficient time to react and counter a detected threat. Extensive 
research and analysis of alternatives has led to the conclusion that an 
active sonar system is the only currently available technology that 
affords this capability.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management 
Facility on or before November 17, 2005.

ADDRESSES: To make sure that your comments and related material are not 
entered more than once in the docket, please submit them by only one of 
the following means:
    (1) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management 
System at https://dms.dot.gov.
    (2) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG-2005-22499), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251.
    (4) By delivery to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif 
Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. Comments and material received from the public, as well as the 
draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), will become part of 
this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room PL-
401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket, including the 
PEA, on the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
the proposed project, or the associated PEA, call Mr. Kenneth McDaniel 
at (202) 267-1505 or by e-mail at kmcdaniel@comdt.uscg.mil. If you have 
questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Andrea 
M. Jenkins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-0271.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the 
draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). If you do so, please 
include your name and address, identify the docket number for this 
notice (USCG-2005-22499) and give the reasons for each comment. You may 
submit your comments and material by mail, hand delivery, fax, or 
electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the address under 
ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one 
means. If you submit them by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would 
like to know they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-
addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.

Proposed Action

    Domestic port safety and security has long been a core Coast Guard 
mission. However, in the wake of the terrorist attacks committed on 
September 11, 2001, emerging threats to the U.S. homeland have prompted 
an increased Coast Guard focus on protecting domestic ports and the 
U.S. Maritime Transportation System from terrorist threats.
    As part of the U.S. response to these threats, the Coast Guard has 
undertaken

[[Page 57613]]

a PEA to examine alternatives and assess the significance of the 
impacts on the quality of the human environment for the decision to 
deploy and operate IASs at various U.S. ports throughout the U.S. 
Maritime Domain, when necessary.

Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment

    We have prepared a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment 
(PEA). The draft PEA identifies and examines the reasonable 
alternatives and assesses their potential environmental impact.
    Our preferred alternative is to use the IAS to protect personnel, 
ships, and property from sabotage or other subversive acts. The IAS 
consists of five primary components: A land-based sonar, a portable 
(vessel mounted) sonar, a data processor, a vehicle guidance system, 
and an underwater loud hailer. Use of the IAS would be limited to 
existing harbor infrastructure and adjacent waters. The IAS is not 
designed or intended for use offshore.
    The system would be used for specific and finite periods of time to 
protect specific assets. During these times, the sonar would be 
operated and monitored continuously. The loud hailer would be used only 
if an actual threat was identified.
    Recently, the Coast Guard completed environmental assessments (EAs) 
that address the impact of IAS deployment and operation in Galveston 
Bay, TX and San Pedro Bay, CA. The result of these EAs was a finding of 
no significant impact. The Coast Guard also engaged in informal 
consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant to the 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, which resulted in a 
determination that deployment and operation of the IAS in Galveston 
Bay, TX and San Pedro Bay, CA is not likely to adversely affect 
threatened or endangered species or critical habitat, nor is it likely 
to result in the take of marine mammals in those bays. Similarly, there 
was no evidence to suggest that IAS deployment and operation would 
adversely affect essential fish habitat or have an impact on coastal 
uses and resources.
    We are requesting your comments on environmental concerns you may 
have related to the PEA. This includes suggesting analyses and 
methodologies for use in the PEA or possible sources of data or 
information not included in the PEA. Your comments will be considered 
in preparing the final PEA.

    Dated: September 23, 2005.
Kevin G. Quigley,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Defense Operations.
[FR Doc. 05-19662 Filed 9-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-U
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