Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment, 44324-44325 [06-6668]

Download as PDF 44324 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 150 / Friday, August 4, 2006 / Notices recordkeeping copies of program publications, program planning and project files, correspondence, regulatory and policy affairs files, and documents relating to program liaison activities with agency staff and interaction with the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. 9. Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary (N1–48–06–3, 6 items, 3 temporary items). Files maintained by Deputy Assistant Secretaries and records lacking historical value held by other senior agency officials. Also included are electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word processing. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of files maintained by the Secretary and the Secretary’s Counselors, Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, Solicitor, and Inspector General. 10. Department of Justice, Justice Management Division (N1–60–06–1, 3 items, 2 temporary items). Electronic copies of records created using electronic mail and word processing relating to agency whistleblower cases and the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management’s handling of those cases. Proposed for permanent retention are recordkeeping copies of whistleblower protection case files. 11. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (N1–65–06–10, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Consent forms for contractor personnel agreeing to warrantless physical searches of their offices or workplaces within agency facilities. 12. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (N1–58–06– 10, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Records of the Office of Appeals relating to appraisal review requests for art and cultural property listed in tax returns. Records include copies of taxpayer case files consisting of forms, work papers, recommendations and final appraisal reports. This schedule reduces the retention period for recordkeeping copies of these files, which were previously approved for disposal. Dated: July 31, 2006. Michael J. Kurtz, Assistant Archivist for Records Services— Washington, DC. [FR Doc. E6–12598 Filed 8–3–06; 8:45 am] gechino on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES BILLING CODE 7515–01–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment AGENCY: National Science Foundation. VerDate Aug<31>2005 22:39 Aug 03, 2006 Jkt 208001 Notice of availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for proposed activities in the Pacific Ocean. ACTION: SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation gives notice of the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for proposed activities in the Pacific Ocean. The Division of Ocean Sciences in the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO/OCE) has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment for a low-energy marine seismic survey by the Research Vessel Roger Revelle in the South Pacific Ocean, in international waters roughly between 23° and 47° S, and between 115° and 165° W during December 2006–January 2007. The draft Environmental Assessment is available for public review for a 30-day period. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 5, 2006. ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment are available upon request from: Dr. William Lang, National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Sciences, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 725, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292–7857. The draft is also available on the agency’s Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/pubs/ scripps_seismic_southpac_ dec2006_EA.pdf. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), with research funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), plans to conduct a piston/gravity coring, magnetic, and seismic survey program at 12 sites in the South Pacific Ocean during December 2006–January 2007. The proposed action is part of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and will collect data that will be used to (1) document the metabolic activities genetic composition, and biomass of prokaryotic communities in the subseafloor sediments with very low total activity; (2) quantify the extent to which those communities may be supplied with harvestable energy by water radiolysis, a process independent of the surface photosynthetic world; and (3) survey broad characteristics of subseafloor communities and habitats in this region, in order to refine the planning and objectives of IODP South Pacific research. The seismic survey is required to locate optimal piston/ gravity-coring sites and involves one vessel, the R/V Roger Revelle. One pair of low-energy Generator-Injector (GI) airguns (45 in3 discharge volume each) will used as the seismic energy source with a proposed survey program of approximately 1930 km of seismic lines, including turns, with water depths of PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3200 to 5700m. The research will be carried out entirely within international waters. Numerous species of cetaceans and sea turtles occur in the South Pacific Ocean. Several of the species are listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). The increased underwater noise from the research may result in avoidance behavior by some marine animals, and other forms of disturbance. An integral part of the planned survey is a monitoring and mitigation program designed to minimize impacts of the proposed activities on marine species present, and to document the nature and extent of any effects. Injurious impacts to marine animals have not been proven to occur near equipment proposed to be used in this research; however, the planned monitoring and mitigation measures would minimize the possibility of such effects should they otherwise occur. With the planned monitoring and mitigation measures, unavoidable impacts to each of the species of marine mammal that might be encountered are expected to be limited to short-term localized changes in behavior and distribution near the seismic vessel. At most, such effects may be interpreted as falling within the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) definition of ‘‘Level B Harassment’’ for those species managed by NMFS. No long-term or significant effects are expected on individual marine mammals, or the populations to which they belong, or their habitats. The agency is currently consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding species within their jurisdiction potentially affected by this proposed activity. Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment, titled ‘‘Environmental Assessment of a Planned Low-Energy Marine Seismic Survey by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the South Pacific Ocean, December 2006– January 2007’’, are available upon request from: Dr. William Lang, National Science foundation, Division of Ocean Sciences, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 725, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292–7857 or at the agency’s Web site at: https://www.nsf. gov/geo/oce/pubs/ scripps_seismic_southpac_dec 2006_EA.pdf. The National Science Foundation invites interested members of the public to provide written comments on this draft Environmental Assessment. E:\FR\FM\04AUN1.SGM 04AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 150 / Friday, August 4, 2006 / Notices Dated: July 31, 2006. William Lang, Program Director, Division of Ocean Sciences, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 06–6668 Filed 8–3–06; 8:45am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–M NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION National Science Board and Its Subdivisions; Meetings Date and Time: August 9–10, 2006. Wednesday, August 9, 2006—8:15 a.m.– 4:45 p.m. 8:15–9:15—open; 9:15–10—open; 10–10:45—open; 10:45–11:30—open; 11:30–12:30—open; 1:30–2:20—open; 2:20–4—closed; 4–4:15—closed; 4:15–4:30—open; 4:30–4:45—closed. Thursday, August 10, 2006—8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 8–9:30—open; 9:30–10:30—open; 10:30–11—closed; 11–11:30—open; 11:30–12—closed; 1–1:15—closed; 1:15–1:30—closed; 1:30–3:30—open. Place: National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Room 1235, Arlington, VA 22230. Public Meeting Attendance: All visitors must report to the NSF’s visitor’s desk at the 9th and N. Stuart Streets entrance to receive a visitor’s badge. Contact Information: Please refer to the National Science Board Web site (www.nsf.gov/nsb) for updated schedule. NSB Office: Dr. Robert Webber, (703) 292–7000. Status: Part of this meeting will be closed to the public. Part of this meeting will be open to the public. Matters To Be Considered: Wednesday, August 9, 2006 gechino on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES Open CPP Subcommittee on Polar Issues (8:15 a.m.–9:15 a.m.) • Chairman’s Remarks • Approval of Minutes • Astrophysics and South Pole Infrastructure • New View on Arctic Climate History • Ice Sheets • IPY Solicitations CPP Task Force on Hurricane Science and Engineering (9:15 a.m.–10 a.m.) VerDate Aug<31>2005 22:39 Aug 03, 2006 Jkt 208001 • Approval of Minutes for May 2006 Meeting • Discussion of Draft Hurricane Science and Engineering Report • Future Activities of the Task Force CPP Task Force on Transformative Research (10 a.m.–10:45 a.m.) • Approval of Minutes for May 2006 Meeting • Outcomes of Previous TR Workshops—Draft Report CPP Task Force on International Science (10:45 a.m.–11:30 a.m.) • Approval of Minutes • Summary of the May 11 Hearing and Roundtable Discussion • Discussion of Items To Come Out of the Task Force’s Series of Roundtable Discussions • Discussion of Future Task Force Activities, Including the Roundtable Discussion Scheduled for September 25, 2006 in Singapore Committee on Programs and Plans (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) • Approval of May 10, 2006 CPP Minutes • Status Reports: Æ Task Force on Transformative Research Æ Task Force on Hurricane Science and Engineering and Dr. Ken Ford Æ Subcommittee on Polar Issues Æ Task Force on International Science • Discussion Item: NSB Policy on Recompetition of NSF Awards • Update: NSF’s Cyberinfrastructure Vision • NSB Information Item: NSF Activities in High Performance Computing: Status of the Petascale System Acquisition Committee on Programs and Plans Open: (1:30 p.m.–2:20 p.m.) • NSB Information Item: EarthScope Facility Construction Project • Update: Major Research Facilities & Facility Plan • Overview of Process for CPP/NSB Re-examination of Priority Order for New Start MREFC Projects Executive Committee Open: (4:15 p.m.– 4:30 p.m.) • Approval of Minutes for May 2006 Meeting • Updates or New Business From Committee Members Closed Committee on Programs and Plans Closed: (2:20 p.m.–4 p.m.) • Awards and Agreements Committee on Programs and Plans Executive Closed: (4 p.m.–4:15 p.m.) • Awards and Agreements Executive Committee Closed (4:30 p.m.– 4:45 p.m.) PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 44325 • Specific Personnel Matters • Future Budgets Thursday, August 10, 2006 Open EHR Subcommittee on Science and Engineering Indicators (8 a.m.–9:30 a.m.) • Approval of May Minutes • Chairman’s Remarks • What Is Science and Engineering Indicators? • Role of S&E Indicators Subcommittee • Introduction of Key NSBO and SRS Staff • Discussion of Science and Engineering Indicators Chapters • Introduction to Condensed Version of Indicators and Companion Piece • Key Board Dates and Activities for Production of Science and Engineering Indicators 2008 • Chairman’s Summary Committee on Audit and Oversight Open: (9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.) • Approval of Minutes of May, 2006 Meeting • Report by NSF Advisory Committee on GPRA Performance Assessment (ACGPA) Status of Financial Audit Procurement • CFO Update Committee on Strategy and Budget Open: (11 a.m.–11:30 a.m.) • Approval of May 9, 2006 CSB Minutes • Status of FY 2007 Budget Request to Congress • Discussion of NSF Strategic Plan FY 2006–2011 Closed Committee on Audit and Oversight Closed: (10:30 a.m.–11 a.m.) • Budget • Pending Investigations Committee on Strategy and Budget Closed (11:30 a.m.–12 noon) • Approval of CSB Closed Session Teleconference Minutes • Discussion of NSF FY 2008 Budget Request Plenary Sessions of the Board (1 p.m.– 3:30 p.m.) Plenary Executive Closed (1 p.m.–1:15 p.m.) • Approval of May 2006 Minutes • Re-examination of Priority Order of MREFC Plenary closed (1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m.) • Approval of May 2006 Minutes • Awards and Agreements • Closed Committee Reports Plenary Open (1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.) • Approval of May 2006 Minutues • Resolution to Close September 2006 E:\FR\FM\04AUN1.SGM 04AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 150 (Friday, August 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44324-44325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6668]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for 
proposed activities in the Pacific Ocean.

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

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation gives notice of the 
availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for proposed 
activities in the Pacific Ocean.
    The Division of Ocean Sciences in the Directorate for Geosciences 
(GEO/OCE) has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment for a low-
energy marine seismic survey by the Research Vessel Roger Revelle in 
the South Pacific Ocean, in international waters roughly between 
23[deg] and 47[deg] S, and between 115[deg] and 165[deg] W during 
December 2006-January 2007. The draft Environmental Assessment is 
available for public review for a 30-day period.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment are available 
upon request from: Dr. William Lang, National Science Foundation, 
Division of Ocean Sciences, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 725, Arlington, VA 
22230. Telephone: (703) 292-7857. The draft is also available on the 
agency's Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/pubs/scripps_
seismic_southpac_dec2006_EA.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Scripps Institution of Oceanography 
(SIO), with research funding from the National Science Foundation 
(NSF), plans to conduct a piston/gravity coring, magnetic, and seismic 
survey program at 12 sites in the South Pacific Ocean during December 
2006-January 2007. The proposed action is part of the Integrated Ocean 
Drilling Program (IODP) and will collect data that will be used to (1) 
document the metabolic activities genetic composition, and biomass of 
prokaryotic communities in the subseafloor sediments with very low 
total activity; (2) quantify the extent to which those communities may 
be supplied with harvestable energy by water radiolysis, a process 
independent of the surface photosynthetic world; and (3) survey broad 
characteristics of subseafloor communities and habitats in this region, 
in order to refine the planning and objectives of IODP South Pacific 
research. The seismic survey is required to locate optimal piston/
gravity-coring sites and involves one vessel, the R/V Roger Revelle. 
One pair of low-energy Generator-Injector (GI) airguns (45 in\3\ 
discharge volume each) will used as the seismic energy source with a 
proposed survey program of approximately 1930 km of seismic lines, 
including turns, with water depths of 3200 to 5700m. The research will 
be carried out entirely within international waters.
    Numerous species of cetaceans and sea turtles occur in the South 
Pacific Ocean. Several of the species are listed as Endangered under 
the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). The increased underwater noise 
from the research may result in avoidance behavior by some marine 
animals, and other forms of disturbance. An integral part of the 
planned survey is a monitoring and mitigation program designed to 
minimize impacts of the proposed activities on marine species present, 
and to document the nature and extent of any effects. Injurious impacts 
to marine animals have not been proven to occur near equipment proposed 
to be used in this research; however, the planned monitoring and 
mitigation measures would minimize the possibility of such effects 
should they otherwise occur.
    With the planned monitoring and mitigation measures, unavoidable 
impacts to each of the species of marine mammal that might be 
encountered are expected to be limited to short-term localized changes 
in behavior and distribution near the seismic vessel. At most, such 
effects may be interpreted as falling within the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) definition of ``Level B Harassment'' for those 
species managed by NMFS. No long-term or significant effects are 
expected on individual marine mammals, or the populations to which they 
belong, or their habitats. The agency is currently consulting with the 
National Marine Fisheries Service regarding species within their 
jurisdiction potentially affected by this proposed activity.
    Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment, titled 
``Environmental Assessment of a Planned Low-Energy Marine Seismic 
Survey by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the South Pacific 
Ocean, December 2006-January 2007'', are available upon request from: 
Dr. William Lang, National Science foundation, Division of Ocean 
Sciences, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 725, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: 
(703) 292-7857 or at the agency's Web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/geo/
oce/pubs/scripps_seismic_southpac_dec 2006--EA.pdf. The National 
Science Foundation invites interested members of the public to provide 
written comments on this draft Environmental Assessment.


[[Page 44325]]


    Dated: July 31, 2006.
William Lang,
Program Director, Division of Ocean Sciences, National Science 
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 06-6668 Filed 8-3-06; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M
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