Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) for a Proposal To Enhance Training, Testing, and Operational Capability Within the Hawaii Range Complex and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings, 51188-51189 [E6-14324]

Download as PDF 51188 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 29, 2006 / Notices jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Background Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (the Act) created two tariff rate quotas (TRQs), providing for temporary reductions in the import duties on limited quantities of two categories of worsted wool fabrics suitable for use in making suits, suittype jackets, or trousers: (1) for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters greater than 18.5 microns (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) heading 9902.51.11); and (2) for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less (HTS heading 9902.51.12). On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Trade Act of 2002, which includes several amendments to Title V of the Act. On December 3, 2004, the Act was further amended pursuant to the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, Public Law 108-429. The 2004 amendment included authority for the Department to allocate a TRQ for new HTS category, HTS 9902.51.16. This HTS category refers to worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameter of 18.5 microns or less. The amendment provided that HTS 9902.51.16 is for the benefit of persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who weave such worsted wool fabric in the United States that is suitable for making men’s and boys’ suits. The TRQ for HTS 9902.51.16 provided for temporary reductions in the import duties on 2,000,000 square meters annually for 2005 and 2006. The amendment requires that the TRQ be allocated to persons who weave worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameter of 18.5 microns or less, which is suitable for use in making men’s and boys’ suits, in the United States. On August 17, 2006, the Act was further amended pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280, which extended the TRQ for HTS 9902.51.16 through 2009. On May 16, 2005, the Department published regulations establishing procedures for allocating the TRQ. 70 FR 25774, 15 CFR 335. In order to be eligible for an allocation, an applicant must submit an application on the form provided at https://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/ wooltrq.nsf/TRQApp/fabric to the address listed above by 5 p.m. on September 28, 2006 in compliance with the requirements of 15 CFR 335. Any business confidential information that is marked business confidential will be kept confidential and protected from disclosure to the full extent permitted by law. VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:08 Aug 28, 2006 Jkt 208001 Dated: August 23, 2006. Philip J. Martello, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel. [FR Doc. E6–14333 Filed 8–28–06; 8:45 am] Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail Bendixen, (907) 271–2809, at least 5 working days prior to the meeting date. BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S Dated: August 24, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–14311 Filed 8–28–06; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration BILLING CODE 3510–22–S [I.D. 082306E] North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public committee meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee (SSLMC) will meet in Seattle, WA. DATES: The meeting will be held on September 12–14, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Alaska Fishery Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Building 4, Seattle, WA. Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501–2252. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Wilson, North Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (907) 271–2809. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The main issues to be discussed by the SSLMC are the proposal ranking tool and the first chapters of the draft Biological Opinion. The Committee will complete work on development of the ranking tool and prepare a report for the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/ Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) for a Proposal To Enhance Training, Testing, and Operational Capability Within the Hawaii Range Complex and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings Department of the Navy, DoD. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), and Executive Order 12114 (Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions), the Department of the Navy (DoN) announces its intent to prepare an EIS/OEIS. This EIS/OEIS will evaluate the potential environmental effects of increasing usage and enhancing the capability of the Hawaii Range Complex to achieve and maintain Fleet readiness and to conduct current, emerging, and future training and research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) operations. The EIS/OEIS will consider two action Alternatives to accomplish these objectives, in addition to the No Action Alternative. The following will be invited to be cooperating agencies: Department of Energy, Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Army, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service. DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in Hawaii to receive oral and/or written comments on environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. The public scoping meetings will be held on: 1. Wednesday, September 13, 2006, 4 p.m.–8 p.m., Maui Arts and Cultural Center, One Cameron Way, Kahului, Maui, Hawaii. 2. Thursday, September 14, 2006, 4 p.m.–8 p.m., Disabled American E:\FR\FM\29AUN1.SGM 29AUN1 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 29, 2006 / Notices Veterans Hall, 2685 North Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. 3. Saturday, September 16, 2006, 4 p.m.–8 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 71 Banyan Drive, Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii. 4. Monday, September 18, 2006, 4 p.m.–8 p.m., Kauai Civil Defense Agency, Suite 100, 3990 Kaana Street, Kauai, Lihue, Hawaii. Each of the four scoping meetings will consist of an informal, open house session with information stations staffed by DoN representatives. Additional information concerning the meetings will be available on the EIS/OEIS Web page located at: https:// www.govsupport.us/navynepahawaii. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tom Clements, Pacific Missile Range Facility, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii 96752–0128, telephone 1–866– 767–3347. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hawaii Range Complex geographically encompasses offshore, nearshore, and onshore areas located on or around the major islands of the Hawaiian Island chain. The geographic scope of this EIS/ OEIS (Study Area) includes the Hawaii Offshore Operation Areas, consisting of 170,000 square nautical miles of ocean, generally from 17 to 26 degrees north latitude and from 154 to 162 degrees west longitude, land areas used by the DoN within these Operation Areas, and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Temporary Operating Area, consisting of 2.1 million square nautical miles to the north and west of Kauai. These ranges and Operation Areas are used to conduct operations and training involving military hardware, personnel, tactics, munitions, explosives, and electronic combat systems. Several of the areas are also used for RDT&E, including missile defense testing. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to: (1) Provide the Hawaii Range Complex with sufficient capabilities to support Fleet and DoD training, major exercises based on training requirements identified to support the U.S. Unified Commanders, and the development, testing, and evaluation of existing, upgraded, and newly developed DoD and other federal agency systems; (2) provide additional range capabilities and support facilities at the Hawaii Range Complex, to include the PMRF, to fully integrate range services in a modern, multi-threat, multidimensional environment, ensuring safe conduct and evaluation of training and RDT&E missions; and (3) fulfill DoN commitment to update analyses on marine mammal exposures to noise in the water. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:07 Aug 28, 2006 Jkt 208001 The need for the Proposed Action is to: (1) Ensure a robust training, testing, and operational capability within the Hawaii Range Complex operating areas and to take advantage of Hawaii’s location to not only provide training for local assets, but also provide capability for short notice and surge deployments from the West Coast; (2) support the acquisition and integration into the Fleet of advanced military technology and accommodate future increases in operational training tempo; and (3) maintain the long-term viability of the range complex while protecting human health and the environment. The No Action Alternative is the continuation of training operations, RDT&E activities, ongoing base operations, and maintenance of the technical and logistical facilities that support these operations and activities, and the monitoring of marine mammals. The No Action Alternative includes the current level of training and test activities, including the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercises. Alternative 1 includes the activities described in the No Action Alternative with the addition of increased training necessary to support the Fleet Response Training Plan, Hawaii Range Complex improvements and modernizations, planned RDT&E activities, and necessary force structure changes. Alternative 2 would include all of the activities described in Alternative 1 with the addition of major events, such as supporting three carrier strike groups training at the same time, increasing the tempo of training exercises, and additional RDT&E programs at PMRF. Future RDT&E programs proposed as part of Alternative 2 would include directed energy programs involving lasers. Key environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS/OEIS, as applicable, include: biological resources (marine mammals and threatened and endangered species), cultural resources, environmental justice, health and safety, and noise. The DoN has been involved in long-term research plans studying the quantification of exposure of marine mammal species to acoustic emissions with differing experimental approaches and detailed observations of effects. Now that initial findings are available, this EIS/OEIS will include acoustic exposure modeling and effects-analysis for marine mammals within the defined study area. The DoN is initiating the scoping process to identify community concerns and local issues that will be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Federal, state, and local agencies, the public, and interested persons are encouraged to provide oral PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51189 and/or written comments to the DoN to identify specific environmental issues or topics of environmental concern that the commenter believes the DoN should consider. All comments, written or provided orally at the scoping meetings, will receive the same consideration during EIS/OEIS preparation. Written comments on the scope of the EIS/OEIS should be postmarked no later than October 13, 2006. Comments may be mailed to Mr. Tom Clements, Pacific Missile Range Facility, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii 96752–0128. Dated: August 24, 2006. Saundra K. Melancon, Paralegal Specialist, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. E6–14324 Filed 8–28–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests AGENCY: Department of Education. SUMMARY: The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 30, 2006. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. OMB may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency’s ability to perform its statutory obligations. The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, publishes that notice containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission of these requests to OMB. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) E:\FR\FM\29AUN1.SGM 29AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51188-51189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14324]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) for a Proposal To 
Enhance Training, Testing, and Operational Capability Within the Hawaii 
Range Complex and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Executive Order 12114 
(Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions), the Department 
of the Navy (DoN) announces its intent to prepare an EIS/OEIS. This 
EIS/OEIS will evaluate the potential environmental effects of 
increasing usage and enhancing the capability of the Hawaii Range 
Complex to achieve and maintain Fleet readiness and to conduct current, 
emerging, and future training and research, development, test, and 
evaluation (RDT&E) operations. The EIS/OEIS will consider two action 
Alternatives to accomplish these objectives, in addition to the No 
Action Alternative.
    The following will be invited to be cooperating agencies: 
Department of Energy, Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Army, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in Hawaii to receive oral 
and/or written comments on environmental concerns that should be 
addressed in the EIS/OEIS. The public scoping meetings will be held on:
    1. Wednesday, September 13, 2006, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Maui Arts and 
Cultural Center, One Cameron Way, Kahului, Maui, Hawaii.
    2. Thursday, September 14, 2006, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Disabled American

[[Page 51189]]

Veterans Hall, 2685 North Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
    3. Saturday, September 16, 2006, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian 
Hotel, 71 Banyan Drive, Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii.
    4. Monday, September 18, 2006, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Kauai Civil Defense 
Agency, Suite 100, 3990 Kaana Street, Kauai, Lihue, Hawaii.
    Each of the four scoping meetings will consist of an informal, open 
house session with information stations staffed by DoN representatives. 
Additional information concerning the meetings will be available on the 
EIS/OEIS Web page located at: https://www.govsupport.us/navynepahawaii.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tom Clements, Pacific Missile 
Range Facility, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii 96752-0128, 
telephone 1-866-767-3347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hawaii Range Complex geographically 
encompasses offshore, nearshore, and onshore areas located on or around 
the major islands of the Hawaiian Island chain. The geographic scope of 
this EIS/OEIS (Study Area) includes the Hawaii Offshore Operation 
Areas, consisting of 170,000 square nautical miles of ocean, generally 
from 17 to 26 degrees north latitude and from 154 to 162 degrees west 
longitude, land areas used by the DoN within these Operation Areas, and 
the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Temporary Operating Area, 
consisting of 2.1 million square nautical miles to the north and west 
of Kauai. These ranges and Operation Areas are used to conduct 
operations and training involving military hardware, personnel, 
tactics, munitions, explosives, and electronic combat systems. Several 
of the areas are also used for RDT&E, including missile defense 
testing.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to: (1) Provide the Hawaii 
Range Complex with sufficient capabilities to support Fleet and DoD 
training, major exercises based on training requirements identified to 
support the U.S. Unified Commanders, and the development, testing, and 
evaluation of existing, upgraded, and newly developed DoD and other 
federal agency systems; (2) provide additional range capabilities and 
support facilities at the Hawaii Range Complex, to include the PMRF, to 
fully integrate range services in a modern, multi-threat, multi-
dimensional environment, ensuring safe conduct and evaluation of 
training and RDT&E missions; and (3) fulfill DoN commitment to update 
analyses on marine mammal exposures to noise in the water.
    The need for the Proposed Action is to: (1) Ensure a robust 
training, testing, and operational capability within the Hawaii Range 
Complex operating areas and to take advantage of Hawaii's location to 
not only provide training for local assets, but also provide capability 
for short notice and surge deployments from the West Coast; (2) support 
the acquisition and integration into the Fleet of advanced military 
technology and accommodate future increases in operational training 
tempo; and (3) maintain the long-term viability of the range complex 
while protecting human health and the environment.
    The No Action Alternative is the continuation of training 
operations, RDT&E activities, ongoing base operations, and maintenance 
of the technical and logistical facilities that support these 
operations and activities, and the monitoring of marine mammals. The No 
Action Alternative includes the current level of training and test 
activities, including the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercises. 
Alternative 1 includes the activities described in the No Action 
Alternative with the addition of increased training necessary to 
support the Fleet Response Training Plan, Hawaii Range Complex 
improvements and modernizations, planned RDT&E activities, and 
necessary force structure changes. Alternative 2 would include all of 
the activities described in Alternative 1 with the addition of major 
events, such as supporting three carrier strike groups training at the 
same time, increasing the tempo of training exercises, and additional 
RDT&E programs at PMRF. Future RDT&E programs proposed as part of 
Alternative 2 would include directed energy programs involving lasers.
    Key environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS/OEIS, as 
applicable, include: biological resources (marine mammals and 
threatened and endangered species), cultural resources, environmental 
justice, health and safety, and noise. The DoN has been involved in 
long-term research plans studying the quantification of exposure of 
marine mammal species to acoustic emissions with differing experimental 
approaches and detailed observations of effects. Now that initial 
findings are available, this EIS/OEIS will include acoustic exposure 
modeling and effects-analysis for marine mammals within the defined 
study area.
    The DoN is initiating the scoping process to identify community 
concerns and local issues that will be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. 
Federal, state, and local agencies, the public, and interested persons 
are encouraged to provide oral and/or written comments to the DoN to 
identify specific environmental issues or topics of environmental 
concern that the commenter believes the DoN should consider. All 
comments, written or provided orally at the scoping meetings, will 
receive the same consideration during EIS/OEIS preparation.
    Written comments on the scope of the EIS/OEIS should be postmarked 
no later than October 13, 2006. Comments may be mailed to Mr. Tom 
Clements, Pacific Missile Range Facility, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, 
Hawaii 96752-0128.

    Dated: August 24, 2006.
Saundra K. Melancon,
Paralegal Specialist, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-14324 Filed 8-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
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