Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for the Southern California Range Complex (including the San Clemente Island Range Complex) and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings, 76639-76640 [E6-21802]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 245 / Thursday, December 21, 2006 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 121506A]
Endangered and Threatened Species;
Initiation of a Status Review under the
Endangered Species Act for the
Atlantic White Marlin
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of initiation of a status
review under the Endangered Species
Act (ESA); request for information.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the
initiation of a status review for the
Atlantic white marlin (Tetrapturus
albidus), and we solicit information on
the status of and threats to the species.
DATES: Information regarding the status
of and threats to the Atlantic white
marlin must be received by February 20,
2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit
information on the Atlantic white
marlin by any one of the following
methods:
• Fax: 727–824–5309, Attention: Dr.
Stephania Bolden
• Mail: Information on paper, disk or
CD-ROM should be addressed to the
Assistant Regional Administrator for
Protected Resources, NMFS Southeast
Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South,
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
• E-mail: whitemarlin.info@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line the following
identifier: white marlin review
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Stephania Bolden, NMFS, Southeast
Regional Office (727) 824–5312, or Ms.
Marta Nammack, NMFS, Office of
Protected Resources (301) 713–1401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Background
We conducted a status review of the
Atlantic white marlin under the ESA
and published a 12-month
determination that listing was not
warranted (67 FR 57204; September 9,
2002). As a result of subsequent
litigation and a settlement agreement
with the Center for Biological Diversity,
we agreed to initiate a status review
following the 2006 stock assessment by
the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT);
the 2006 ICCAT white marlin stock
assessment can be found at
www.iccat.int. Atlantic white marlin are
billfish (Family: Istiophoridae) found
throughout tropical and temperate
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:01 Dec 20, 2006
Jkt 211001
waters of the Atlantic Ocean and
adjacent seas. White marlin, along with
other billfish and tunas, are managed
internationally by the member nations
of the ICCAT. At this time we announce
commencement of a new status review
for the Atlantic white marlin, and
request information regarding the status
of and threats to the species, pursuant
to the terms of the aforementioned
settlement agreement.
Request for Information
To support this status review, we are
soliciting information relevant to the
status of and threats to the species,
including, but not limited to,
information on the following topics: (1)
historical and current abundance and
distribution of the species and
congeners throughout the species range;
(2) potential factors for the species’
decline throughout the species range; (3)
rates of capture and release of the
species from both recreational and
commercial fisheries; (4) post-release
mortality; (5) life history information
(size/age at maturity, growth rates,
fecundity, reproductive rate/success,
etc.); (6) morphological and molecular
information to assist in determining
taxonomy of this species and congeners;
(7) threats to the species, particularly:
(a) present or threatened destruction,
modification, or curtailment of habitat
or range; (b) over-utilization for
commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes; (c) disease or
predation, (d) inadequacy of existing
regulatory mechanisms, or (e) other
natural or manmade factors affecting its
continued existence; and (8) any
ongoing conservation efforts for the
species. See DATES and ADDRESSES for
guidance on and deadlines for
submitting information.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: December 18, 2006.
Donna Wieting,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06–9812 Filed 12–18–06; 2:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement for the Southern California
Range Complex (including the San
Clemente Island Range Complex) and
To Announce Public Scoping Meetings
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
ACTION:
76639
Notice.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by
the Council on Environmental Quality
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508),
and Presidential Executive Order 12114
(Environmental Effects Abroad of Major
Federal Actions), the Department of the
Navy (DON) announces its intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS)/Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS)
to evaluate the potential environmental
effects associated with conducting naval
readiness activities in the Southern
California (SOCAL) Range Complex (to
include the San Clemente Island (SCI)
Range Complex). DON proposes to
support current, emerging, and future
military activities in the SOCAL and SCI
Range Complexes as necessary to
achieve and sustain Fleet readiness,
including military training; research,
development, testing, and evaluation
(RDT&E) of systems, weapons, and
platforms; and investment in range
resources and range infrastructure, all in
furtherance of our statutory obligations
under Title 10 of the United States Code
governing the roles and responsibilities
of the DON.
On August 17, 1999, DON initiated
the NEPA process for an EIS/OEIS
evaluating the impacts of DON activities
at the SCI Range Complex by publishing
a Notice of Intent in the Federal
Register (64 FR 44716–44717). DON has
determined that it is appropriate to
include within the scope of the SOCAL
Range Complex EIS/OEIS the previously
announced environmental analysis of
military activities on the SCI Range.
Therefore, this Notice of Intent
supersedes and withdraws the August
17, 1999, notice of the DON’s intent to
prepare an EIS/OEIS for the SCI Range
Complex.
Dates and Addresses: Three public
scoping meetings will be held to receive
oral and written comments on
environmental concerns that should be
addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Public
scoping meetings will be held on the
following dates, at the times and
locations specified:
1. Wednesday, January 29, 2007,
6 p.m.–8 p.m., Cabrillo Marine
Aquarium Library, 3720 Stephen M.
White Drive, San Pedro, CA.
2. Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 6 p.m.–
8 p.m., Oceanside Civic Center Library,
330 North Coast Highway, Oceanside,
CA.
3. Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 6
p.m.–8 p.m., Coronado Public Library,
640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA.
E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM
21DEN1
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
76640
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 245 / Thursday, December 21, 2006 / Notices
Each meeting will consist of an
information session staffed by DON
representatives, to be followed by a
presentation describing the proposed
action and alternatives. Written
comments from interested parties are
encouraged to ensure that the full range
of relevant issues is identified. Members
of the public can contribute oral or
written comments at the scoping
meetings, or written comments by mail
or fax, subsequent to the meetings.
Additional information concerning the
scoping meetings is available at: https://
www.SocalRangeComplexEIS.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Diori Kreske, Naval Facilities
Engineering Command Southwest, 2585
Callaghan Hwy., San Diego, CA 92136–
5198; telephone 619–556–8706.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
SOCAL Range Complex is a suite of
land ranges and training areas, surface
and subsurface ocean ranges and
operating areas, and military airspace
that is centrally managed and controlled
by DON agencies. The complex
geographically encompasses near-shore
and offshore surface ocean operating
areas and extensive military Special Use
Airspace generally located between
Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton to
the north and San Diego to the south. It
extends more than 600 miles to the
southwest in the Pacific Ocean covering
approximately 120,000 square nautical
miles of ocean area. The SCI Range
Complex is geographically encompassed
by the SOCAL Range Complex. The SCI
Range Complex consists of land ranges
and training areas on San Clemente
Island and certain near-island ocean
operating areas and ranges.
Collectively, the components of the
SOCAL Range Complex provide the
space and resources needed to execute
training events across the training
continuum, from individual skills
training to complex joint exercises. The
mission of the SOCAL Range Complex
is to support DON, Marine Corps, and
joint (multi-service) training by
maintaining and operating range
facilities and by providing range
services and support to the Pacific Fleet,
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and
other forces and military activities. The
Commander, Fleet Forces Command
and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet are
responsible for operations, maintenance,
training, and support of this national
training asset.
Naval transformation initiatives
determine current, emerging, and future
requirements for training access to the
SOCAL Range Complex. Moreover,
recent world events have placed the
U.S. military on heightened alert in the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:01 Dec 20, 2006
Jkt 211001
defense of the U.S., and in defense of
allied nations. At this time, the U.S.
military, and specifically the U.S. Navy,
is actively engaged in anti-terrorism
efforts around the globe. Title 10 U.S.
Code Section 5062 directs the Chief of
Naval Operations to maintain, train, and
equip all naval forces for combat so that
they are capable of winning wars,
deterring aggression, and maintaining
freedom of the seas. To achieve this
level of readiness, naval forces must
have access to ranges, operating areas
(OPAREAs), and airspace where they
can develop and maintain skills for
wartime missions and conduct RDT&E
of naval weapons systems. As such,
DON ranges, OPAREAs, and airspace
must be maintained and/or enhanced to
accommodate necessary training and
testing activities in support of national
security objectives.
The proposed action, therefore,
responds to DON’s need to: (1) Maintain
baseline operations at current levels; (2)
accommodate future increases in
operational training tempo in the
SOCAL and SCI Range Complexes as
necessary to support the deployment of
naval forces; (3) achieve and sustain
readiness in ships and squadrons so that
the DON can quickly surge significant
combat power in the event of a national
crisis or contingency operation and
consistent with Fleet Readiness
Training Plan; (4) support the
acquisition, testing, training, and
introduction into the Fleet of advanced
platforms and weapons systems; and, (5)
implement investments to optimize
range capabilities required to adequately
support required training. DON will
meet these needs and maintain the longterm viability of the SOCAL Range
Complex, while protecting human
health and the environment.
Three alternatives will be evaluated in
the EIS/OEIS, including: (1) The No
Action Alternative, comprised of
baseline operations and support of
existing range capabilities; (2)
Alternative 1 comprised of the No
Action Alternative plus additional
operations on upgraded/-modernized
existing ranges; and (3) Alternative 1
plus new ranges, new dedicated
capabilities, additional increased tempo
(beyond Alternative 1) to optimize
training in support of future
contingencies. The analysis will address
potentially significant direct, indirect,
and cumulative impacts on biological
resources, land use, air quality, water
quality, water resources, and
socioeconomics, as well as other
environmental issues that could occur
with the implementation of the DON’s
proposed actions and alternatives.
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The DON is initiating the scoping
process to identify community concerns
and local issues to be addressed in the
EIS/OEIS. Federal, State, and local
agencies, and interested parties are
encouraged to provide oral and/or
written comments to the DON that
identify specific issues or topics of
environmental concern that should be
addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Written
comments must be postmarked by
February 8, 2007, and should be mailed
to: Naval Facilities Engineering
Command Southwest, 2585 Callaghan
Hwy., San Diego, CA 92136–5198;
Attention: Ms. Diori Kreske, telephone
619–556–8706.
Dated: December 13, 2006.
M.A. Harvison,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate
General’s Corps, Federal Legislative Liaison
Officer.
[FR Doc. E6–21802 Filed 12–20–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Proposed Information
Collection Requests
Department of Education.
Notice of proposed information
collection requests.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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: An emergency review has been
requested in accordance with the Act
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507 (j)), since
public harm is reasonably likely to
result if normal clearance procedures
are followed. Approval by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has
been requested by January 22, 2007. A
regular clearance process is also
beginning. Interested persons are
invited to submit comments on or before
February 20, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Written comments
regarding the emergency review should
be addressed to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Attention: Rachael Potter, Desk Officer,
Department of Education, Office of
Management and Budget; 725 17th
Street, NW., Room 10222, New
Executive Office Building, Washington,
DC 20503 or faxed to (202) 395–6974.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires
that the Director of OMB provide
interested Federal agencies and the
E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM
21DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 245 (Thursday, December 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76639-76640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21802]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for the Southern California
Range Complex (including the San Clemente Island 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 (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and
Presidential Executive Order 12114 (Environmental Effects Abroad of
Major Federal Actions), the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) to evaluate the potential
environmental effects associated with conducting naval readiness
activities in the Southern California (SOCAL) Range Complex (to include
the San Clemente Island (SCI) Range Complex). DON proposes to support
current, emerging, and future military activities in the SOCAL and SCI
Range Complexes as necessary to achieve and sustain Fleet readiness,
including military training; research, development, testing, and
evaluation (RDT&E) of systems, weapons, and platforms; and investment
in range resources and range infrastructure, all in furtherance of our
statutory obligations under Title 10 of the United States Code
governing the roles and responsibilities of the DON.
On August 17, 1999, DON initiated the NEPA process for an EIS/OEIS
evaluating the impacts of DON activities at the SCI Range Complex by
publishing a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (64 FR 44716-
44717). DON has determined that it is appropriate to include within the
scope of the SOCAL Range Complex EIS/OEIS the previously announced
environmental analysis of military activities on the SCI Range.
Therefore, this Notice of Intent supersedes and withdraws the August
17, 1999, notice of the DON's intent to prepare an EIS/OEIS for the SCI
Range Complex.
Dates and Addresses: Three public scoping meetings will be held to
receive oral and written comments on environmental concerns that should
be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Public scoping meetings will be held on
the following dates, at the times and locations specified:
1. Wednesday, January 29, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Cabrillo Marine
Aquarium Library, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, CA.
2. Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Oceanside Civic Center
Library, 330 North Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA.
3. Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Coronado Public
Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA.
[[Page 76640]]
Each meeting will consist of an information session staffed by DON
representatives, to be followed by a presentation describing the
proposed action and alternatives. Written comments from interested
parties are encouraged to ensure that the full range of relevant issues
is identified. Members of the public can contribute oral or written
comments at the scoping meetings, or written comments by mail or fax,
subsequent to the meetings. Additional information concerning the
scoping meetings is available at: https://www.SocalRangeComplexEIS.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Diori Kreske, Naval Facilities
Engineering Command Southwest, 2585 Callaghan Hwy., San Diego, CA
92136-5198; telephone 619-556-8706.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SOCAL Range Complex is a suite of land
ranges and training areas, surface and subsurface ocean ranges and
operating areas, and military airspace that is centrally managed and
controlled by DON agencies. The complex geographically encompasses
near-shore and offshore surface ocean operating areas and extensive
military Special Use Airspace generally located between Marine Corp
Base Camp Pendleton to the north and San Diego to the south. It extends
more than 600 miles to the southwest in the Pacific Ocean covering
approximately 120,000 square nautical miles of ocean area. The SCI
Range Complex is geographically encompassed by the SOCAL Range Complex.
The SCI Range Complex consists of land ranges and training areas on San
Clemente Island and certain near-island ocean operating areas and
ranges.
Collectively, the components of the SOCAL Range Complex provide the
space and resources needed to execute training events across the
training continuum, from individual skills training to complex joint
exercises. The mission of the SOCAL Range Complex is to support DON,
Marine Corps, and joint (multi-service) training by maintaining and
operating range facilities and by providing range services and support
to the Pacific Fleet, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and other
forces and military activities. The Commander, Fleet Forces Command and
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet are responsible for operations,
maintenance, training, and support of this national training asset.
Naval transformation initiatives determine current, emerging, and
future requirements for training access to the SOCAL Range Complex.
Moreover, recent world events have placed the U.S. military on
heightened alert in the defense of the U.S., and in defense of allied
nations. At this time, the U.S. military, and specifically the U.S.
Navy, is actively engaged in anti-terrorism efforts around the globe.
Title 10 U.S. Code Section 5062 directs the Chief of Naval Operations
to maintain, train, and equip all naval forces for combat so that they
are capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining
freedom of the seas. To achieve this level of readiness, naval forces
must have access to ranges, operating areas (OPAREAs), and airspace
where they can develop and maintain skills for wartime missions and
conduct RDT&E of naval weapons systems. As such, DON ranges, OPAREAs,
and airspace must be maintained and/or enhanced to accommodate
necessary training and testing activities in support of national
security objectives.
The proposed action, therefore, responds to DON's need to: (1)
Maintain baseline operations at current levels; (2) accommodate future
increases in operational training tempo in the SOCAL and SCI Range
Complexes as necessary to support the deployment of naval forces; (3)
achieve and sustain readiness in ships and squadrons so that the DON
can quickly surge significant combat power in the event of a national
crisis or contingency operation and consistent with Fleet Readiness
Training Plan; (4) support the acquisition, testing, training, and
introduction into the Fleet of advanced platforms and weapons systems;
and, (5) implement investments to optimize range capabilities required
to adequately support required training. DON will meet these needs and
maintain the long-term viability of the SOCAL Range Complex, while
protecting human health and the environment.
Three alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS/OEIS, including:
(1) The No Action Alternative, comprised of baseline operations and
support of existing range capabilities; (2) Alternative 1 comprised of
the No Action Alternative plus additional operations on upgraded/-
modernized existing ranges; and (3) Alternative 1 plus new ranges, new
dedicated capabilities, additional increased tempo (beyond Alternative
1) to optimize training in support of future contingencies. The
analysis will address potentially significant direct, indirect, and
cumulative impacts on biological resources, land use, air quality,
water quality, water resources, and socioeconomics, as well as other
environmental issues that could occur with the implementation of the
DON's proposed actions and alternatives.
The DON is initiating the scoping process to identify community
concerns and local issues to be addressed in the EIS/OEIS. Federal,
State, and local agencies, and interested parties are encouraged to
provide oral and/or written comments to the DON that identify specific
issues or topics of environmental concern that should be addressed in
the EIS/OEIS. Written comments must be postmarked by February 8, 2007,
and should be mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Southwest, 2585 Callaghan Hwy., San Diego, CA 92136-5198; Attention:
Ms. Diori Kreske, telephone 619-556-8706.
Dated: December 13, 2006.
M.A. Harvison,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, Federal
Legislative Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-21802 Filed 12-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
