Public Hearings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for the Hawaii Range Complex, HI, 43251-43252 [E7-15127]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 149 / Friday, August 3, 2007 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for Improvements to
the Freeport Harbor Navigation
Project, Brazoria County, TX
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Galveston District, is issuing
this notice to announce its intent to
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS), for the proposed
deepening and widening of the deepdraft Freeport Harbor Navigation
Project, connecting port facilities in
Freeport to the Gulf of Mexico. The
District will conduct a study to evaluate
deepening and widening alternatives,
and dredged material disposal options,
which will include both upland
confined disposal and ocean disposal at
designated sites in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Freeport Harbor Navigation
Project study area is located on the mid
to upper Texas coast in Brazoria County,
TX, extending from approximately 3
miles offshore at the 60-foot depth
contour in the Gulf of Mexico, through
the jettied Freeport Harbor entrance
channel upstream to the Stauffer
Channel Turing Basin. Depths and
widths of up to 60-feet and 600-feet
respectively are being considered from
seaward, along with varying dimensions
for upstream reaches and basins. The
non-federal sponsor is the Brazos River
Harbor Navigation District.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Galveston District, P.O. Box
1229, Galveston, TX 77553–1229.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Mike Bragg, Project Manager—Project
Management Branch, (409) 766–3979; or
Mr. George Dabney, Environmental
Lead—Planning and Environmental
Branch, (409) 766–6345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
existing navigation project, completed
in 1996, is approximately 8.6 miles in
length. The project’s primary reaches
and basins include a 47-foot deep, 400foot wide entrance channel; a 45-foot
deep, 400-foot wide main channel; 45foot deep turning basins (with 750,
1,000 and 1,200-foot diameters); and a
36-foot deep, 750-foot diameter Brazos
Harbor Turning Basin. The existing
project encompasses numerous
industrial and shipping facilities,
located in or adjacent to the Port of
Freeport, TX. The non-federal sponsor,
the Brazos River Harbor Navigation
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SUMMARY:
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District, seeks to increase navigation
safety and efficiency, and to enhance its
competitiveness by improving the
existing project to attract larger, deeper
draft vessels including LNG tankers,
crude carriers and container ships.
To explore the feasibility of proposed
project improvements, the non-federal
sponsor has partnered with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston
District, to conduct a feasibility study
for determining optimum depths and
widths necessary to safely accommodate
current and projected navigation needs.
Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of
1970, Public Law 91–611, authorizes the
proposed deepening and widening
improvements of the existing navigation
project.
Project alternatives under evaluation
include maintaining primary channel
reaches at their existing dimensions (No
Action Alternative), or, deepening and
widening reaches to either 60 x 540 feet
or 55 x 600 feet respectively. The
remaining project reaches and basins
will be deepened, widened or expanded
to compatible dimensions.
The scoping process for public input
will involve Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with other interested
parties and entities. Coordination with
natural resources and environmental
agencies will be conducted under the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,
Endangered Species Act, Clear Water
Act, Clean Air Act, National Historic
Preservation Act, Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, and the Coastal Zone Management
Act. Public scoping meetings will also
be held to discuss environmental issues
associated with proposed channel
improvements.
Issues to be considered during the
public review and input process
include: water and sediment quality, air
and noise quality, hazardous, toxic and
radiological waste, dredged material
disposal, economics, threatened and
endangered species, wetlands, historic
properties, aesthetics, recreation,
cumulative impacts, impact mitigation
for natural resources, and other issues
affecting public health and welfare. Any
person or organization wishing to
provide information on issues or
concerns should contact the Galveston
District Corps of Engineers at (see
ADDRESSES).
It is estimated the DEIS will be
available for public review and
comment in April 2008.
Richard Medina,
Chief, Planning and Environmental Branch.
[FR Doc. 07–3817 Filed 8–2–07; 8:45 am]
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43251
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Public Hearings for the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement for the Hawaii Range
Complex, HI
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969 and regulations
implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts
1500–1508), and Presidential Executive
Order 12114, the Department of the
Navy (Navy) has prepared and filed
with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS)/Overseas EIS on July 19,
2007, to evaluate the potential
environmental effects of conducting
current and emerging Navy Pacific Fleet
training and defense-related research,
development, test, and evaluation
(RDT&E) operations within the Hawaii
Range Complex (HRC) and to upgrade or
modernize range complex capabilities
(including hardware and infrastructure).
A Notice of Intent for this DEIS/OEIS
was published in the Federal Register,
71 FR 51188, on August 29, 2006.
The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to
Federal, State, and Local agencies,
elected officials, as well as other
interested individuals and organizations
on July 20, 2007. On July 27, 2007, Navy
issued a revision to the Draft EIS/OEIS
that was filed with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on
July 19, 2007. Errata sheets and a
corrected Draft EIS/OEIS were
distributed to all Federal, State, and
local agencies, elected officials, and
other interested individuals and
organizations on Navy’s distribution
list. To allow for the full 45-day review
of the Draft EIS/OEIS, the public
comment period has been extended
from September 10, 2007 to September
17, 2007.
The Navy will conduct four public
hearings to receive oral and written
comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS.
Federal agencies, state agencies, and
local agencies and interested
individuals are invited to be present or
represented at the public hearings. This
notice announces the dates and
locations of the public hearings for this
Draft EIS/OEIS.
Dates and Addresses: An open house
session will precede the scheduled
public hearing at each of the locations
listed below and will allow individuals
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43252
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 149 / Friday, August 3, 2007 / Notices
to review the information presented in
the Draft EIS/OEIS. Navy
representatives will be available during
the open house sessions to clarify
information related to the Draft EIS/
OEIS. In addition, the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), which is
participating as a cooperating agency in
the development of the EIS, will be
represented at the public hearings. All
meetings will start with an open house
from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Presentations and
public comment will be held from 6
p.m. to 9 p.m. Public hearings will be
held on the following dates and at the
following locations: August 21, 2007, at
Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall,
4191 Hardy Street, Lihue, Hawaii;
August 23, 2007, at McKinley High
School, 1039 South King Street,
Honolulu, Hawaii; August 27, 2007, at
Baldwin High School, 1650 Kaahumanu
Avenue, Wailuku, Hawaii; August 29,
2007, at Waiakea High School, 155 West
Kawili Street, Hilo, Hawaii.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Public Affairs Officer, Pacific Missile
Range Facility Attention: HRC EIS/OEIS,
P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii
96752–0128. Voice mail 1–866–767–
3347 or facsimile 808–335–4520.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The HRC
consists of open ocean areas (outside 12
nautical miles (nm)), offshore areas
(within 12 nm from land), and onshore
areas geographically situated on and
around the Hawaiian Islands. The
complex covers 235,000 square nm
around the main Hawaiian Islands chain
and a 2.1 million square nm Temporary
Operating Area (TOA) of sea and
airspace. The study area is a complex
consisting of instrumented ocean areas,
airspace, ocean surface operation areas,
targets, and land range facilities.
Navy proposes to support and
conduct current and emerging training
and RDT&E operations in the HRC and
to upgrade or modernize range complex
capabilities to enhance and sustain
Navy training and defense-related
testing. This would be accomplished by
increasing training operations and
implementing necessary force structure
changes; supporting three transient
Strike Group training exercises at the
same time and an additional aircraft
carrier during Rim of the Pacific
Exercises; operating a Portable Undersea
Tracking Range; constructing and
operating an Acoustic Test Facility;
enhancing RDT&E and training
operations at the Pacific Missile Range
Facility (PMRF); and using the TOA as
required.
The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the
potential environmental impacts of
three alternatives, including two action
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alternatives (Alternatives 1 and 2) and
the No-action Alternative. The Noaction Alternative stands as no change
from current levels of training usage.
Alternatives 1 and 2 analyze an
increased tempo and frequency of
training exercises in the HRC.
Alternative 2 is the Navy’s preferred
alternative.
No significant adverse impacts are
identified for any resource area in any
geographic location within the HRC that
cannot be mitigated, with the exception
of exposure of marine mammals to
underwater sound. NMFS has received
an application from the Navy for a
Marine Mammal Protection Act Letter of
Authorization (LOA) and governing
regulations to authorize incidental take
of marine mammals that may result
from the implementation of the
activities analyzed in the Draft EIS/
OEIS. NMFS is participating as a
cooperating agency in the development
of this Draft EIS/OEIS. NMFS staff will
be present at the scheduled open house
and public hearings and available to
discuss both the MMPA incidental take
authorization process and NMFS’
participation in the development of the
EIS.
The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to
Federal, State, and local agencies,
elected officials, as well as other
interested individuals and organizations
on July 20, 2007. On July 27, 2007, Navy
issued a revision to the Draft EIS/OEIS
that was filed with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on
July 19, 2007. Errata sheets and a
corrected Draft EIS/OEIS were
distributed to all Federal, State, and
local agencies, elected officials, and
other interested individuals and
organizations on Navy’s distribution
list. To allow for the full 45-day review
of the Draft EIS/OEIS, the public
comment period has been extended
from September 10, 2007 to September
17, 2007.
Copies of the Draft EIS/OEIS are
available for public review at the
following libraries: Kahului Public
Library, 90 School Street, Kahului,
Maui, Hawaii 96732; Wailuku Public
Library, 251 High Street, Wailuku, Maui
Hawaii 96793; Hilo Public Library, 300
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii, HI
96720; Hawaii State Library, Hawaii and
Pacific Section Document Unit, 478
South King Street, Honolulu, Oahu,
Hawaii 96813–2994; Lihue Public
Library, 4344 Hardy Street, Lihue,
Kauai, Hawaii 96766; Waimea Public
Library, P.O. Box 397, Waimea, Kauai
Hawaii 96766; and Princeville Public
Library, 4343 Emmalani Drive,
Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii 96722. The
Draft EIS/OEIS is also available for
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electronic public viewing at https://
www.govsupport.us/hrc. Single copies
of the Draft EIS/OEIS and the Executive
Summary will be made available upon
request by contacting Public Affairs
Officer, Pacific Missile Range Facility,
P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii
96752–0128, Attention: HRC EIS/OEIS,
voice mail 1–866–767–3347 or facsimile
808–335–4520.
Federal, State, and local agencies and
interested parties are invited to be
present or represented at the public
hearing. Written comments can also be
submitted during the open house
sessions preceding the public hearings.
Oral statements will be heard and
transcribed by a stenographer; however,
to ensure the accuracy of the record, all
statements should be submitted in
writing. All statements, both oral and
written, will become part of the public
record on the Draft EIS/OEIS and will be
responded to in the Final EIS/OEIS.
Equal weight will be given to both oral
and written statements.
In the interest of available time, and
to ensure all who wish to give an oral
statement have the opportunity to do so,
each speaker’s comments will be limited
to three (3) minutes. If a long statement
is to be presented, it should be
summarized at the public hearing and
the full text submitted in writing at the
hearing, mailed to Public Affairs Officer,
Pacific Missile Range Facility, P.O. Box
128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii 96752–
0128, ATTN: HRC EIS/OEIS, facsimile
808–335–4520; or submitted via e-mail
to deis_hrc@govsupport.us or via the
project Web site at https://
www.govsupport.us/hrc.
All written comments must be
postmarked or received by September
17, 2007, to ensure they become part of
the official record. All comments will be
responded to in the Final EIS/OEIS.
Dated: July 30, 2007.
M.C. Holley,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge
Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Administrative
Law Division, Alternate Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E7–15127 Filed 8–2–07; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Availability of Finding
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Executive Order
(EO) 12114, Environmental Effects
Abroad of Major Federal Actions, the
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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 149 (Friday, August 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43251-43252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15127]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Public Hearings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for the Hawaii Range Complex,
HI
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and regulations implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Presidential
Executive Order 12114, the Department of the Navy (Navy) has prepared
and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas EIS on July 19, 2007, to
evaluate the potential environmental effects of conducting current and
emerging Navy Pacific Fleet training and defense-related research,
development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) operations within the Hawaii
Range Complex (HRC) and to upgrade or modernize range complex
capabilities (including hardware and infrastructure). A Notice of
Intent for this DEIS/OEIS was published in the Federal Register, 71 FR
51188, on August 29, 2006.
The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to Federal, State, and Local
agencies, elected officials, as well as other interested individuals
and organizations on July 20, 2007. On July 27, 2007, Navy issued a
revision to the Draft EIS/OEIS that was filed with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on July 19, 2007. Errata sheets and a
corrected Draft EIS/OEIS were distributed to all Federal, State, and
local agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and
organizations on Navy's distribution list. To allow for the full 45-day
review of the Draft EIS/OEIS, the public comment period has been
extended from September 10, 2007 to September 17, 2007.
The Navy will conduct four public hearings to receive oral and
written comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS. Federal agencies, state
agencies, and local agencies and interested individuals are invited to
be present or represented at the public hearings. This notice announces
the dates and locations of the public hearings for this Draft EIS/OEIS.
Dates and Addresses: An open house session will precede the
scheduled public hearing at each of the locations listed below and will
allow individuals
[[Page 43252]]
to review the information presented in the Draft EIS/OEIS. Navy
representatives will be available during the open house sessions to
clarify information related to the Draft EIS/OEIS. In addition, the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which is participating as a
cooperating agency in the development of the EIS, will be represented
at the public hearings. All meetings will start with an open house from
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Presentations and public comment will be held from 6
p.m. to 9 p.m. Public hearings will be held on the following dates and
at the following locations: August 21, 2007, at Kauai War Memorial
Convention Hall, 4191 Hardy Street, Lihue, Hawaii; August 23, 2007, at
McKinley High School, 1039 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii; August
27, 2007, at Baldwin High School, 1650 Kaahumanu Avenue, Wailuku,
Hawaii; August 29, 2007, at Waiakea High School, 155 West Kawili
Street, Hilo, Hawaii.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Officer, Pacific
Missile Range Facility Attention: HRC EIS/OEIS, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha,
Kauai, Hawaii 96752-0128. Voice mail 1-866-767-3347 or facsimile 808-
335-4520.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The HRC consists of open ocean areas
(outside 12 nautical miles (nm)), offshore areas (within 12 nm from
land), and onshore areas geographically situated on and around the
Hawaiian Islands. The complex covers 235,000 square nm around the main
Hawaiian Islands chain and a 2.1 million square nm Temporary Operating
Area (TOA) of sea and airspace. The study area is a complex consisting
of instrumented ocean areas, airspace, ocean surface operation areas,
targets, and land range facilities.
Navy proposes to support and conduct current and emerging training
and RDT&E operations in the HRC and to upgrade or modernize range
complex capabilities to enhance and sustain Navy training and defense-
related testing. This would be accomplished by increasing training
operations and implementing necessary force structure changes;
supporting three transient Strike Group training exercises at the same
time and an additional aircraft carrier during Rim of the Pacific
Exercises; operating a Portable Undersea Tracking Range; constructing
and operating an Acoustic Test Facility; enhancing RDT&E and training
operations at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF); and using the
TOA as required.
The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of
three alternatives, including two action alternatives (Alternatives 1
and 2) and the No-action Alternative. The No-action Alternative stands
as no change from current levels of training usage. Alternatives 1 and
2 analyze an increased tempo and frequency of training exercises in the
HRC. Alternative 2 is the Navy's preferred alternative.
No significant adverse impacts are identified for any resource area
in any geographic location within the HRC that cannot be mitigated,
with the exception of exposure of marine mammals to underwater sound.
NMFS has received an application from the Navy for a Marine Mammal
Protection Act Letter of Authorization (LOA) and governing regulations
to authorize incidental take of marine mammals that may result from the
implementation of the activities analyzed in the Draft EIS/OEIS. NMFS
is participating as a cooperating agency in the development of this
Draft EIS/OEIS. NMFS staff will be present at the scheduled open house
and public hearings and available to discuss both the MMPA incidental
take authorization process and NMFS' participation in the development
of the EIS.
The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to Federal, State, and local
agencies, elected officials, as well as other interested individuals
and organizations on July 20, 2007. On July 27, 2007, Navy issued a
revision to the Draft EIS/OEIS that was filed with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on July 19, 2007. Errata sheets and a
corrected Draft EIS/OEIS were distributed to all Federal, State, and
local agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and
organizations on Navy's distribution list. To allow for the full 45-day
review of the Draft EIS/OEIS, the public comment period has been
extended from September 10, 2007 to September 17, 2007.
Copies of the Draft EIS/OEIS are available for public review at the
following libraries: Kahului Public Library, 90 School Street, Kahului,
Maui, Hawaii 96732; Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, Wailuku,
Maui Hawaii 96793; Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo,
Hawaii, HI 96720; Hawaii State Library, Hawaii and Pacific Section
Document Unit, 478 South King Street, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii 96813-
2994; Lihue Public Library, 4344 Hardy Street, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii
96766; Waimea Public Library, P.O. Box 397, Waimea, Kauai Hawaii 96766;
and Princeville Public Library, 4343 Emmalani Drive, Princeville,
Kauai, Hawaii 96722. The Draft EIS/OEIS is also available for
electronic public viewing at https://www.govsupport.us/hrc. Single
copies of the Draft EIS/OEIS and the Executive Summary will be made
available upon request by contacting Public Affairs Officer, Pacific
Missile Range Facility, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii 96752-0128,
Attention: HRC EIS/OEIS, voice mail 1-866-767-3347 or facsimile 808-
335-4520.
Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties are
invited to be present or represented at the public hearing. Written
comments can also be submitted during the open house sessions preceding
the public hearings. Oral statements will be heard and transcribed by a
stenographer; however, to ensure the accuracy of the record, all
statements should be submitted in writing. All statements, both oral
and written, will become part of the public record on the Draft EIS/
OEIS and will be responded to in the Final EIS/OEIS. Equal weight will
be given to both oral and written statements.
In the interest of available time, and to ensure all who wish to
give an oral statement have the opportunity to do so, each speaker's
comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. If a long statement is
to be presented, it should be summarized at the public hearing and the
full text submitted in writing at the hearing, mailed to Public Affairs
Officer, Pacific Missile Range Facility, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, Kauai,
Hawaii 96752-0128, ATTN: HRC EIS/OEIS, facsimile 808-335-4520; or
submitted via e-mail to deis_hrc@govsupport.us or via the project Web
site at https://www.govsupport.us/hrc.
All written comments must be postmarked or received by September
17, 2007, to ensure they become part of the official record. All
comments will be responded to in the Final EIS/OEIS.
Dated: July 30, 2007.
M.C. Holley,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy,
Administrative Law Division, Alternate Federal Register Liaison
Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-15127 Filed 8-2-07; 8:45 am]
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