Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Army Growth and Force Structure Realignment To Support Operations in the Pacific Theater, 29491-29492 [E8-11256]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 21, 2008 / Notices
whales, and is not likely to adversely
affect sperm, sei, or blue whales. NMFS
has concluded that issuance of this IHA
renewal would not have impacts beyond
what was analyzed in the November 30,
2007, biological opinion, so additional
consultation is not required.
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC69 with NOTICES
NEPA
MARAD and the USCG released a
Final EIS/Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) for the proposed Northeast
Gateway Port and Pipeline Lateral. A
notice of availability was published by
MARAD on October 26, 2006 (71 FR
62657). The Final EIS/EIR provides
detailed information on the proposed
project facilities, construction methods
and analysis of potential impacts on
marine mammal.
NMFS was a cooperating agency (as
defined by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1501.6))
in the preparation of the Draft and Final
EISs. NMFS has reviewed the Final EIS
and has adopted it. Therefore, the
preparation of another EIS or EA is not
warranted.
Determinations
NMFS has determined that the impact
of operation of the Northeast Gateway
Port Project may result, at worst, in a
temporary modification in behavior of
small numbers of certain species of
marine mammals that may be in close
proximity to the Northeast Gateway
LNG facility and associated pipeline
during its operation. These activities are
expected to result in some local short–
term displacement only of the affected
species or stocks of marine mammals.
Taking these two factors together, NMFS
concludes that the activity will have no
more than a negligible impact on the
affected species or stocks, as there will
be no expected effects on annual rates
of survival and reproduction of these
species or stocks. This determination is
further supported by the required
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
measures described in this document
and in NMFS′ Biological Opinion on
this action.
As a result of implementation of the
described mitigation and monitoring
measures, no take by injury or death
would be requested, anticipated or
authorized, and the potential for
temporary or permanent hearing
impairment is very unlikely due to the
relatively low noise levels (and
consequently small zone of impact).
While the number of marine
mammals that may be harassed will
depend on the distribution and
abundance of marine mammals in the
vicinity of the LNG Port facility, the
estimated numbers of marine mammals
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:18 May 20, 2008
Jkt 214001
to be harassed is small relative to the
affected species or stock sizes.
Authorization
NMFS has issued an IHA to Northeast
Gateway for conducting LNG Port
facility operations in Massachusetts
Bay, provided the previously mentioned
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements are incorporated.
Dated: May 15, 2008.
Helen Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–11417 Filed 5–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Supplemental Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement for
Army Growth and Force Structure
Realignment To Support Operations in
the Pacific Theater
Department of the Army, DOD.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army
announces the availability of a Draft
Supplemental Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement
(DSPEIS) for the growth and
realignment of the United States Army
to support Operations in the Pacific
Theater. The Department of the Army
has prepared a DSPEIS that evaluates
the potential environmental and
socioeconomic effects associated with
alternatives for implementing the
growth, realignment, and transformation
of the Army’s forces to support
Operations in the Pacific Theater.
Potential impacts have been analyzed in
the DSPEIS at installations that are
capable of supporting operations in the
Pacific Theater.
DATES: The public comment period will
end 45 days after publication of a Notice
of Availability in the Federal Register
by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
Send all written comments
and suggestions concerning this DSPEIS
to: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army
Environmental Command, Building
E4460, Attention: IMAE–PA 5179
Hoadley Road, Aberdeen Proving
Ground, MD 21010–5401. Comments
may also be sent to: APGR-USAEC
PublicComments@conus.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Public Affairs Office at (410) 436–2556
or facsimile at (410) 436–1693 during
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29491
normal business hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through
Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Army’s Proposed Action and analysis
within the DSPEIS covers those
activities the Army may undertake from
2008 through 2013 to grow, realign, and
transform its forces to support
operations in the Pacific Theater.
Implementation of the Proposed Action
will ensure the proper capabilities exist
to sustain operations and regional
security in the Pacific Theater now and
into the foreseeable future. The
implementation of the Proposed Action
will better meet military operational
needs, national and regional security
requirements, and the needs of the
Army’s Soldiers and their Families. To
implement the Proposed Action, new
units with critical military skills must
be stationed at locations that are capable
of supporting strategic deployment and
mobilization requirements in the Pacific
Theater. These stationing locations must
be capable of accommodating unit
training, garrison operations,
maintenance activities, and the needs of
Soldiers and their Families.
The current global security
environment is turbulent,
unpredictable, and rapidly changing. It
has placed considerable demands on the
nation’s military, and highlighted the
need for the Army to correct shortfalls
in high-demand skills while reassessing
its force capabilities. No one has felt the
impacts of the recent demands of the
modern security environment more than
Soldiers and their Families. To meet the
challenges of the 21st century security
environment, the Army requires the
growth and restructuring of its forces to
support operations across the Pacific
Theater to sustain the broad range of
missions required to promote regional,
national, and global stability.
The DSPEIS supplements the Army’s
Final Programmatic EIS for Army
Growth and Force Structure
Realignment (2007). The DSPEIS
examines major Army training
installations that were not in the 2007
PEIS, but are capable of supporting
operations in the Pacific Theater and the
ability of those installations to support
new unit stationing actions. The DSPEIS
includes analysis of specific actions that
will need to be taken (such as the
construction of housing and quality of
life facilities, the construction of new
training ranges and infrastructure, and
changes in the intensity of use of
maneuver land and firing ranges) to
station new units as part of the Army’s
overall efforts to grow and realign the
force.
E:\FR\FM\21MYN1.SGM
21MYN1
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29492
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 21, 2008 / Notices
The Army has considered a full range
of sites for implementing the Proposed
Action. Alternative stationing locations
that the Army is considering for
supporting the Proposed Action include
the major training installations the
Army considered in its 2007
programmatic EIS as well as four
additional installations in Hawaii and
Alaska. Additional installations include
Schofield Barracks Military Reservation
(SBMR), HI; Fort Shafter, HI; Fort
Richardson, AK; and Fort Wainwright,
AK. Each of these installations could
receive additional Soldiers as part of
alternatives being examined.
Alternatives in the DSPEIS include
stationing of additional Combat Support
(CS) or Combat Service Support (CSS)
units or new support brigades. The
following alternatives will be analyzed
in the SPEIS: (1) Support operations in
the Pacific Theater by implementing
Army-wide modular force and
transformation recommendations within
U.S. Army Pacific. This alternative
involves the stationing of approximately
1,500–2,000 Soldiers at Army
installations in Hawaii and Alaska; (2)
In addition to Army growth under
Alternative 1, Alternative 2 includes
growth and transformation of Army
forces to support operations in the
Pacific Theater by stationing additional
Combat Support (CS) and Combat
Service Support (CSS) units in locations
capable of supporting these operations.
The Army would station approximately
1,500–2,500 additional CS and CSS
Soldiers beyond Alternative 1; (3) In
addition to Army growth under
Alternatives 1 and 2, as part of
Alternative 3 the Army would grow,
transform, and realign forces by
stationing additional support brigades
in locations capable of supporting
operations in the Pacific Theater.
Support brigades could include the
stationing of an additional Maneuver
Enhancement Brigade (570 Soldiers), a
Combat Aviation Brigade (2,800
Soldiers), or a Field Artillery Brigade
(approximately 1,500 Soldiers).
In addition to the above alternatives,
the No Action Alternative will be
considered and used as a baseline for
comparison of alternatives. It is not a
viable means for meeting the current
and future strategic security and defense
requirements of the nation. The No
Action Alternative would retain U.S.
Army forces in their current end
strength and force structure. The No
Action Alternative includes the
implementation of stationing actions
directed by Base Realignment and
Closure legislation in 2005, Army
Global Defense Posture Realignment,
Army Modular Forces initiatives, and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:18 May 20, 2008
Jkt 214001
Army Growth and Force Structure
Realignment decisions published in
January 2008.
The DSPEIS covers those activities
required to implement unit stationing
actions associated with Army growth
and force structure realignment to
support operations in the Pacific
Theater. Actions the Army will take to
support unit stationing include the
construction of housing and quality of
life facilities (i.e., gymnasiums,
hospitals, shopping areas), the
construction of new training ranges and
infrastructure, and changes in the
intensity of use of maneuver land and
firing ranges associated with the
increased frequency of training events.
The DSPEIS identifies the
environmental and socioeconomic
impacts associated with various unit
stationing actions that could be
implemented to support the Proposed
Action. Decisions from the SPEIS will
be tiered into sitespecific NEPA analysis
at the installation level after stationing
decisions are made.
The Army invites full public
participation to promote open
communication and better decision
making. All persons and organizations
that have an interest in the growth and
realignment of the Army’s forces and
associated stationing actions are invited
to participate in this NEPA evaluation
process. Assistance will be provided
upon request to anyone having
difficulty understanding how to
participate.
Written comments on the DSPEIS will
be accepted for 45 days following the
publication of a Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Information on the DSPEIS will be
posted on the U.S. Army Environmental
Command’s Web site, https://
www.aec.army.mil, for public access
during the public comment period.
Dated: May 14, 2008.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army,
(Environment, Safety, and Occupational
Health).
[FR Doc. E8–11256 Filed 5–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710–08–M
PO 00000
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Hold an Open Meeting of the
North Dakota River Task Force
Established by the Missouri River
Protection and Improvement Act of
2000 (Title VII)
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY: The duties of the Task Force
are to prepare and approve a plan for
the use of the funds made available
under Title VII to promote conservation
practices in the Missouri River
watershed, control and remove the
sediment from the Missouri River,
protect recreation on the Missouri River
from sedimentation, and protect Indian
and non-Indian historical and cultural
sites along the Missouri River from
erosion.
North Dakota Missouri River
Task Force established by the Missouri
River Protection and Improvement Act
of 2000 will hold a meeting on June 25,
2008, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
DATES:
The meeting will be held at
the Best Western Doublewood Inn
located at 1400 East Interchange Avenue
in Bismarck, ND.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Bentley at (402)–995–2714.
The
objectives of the Task Force are to
prepare and approve a plan for the use
of the funds made available under Title
VII, develop and recommend to the
Secretary of the Army ways to
implement critical restoration projects
meeting the goals of the plan, and
determine if these projects primarily
benefit the Federal Government.
This meeting is open to the public.
Any interested person may attend,
appear before, or file statements with
the task force; however, statements and
questions should be submitted in
advance. For additional information,
contact Laura Bentley, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, 106 South 15th Street,
Omaha, NE 68102–1618, 402–995–2714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
David B. Olson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E8–11406 Filed 5–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710–62–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29491-29492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11256]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement for Army Growth and Force Structure
Realignment To Support Operations in the Pacific Theater
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a
Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DSPEIS)
for the growth and realignment of the United States Army to support
Operations in the Pacific Theater. The Department of the Army has
prepared a DSPEIS that evaluates the potential environmental and
socioeconomic effects associated with alternatives for implementing the
growth, realignment, and transformation of the Army's forces to support
Operations in the Pacific Theater. Potential impacts have been analyzed
in the DSPEIS at installations that are capable of supporting
operations in the Pacific Theater.
DATES: The public comment period will end 45 days after publication of
a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: Send all written comments and suggestions concerning this
DSPEIS to: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Environmental Command,
Building E4460, Attention: IMAE-PA 5179 Hoadley Road, Aberdeen Proving
Ground, MD 21010-5401. Comments may also be sent to: APGR-
USAECPublicComments@conus.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Office at (410) 436-
2556 or facsimile at (410) 436-1693 during normal business hours 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army's Proposed Action and analysis
within the DSPEIS covers those activities the Army may undertake from
2008 through 2013 to grow, realign, and transform its forces to support
operations in the Pacific Theater. Implementation of the Proposed
Action will ensure the proper capabilities exist to sustain operations
and regional security in the Pacific Theater now and into the
foreseeable future. The implementation of the Proposed Action will
better meet military operational needs, national and regional security
requirements, and the needs of the Army's Soldiers and their Families.
To implement the Proposed Action, new units with critical military
skills must be stationed at locations that are capable of supporting
strategic deployment and mobilization requirements in the Pacific
Theater. These stationing locations must be capable of accommodating
unit training, garrison operations, maintenance activities, and the
needs of Soldiers and their Families.
The current global security environment is turbulent,
unpredictable, and rapidly changing. It has placed considerable demands
on the nation's military, and highlighted the need for the Army to
correct shortfalls in high-demand skills while reassessing its force
capabilities. No one has felt the impacts of the recent demands of the
modern security environment more than Soldiers and their Families. To
meet the challenges of the 21st century security environment, the Army
requires the growth and restructuring of its forces to support
operations across the Pacific Theater to sustain the broad range of
missions required to promote regional, national, and global stability.
The DSPEIS supplements the Army's Final Programmatic EIS for Army
Growth and Force Structure Realignment (2007). The DSPEIS examines
major Army training installations that were not in the 2007 PEIS, but
are capable of supporting operations in the Pacific Theater and the
ability of those installations to support new unit stationing actions.
The DSPEIS includes analysis of specific actions that will need to be
taken (such as the construction of housing and quality of life
facilities, the construction of new training ranges and infrastructure,
and changes in the intensity of use of maneuver land and firing ranges)
to station new units as part of the Army's overall efforts to grow and
realign the force.
[[Page 29492]]
The Army has considered a full range of sites for implementing the
Proposed Action. Alternative stationing locations that the Army is
considering for supporting the Proposed Action include the major
training installations the Army considered in its 2007 programmatic EIS
as well as four additional installations in Hawaii and Alaska.
Additional installations include Schofield Barracks Military
Reservation (SBMR), HI; Fort Shafter, HI; Fort Richardson, AK; and Fort
Wainwright, AK. Each of these installations could receive additional
Soldiers as part of alternatives being examined.
Alternatives in the DSPEIS include stationing of additional Combat
Support (CS) or Combat Service Support (CSS) units or new support
brigades. The following alternatives will be analyzed in the SPEIS: (1)
Support operations in the Pacific Theater by implementing Army-wide
modular force and transformation recommendations within U.S. Army
Pacific. This alternative involves the stationing of approximately
1,500-2,000 Soldiers at Army installations in Hawaii and Alaska; (2) In
addition to Army growth under Alternative 1, Alternative 2 includes
growth and transformation of Army forces to support operations in the
Pacific Theater by stationing additional Combat Support (CS) and Combat
Service Support (CSS) units in locations capable of supporting these
operations. The Army would station approximately 1,500-2,500 additional
CS and CSS Soldiers beyond Alternative 1; (3) In addition to Army
growth under Alternatives 1 and 2, as part of Alternative 3 the Army
would grow, transform, and realign forces by stationing additional
support brigades in locations capable of supporting operations in the
Pacific Theater. Support brigades could include the stationing of an
additional Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (570 Soldiers), a Combat
Aviation Brigade (2,800 Soldiers), or a Field Artillery Brigade
(approximately 1,500 Soldiers).
In addition to the above alternatives, the No Action Alternative
will be considered and used as a baseline for comparison of
alternatives. It is not a viable means for meeting the current and
future strategic security and defense requirements of the nation. The
No Action Alternative would retain U.S. Army forces in their current
end strength and force structure. The No Action Alternative includes
the implementation of stationing actions directed by Base Realignment
and Closure legislation in 2005, Army Global Defense Posture
Realignment, Army Modular Forces initiatives, and Army Growth and Force
Structure Realignment decisions published in January 2008.
The DSPEIS covers those activities required to implement unit
stationing actions associated with Army growth and force structure
realignment to support operations in the Pacific Theater. Actions the
Army will take to support unit stationing include the construction of
housing and quality of life facilities (i.e., gymnasiums, hospitals,
shopping areas), the construction of new training ranges and
infrastructure, and changes in the intensity of use of maneuver land
and firing ranges associated with the increased frequency of training
events.
The DSPEIS identifies the environmental and socioeconomic impacts
associated with various unit stationing actions that could be
implemented to support the Proposed Action. Decisions from the SPEIS
will be tiered into sitespecific NEPA analysis at the installation
level after stationing decisions are made.
The Army invites full public participation to promote open
communication and better decision making. All persons and organizations
that have an interest in the growth and realignment of the Army's
forces and associated stationing actions are invited to participate in
this NEPA evaluation process. Assistance will be provided upon request
to anyone having difficulty understanding how to participate.
Written comments on the DSPEIS will be accepted for 45 days
following the publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal
Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Information on
the DSPEIS will be posted on the U.S. Army Environmental Command's Web
site, https://www.aec.army.mil, for public access during the public
comment period.
Dated: May 14, 2008.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety, and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E8-11256 Filed 5-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M
