Defense Representative Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau; Notice of Public Hearings for the Mariana Islands Range Complex Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement, 5646-5648 [E9-2048]
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5646
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 19 / Friday, January 30, 2009 / Notices
Total Burden Cost (operating/
maintenance): None.
Dated: January 23, 2009.
Lois Nembhard,
Acting Director, AmeriCorps State and
National.
[FR Doc. E9–1972 Filed 1–29–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050–$$–P
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Information Collection; Submission for
OMB Review, Comment Request
AGENCY: Corporation for National and
Community Service.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Corporation for National
and Community Service (hereinafter the
‘‘Corporation’’), has submitted a public
information collection request (ICR)
entitled ‘‘AmeriCorps Member
Application Form’’ to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. Chapter
35). Copies of this ICR, with applicable
supporting documentation, may be
obtained by calling the Corporation for
National and Community Service, Ms.
Amy Borgstrom at (202) 606–6930.
Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TTY-TDD) may call (202) 565–2799
between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern
time, Monday through Friday.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted, identified by the title of the
information collection activity, to the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attn: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB
Desk Officer for the Corporation for
National and Community Service, by
any of the following two methods
within 30 days from the date of
publication in this Federal Register:
(1) By fax to: (202) 395–6974,
Attention: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB Desk
Officer for the Corporation for National
and Community Service; and
(2) Electronically by e-mail to:
smar@omb.eop.gov.
The OMB
is particularly interested in comments
which:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Corporation, including
whether the information will have
practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
• Propose ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
• Propose ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submissions of responses.
Comments:
A 60-day public comment Notice was
published in the Federal Register on
Wednesday, October 15, 2008. This
comment period ended December 15,
2008. Two sets of public comments
were received from Corporation
grantees. The Corporation gave full
consideration to those comments and,
for the most part, incorporated their
suggested changes in the information
collection form.
Description: This Member
Application Form will be used by
applicants who are interested in serving
as AmeriCorps members. The
information requested in the application
form makes it possible for programs to
select members to serve. Programs also
use this form as an example that they
customize to develop their own
recruitment materials. The Corporation
also seeks to continue using the current
Application Form until the revised
Application Form is approved by OMB.
The current form is due to expire on
January 31, 2009.
Type of Review: Renewal.
Agency: Corporation for National and
Community Service.
Title: AmeriCorps Member
Application Form.
OMB Number: 3045–0054.
Agency Number: None.
Affected Public: Applicants to serve
in AmeriCorps.
Total Respondents: 225,000
applicants.
Frequency: Annually.
Average Time per Response: 1.5 hours
to apply.
Estimated Total Burden Hours:
281,250 hours.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup):
None.
Total Burden Cost (operating/
maintenance): None.
Dated: January 26, 2009.
Kristin McSwain,
Chief of Program Operations, Corporation for
National and Community Service.
[FR Doc. E9–1973 Filed 1–29–09; 8:45 am]
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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Sunshine Act Notice
The Board of Directors of the
Corporation for National and
Community Service gives notice of the
following meeting:
DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, February 4,
2009, 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
PLACE: Corporation for National and
Community Service; 8th Floor; 1201
New York Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20525.
STATUS: Open.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
I. Chair’s Opening Remarks and
Swearing in of New Member.
II. Consideration of Prior Meeting’s
Minutes.
III. CEO Report.
IV. Committee Reports.
V. Public Testimony on the Impact of
the Economy on National Service
Grantees.
VI. Honoring Departing Board Member.
VII. Public Comment.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Anyone who needs
an interpreter or other accommodation
should notify the Corporation’s contact
person by 5:00 p.m. Monday, February
4, 2009.
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Lisa Guccione, Senior Policy Advisor,
Office of the CEO, Corporation for
National and Community Service, 10th
Floor, Room 10207, 1201 New York
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525.
Phone (202) 606–6637. Fax (202) 606–
3460. TDD: (202) 606–3472. E-mail:
lguccione@cns.gov.
Dated: January 27, 2009.
Frank R. Trinity,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E9–2115 Filed 1–28–09; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 6050–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Defense Representative Guam,
Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia and Republic of Palau;
Notice of Public Hearings for the
Mariana Islands Range Complex Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: Department of Defense
Representative Guam, Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia and
Republic of Palau.
ACTION: Notice.
E:\FR\FM\30JAN1.SGM
30JAN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 19 / Friday, January 30, 2009 / Notices
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA); the Council of
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA (Title 40
Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts
1500–1508); and Executive Order (EO)
12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of
Major Federal Actions, on behalf of the
Department of Defense Representative
Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia and Republic of Palau (DoD
REP), the U.S. Navy (Navy) has prepared
and filed with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS/OEIS) for the Mariana
Islands Range Complex (MIRC) for
public release on January 30, 2009.
The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), the U.S. Department of the
Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, the
Federal Aviation Administration, the
United States Marine Corps, and the
United States Air Force (USAF) are
cooperating agencies in the preparation
of this EIS/OEIS.
The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the
potential environmental impacts
associated with the military readiness
training; research, development, testing,
and evaluation (RDT&E) activities; and
associated range capabilities
enhancements within the existing
MIRC. A Notice of Intent for this Draft
EIS/OEIS was published in the Federal
Register on June 1, 2007 (72 FR 30557).
The Navy will conduct five 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 start before the scheduled
public hearing at each of the locations
listed below and will allow individuals
to review the information presented in
the MIRC Draft EIS/OEIS. DoD REP,
Navy and USAF representatives will be
available during the open house
sessions to clarify information related to
the Draft EIS/OEIS. All meetings will
include an open house session from 5
p.m. to 9 p.m. and a formal presentation
and public comment period from 7 p.m.
to 9 p.m. Public hearings will be held
on the following dates and at the
following locations:
1. Thursday, February 19, 2009, at the
Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero School
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:54 Jan 29, 2009
Jkt 217001
of Business and Public Administration
Building, The Anthony Leon Guerrero
Multi-Purpose Room 129, University of
Guam, Mangilao, Guam;
2. Friday, February 20, 2009, at the
Southern High School Cafeteria, #1 Jose
Perez Leon Guerrero Drive, Santa Rita,
Guam;
3. Monday, February 23, 2009, at the
Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe,
Saipan;
4. Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at the
Tinian Elementary School Cafeteria, San
Jose Village, Tinian;
5. Thursday, February 26, 2009, at the
Sinapolo Elementary School Cafeteria,
Sinapolo, Rota.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS,
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Attn:
EV2, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860–3134; email at: marianas.tap.eis@navy.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MIRC
Study Area is located in the Western
Pacific (WESTPAC) and consists of
three primary components: ocean
surface and undersea areas; special use
airspace (SUA); and training land areas.
For the purposes of this EIS/OEIS, the
MIRC and the Study Area are the same
geographical areas consisting of land
areas and offshore areas off the coast of
Guam and the Commonwealth of
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The
ocean surface and undersea areas of the
MIRC extend from the international
waters south of Guam to north of Pagan,
CNMI, and from the Pacific Ocean east
of the Mariana Islands to the middle of
the Philippine Sea to the west,
encompassing 501,873 square nautical
miles of open ocean and littorals
(coastal areas).
The MIRC Study Area does not
include the sovereign territory
(including waters out to 12 nautical
miles) of the Federated States of
Micronesia. Portions of the Marianas
Trench Marine National Monument,
which was established in January 2009
by Presidential Proclamation under the
authority of the Antiquities Act (16
U.S.C. 431), lie within the Study Area.
The range complex includes land ranges
and training area/facilities on Guam,
Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and Farallon de
Medinilla (FDM), encompassing 64
square nautical miles of land. SUA
consists of Warning Area 517 (W–517),
restricted airspace over FDM (R–7201),
and Air Traffic Control Assigned
Airspace encompassing 63,000 square
nautical miles of airspace.
The MIRC is used to support tactical
training by the U.S. Military Services
(Services), including Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard,
Army Reserves, and Guam National
PO 00000
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5647
Guard, in the WESTPAC Theater. The
proposed action does not involve
extensive changes to MIRC facilities,
operations, training, or RDT&E
capacities. Rather, the proposed action
would result in relatively small-scale
but critical enhancements to the MIRC
that are necessary if the Services are to
maintain a state of military readiness
commensurate with their national
defense mission. The recommended
range enhancements, as well as current
and future training and testing
operations, that have the potential to
impact the environment, are the primary
focus of the EIS/OEIS.
The purpose for the Proposed Action
is to achieve and maintain military
readiness using the MIRC to support
and conduct current, emerging, and
future training and RDT&E activities
while enhancing training resources
through investment in the ranges.
The need for the Proposed Action is
to enable the Services to meet their
statutory responsibility to organize,
train, equip, and maintain combat-ready
forces and to successfully fulfill their
current and future global mission of
winning wars, deterring aggression, and
maintaining freedom of the seas.
Activities involving RDT&E are an
integral part of this readiness mandate.
In this regard, the MIRC furthers the
Services’ execution of their
Congressionally-mandated roles and
responsibilities under Title 10 U.S.C.
5062.
To implement this Congressional
mandate, the Services need to: (1)
Maintain mandated levels of military
readiness training in the MIRC; (2)
accommodate future increases in
training tempo on existing ranges and
adjacent air and ocean areas in the
MIRC and support the rapid
employment of military units or strike
groups; (3) achieve and sustain
readiness so that the Services can
quickly surge required combat power in
the event of a national crisis or
contingency operation consistent with
Service training requirements and
airspace requirements for the
deployment of future live fire ranges; (4)
support the acquisition, testing,
training, and fielding of advanced
platforms and weapons systems into
Service force structure; and, (5)
maintain the long-term viability of the
MIRC while protecting human health
and the environment and enhancing the
quality of training, communications and
safety within the range complex.
Alternatives in this EIS/OEIS were
evaluated to ensure they met the
purpose and need, giving due
consideration to range complex
attributes such as the capability to
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 19 / Friday, January 30, 2009 / Notices
support current and emerging training
and RDT&E requirements; the capability
to support realistic, essential training at
the level and frequency sufficient to
support the Tactical Training Theater
Assessment and Planning Program
(TAP); and the capability to support
training requirements while following
Service Personnel Tempo of Operations
guidelines.
The three alternatives analyzed in this
EIS/OEIS are: the No Action
Alternative—Current training activities;
Alternative 1—Increase training,
modernization and upgrades; and
Alternative 2—Increase major at-sea
exercises and training.
The No Action Alternative will
continue training and RDT&E activities
of the same types, and at the same levels
of training intensity as currently
conducted, without change in the nature
or scope of military activities in the EIS/
OEIS study area.
Alternative 1, the Preferred
Alternative, is a proposal designed to
meet the Services’ current and near-term
operational training requirements. This
is the Preferred Alternative, because it
would meet all near-term training
requirements by increasing training
activities, as a result of upgrades and
modernization of existing training areas,
and increasing the number of exercises.
This alternative also includes increased
activities due to meeting new training
and capability requirements for
personnel and platforms.
Implementation of Alternative 2
would include all the actions proposed
for MIRC, including the No Action
Alternative and Alternative 1, and new
activities related to additional major atsea exercises.
The decision to be made by the DoD
REP is to determine which of the
alternatives analyzed in the EIS/OEIS
best meets the needs of the Services
given that all reasonably foreseeable
environmental impacts have been
considered.
The Draft EIS/OEIS addresses
potential environmental impacts on
multiple resources, including but not
limited to: water resources; air quality;
marine mammals; sea turtles; fish and
essential fish habitat; seabirds and
shorebirds; cultural resources; regional
economy; and public health and safety.
The Draft EIS/OEIS identifies aspects of
the proposed action that could act as
stressors to these resources. The
stressors considered for analysis of
potential environmental consequences
include but are not limited to: Vessel
movements; aircraft overflights; nonexplosive practice munitions; sonar; and
underwater detonations and high
explosive ordnance.
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16:54 Jan 29, 2009
Jkt 217001
No significant impacts are identified
for any resource area in any geographic
location within the MIRC Study Area
that cannot be mitigated, with the
exception of exposure of marine
mammals to underwater sound. The
Navy has requested from NMFS a Letter
of Authorization in accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act to
authorize the incidental take of marine
mammals that may result from the
implementation of the activities
analyzed in the MIRC Draft EIS/OEIS. In
accordance with section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act, the Navy is
consulting with NMFS and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service for potential
impacts to federally listed species.
The MIRC Draft EIS/OEIS has been
distributed to Federal, State, and local
agencies, elected officials, and other
interested individuals and
organizations. In addition, copies of the
Draft EIS/OEIS are available for public
review at the following libraries:
University of Guam Robert F. Kennedy
Memorial Library, Government
Documents Tan Siu Lin Building, UOG
Station, Mangilao, GU 96923; Nieves M.
Flores Memorial Library, 254 Martyr
¨ ˘
Street, Hagatna, GU 96910; Rota Public
Library, P.O. Box 879, Rota, MP 96951;
Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, P.O. Box
501092, Saipan, MP 96950; and
Northern Marianas College Public
Library, P.O. Box 459, Tinian, MP
96952.
The Draft EIS/OEIS is also available
for electronic public viewing or
download at https://
www.MarianasRangeComplexEIS.com.
A paper copy of the Executive Summary
or a single CD with the Draft EIS/OEIS
will be made available upon written
request by contacting Mariana Islands
Range Complex EIS, 258 Makalapa
Drive, Suite 100, Attn: EV2, Pearl
Harbor, HI 96860–3134; e-mail at:
marianas.tap.eis@navy.mil.
Written comments can be submitted
during the open house sessions. Oral
statements will be heard and transcribed
by a stenographer during the hearing
sessions; 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 addressed 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 with the full text submitted
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
either in writing at the hearing; mailed
to Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS,
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Attn:
EV2, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860–3134; or emailed to marianas.tap.eis@navy.mil. In
addition, comments may be submitted
on-line at https://
www.MarianasRangeComplexEIS.com
during the comment period. All written
comments must be postmarked by
March 16, 2009, to ensure they become
part of the official record. All timely
comments will be addressed in the Final
EIS/OEIS.
Dated: January 16, 2009.
A.M. Vallandingham,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate
General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E9–2048 Filed 1–29–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Availability for Non-Exclusive,
Exclusive, or Partially Exclusive
Licensing of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Concerning Treatment of
the CNS for Status Epilepticus Due to
Organophosphate Exposure
Department of the Army, DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Announcement is made of the
availability for licensing of the
invention set forth in U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 61/
104,311 entitled ‘‘ * * * Treatment of
the CNS for Status Epilepticus Due to
Organophosphate Exposure,’’ filed
October 10, 2008. The United States
Government, as represented by the
Secretary of the Army, has rights in this
invention.
ADDRESSES: Commander, U.S. Army
Medical Research and Materiel
Command, ATTN: Command Judge
Advocate, MCMR–JA, 504 Scott Street,
Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702–
5012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
patent issues, Ms. Elizabeth Arwine,
Patent Attorney, (301) 619–7808. For
licensing issues, Dr. Paul Mele, Office of
Research & Technology Assessment,
(301) 619–6664, both at telefax (301)
619–5034.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
invention is a method of post exposure
treatment for chemical warfare nerve
agent or organophosphate induced
seizure/status epilepticus and
neuropathology. The method of
treatment utilizes a specific blood-brain
E:\FR\FM\30JAN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 19 (Friday, January 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5646-5648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2048]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Defense Representative Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau; Notice
of Public Hearings for the Mariana Islands Range Complex Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Department of Defense Representative Guam, Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic
of Palau.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 5647]]
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA); the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (Title
40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508); and Executive
Order (EO) 12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal
Actions, on behalf of the Department of Defense Representative Guam,
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia and Republic of Palau (DoD REP), the U.S. Navy (Navy) has
prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS/OEIS) for the Mariana Islands Range Complex (MIRC) for
public release on January 30, 2009.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the U.S. Department
of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, the Federal Aviation
Administration, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States
Air Force (USAF) are cooperating agencies in the preparation of this
EIS/OEIS.
The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts
associated with the military readiness training; research, development,
testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities; and associated range
capabilities enhancements within the existing MIRC. A Notice of Intent
for this Draft EIS/OEIS was published in the Federal Register on June
1, 2007 (72 FR 30557).
The Navy will conduct five 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 start before the
scheduled public hearing at each of the locations listed below and will
allow individuals to review the information presented in the MIRC Draft
EIS/OEIS. DoD REP, Navy and USAF representatives will be available
during the open house sessions to clarify information related to the
Draft EIS/OEIS. All meetings will include an open house session from 5
p.m. to 9 p.m. and a formal presentation and public comment period from
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Public hearings will be held on the following dates
and at the following locations:
1. Thursday, February 19, 2009, at the Jesus & Eugenia Leon
Guerrero School of Business and Public Administration Building, The
Anthony Leon Guerrero Multi-Purpose Room 129, University of Guam,
Mangilao, Guam;
2. Friday, February 20, 2009, at the Southern High School
Cafeteria, 1 Jose Perez Leon Guerrero Drive, Santa Rita, Guam;
3. Monday, February 23, 2009, at the Multi-Purpose Center in
Susupe, Saipan;
4. Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at the Tinian Elementary School
Cafeteria, San Jose Village, Tinian;
5. Thursday, February 26, 2009, at the Sinapolo Elementary School
Cafeteria, Sinapolo, Rota.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS, 258
Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Attn: EV2, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134; e-
mail at: marianas.tap.eis@navy.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MIRC Study Area is located in the
Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and consists of three primary components:
ocean surface and undersea areas; special use airspace (SUA); and
training land areas. For the purposes of this EIS/OEIS, the MIRC and
the Study Area are the same geographical areas consisting of land areas
and offshore areas off the coast of Guam and the Commonwealth of
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The ocean surface and undersea areas
of the MIRC extend from the international waters south of Guam to north
of Pagan, CNMI, and from the Pacific Ocean east of the Mariana Islands
to the middle of the Philippine Sea to the west, encompassing 501,873
square nautical miles of open ocean and littorals (coastal areas).
The MIRC Study Area does not include the sovereign territory
(including waters out to 12 nautical miles) of the Federated States of
Micronesia. Portions of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument,
which was established in January 2009 by Presidential Proclamation
under the authority of the Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 431), lie within
the Study Area. The range complex includes land ranges and training
area/facilities on Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and Farallon de
Medinilla (FDM), encompassing 64 square nautical miles of land. SUA
consists of Warning Area 517 (W-517), restricted airspace over FDM (R-
7201), and Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace encompassing 63,000
square nautical miles of airspace.
The MIRC is used to support tactical training by the U.S. Military
Services (Services), including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force,
Coast Guard, Army Reserves, and Guam National Guard, in the WESTPAC
Theater. The proposed action does not involve extensive changes to MIRC
facilities, operations, training, or RDT&E capacities. Rather, the
proposed action would result in relatively small-scale but critical
enhancements to the MIRC that are necessary if the Services are to
maintain a state of military readiness commensurate with their national
defense mission. The recommended range enhancements, as well as current
and future training and testing operations, that have the potential to
impact the environment, are the primary focus of the EIS/OEIS.
The purpose for the Proposed Action is to achieve and maintain
military readiness using the MIRC to support and conduct current,
emerging, and future training and RDT&E activities while enhancing
training resources through investment in the ranges.
The need for the Proposed Action is to enable the Services to meet
their statutory responsibility to organize, train, equip, and maintain
combat-ready forces and to successfully fulfill their current and
future global mission of winning wars, deterring aggression, and
maintaining freedom of the seas. Activities involving RDT&E are an
integral part of this readiness mandate. In this regard, the MIRC
furthers the Services' execution of their Congressionally-mandated
roles and responsibilities under Title 10 U.S.C. 5062.
To implement this Congressional mandate, the Services need to: (1)
Maintain mandated levels of military readiness training in the MIRC;
(2) accommodate future increases in training tempo on existing ranges
and adjacent air and ocean areas in the MIRC and support the rapid
employment of military units or strike groups; (3) achieve and sustain
readiness so that the Services can quickly surge required combat power
in the event of a national crisis or contingency operation consistent
with Service training requirements and airspace requirements for the
deployment of future live fire ranges; (4) support the acquisition,
testing, training, and fielding of advanced platforms and weapons
systems into Service force structure; and, (5) maintain the long-term
viability of the MIRC while protecting human health and the environment
and enhancing the quality of training, communications and safety within
the range complex.
Alternatives in this EIS/OEIS were evaluated to ensure they met the
purpose and need, giving due consideration to range complex attributes
such as the capability to
[[Page 5648]]
support current and emerging training and RDT&E requirements; the
capability to support realistic, essential training at the level and
frequency sufficient to support the Tactical Training Theater
Assessment and Planning Program (TAP); and the capability to support
training requirements while following Service Personnel Tempo of
Operations guidelines.
The three alternatives analyzed in this EIS/OEIS are: the No Action
Alternative--Current training activities; Alternative 1--Increase
training, modernization and upgrades; and Alternative 2--Increase major
at-sea exercises and training.
The No Action Alternative will continue training and RDT&E
activities of the same types, and at the same levels of training
intensity as currently conducted, without change in the nature or scope
of military activities in the EIS/OEIS study area.
Alternative 1, the Preferred Alternative, is a proposal designed to
meet the Services' current and near-term operational training
requirements. This is the Preferred Alternative, because it would meet
all near-term training requirements by increasing training activities,
as a result of upgrades and modernization of existing training areas,
and increasing the number of exercises. This alternative also includes
increased activities due to meeting new training and capability
requirements for personnel and platforms.
Implementation of Alternative 2 would include all the actions
proposed for MIRC, including the No Action Alternative and Alternative
1, and new activities related to additional major at-sea exercises.
The decision to be made by the DoD REP is to determine which of the
alternatives analyzed in the EIS/OEIS best meets the needs of the
Services given that all reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts
have been considered.
The Draft EIS/OEIS addresses potential environmental impacts on
multiple resources, including but not limited to: water resources; air
quality; marine mammals; sea turtles; fish and essential fish habitat;
seabirds and shorebirds; cultural resources; regional economy; and
public health and safety. The Draft EIS/OEIS identifies aspects of the
proposed action that could act as stressors to these resources. The
stressors considered for analysis of potential environmental
consequences include but are not limited to: Vessel movements; aircraft
overflights; non-explosive practice munitions; sonar; and underwater
detonations and high explosive ordnance.
No significant impacts are identified for any resource area in any
geographic location within the MIRC Study Area that cannot be
mitigated, with the exception of exposure of marine mammals to
underwater sound. The Navy has requested from NMFS a Letter of
Authorization in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act to
authorize the incidental take of marine mammals that may result from
the implementation of the activities analyzed in the MIRC Draft EIS/
OEIS. In accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the
Navy is consulting with NMFS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for
potential impacts to federally listed species.
The MIRC Draft EIS/OEIS has been distributed to Federal, State, and
local agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and
organizations. In addition, copies of the Draft EIS/OEIS are available
for public review at the following libraries: University of Guam Robert
F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Government Documents Tan Siu Lin Building,
UOG Station, Mangilao, GU 96923; Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library, 254
Martyr Street, Hagatna, GU 96910; Rota Public Library, P.O. Box 879,
Rota, MP 96951; Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, P.O. Box 501092, Saipan, MP
96950; and Northern Marianas College Public Library, P.O. Box 459,
Tinian, MP 96952.
The Draft EIS/OEIS is also available for electronic public viewing
or download at https://www.MarianasRangeComplexEIS.com. A paper copy of
the Executive Summary or a single CD with the Draft EIS/OEIS will be
made available upon written request by contacting Mariana Islands Range
Complex EIS, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Attn: EV2, Pearl Harbor, HI
96860-3134; e-mail at: marianas.tap.eis@navy.mil.
Written comments can be submitted during the open house sessions.
Oral statements will be heard and transcribed by a stenographer during
the hearing sessions; 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 addressed 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 with the full text submitted either in writing at
the hearing; mailed to Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS, 258 Makalapa
Drive, Suite 100, Attn: EV2, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134; or e-mailed
to marianas.tap.eis@navy.mil. In addition, comments may be submitted
on-line at https://www.MarianasRangeComplexEIS.com during the comment
period. All written comments must be postmarked by March 16, 2009, to
ensure they become part of the official record. All timely comments
will be addressed in the Final EIS/OEIS.
Dated: January 16, 2009.
A.M. Vallandingham,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-2048 Filed 1-29-09; 8:45 am]
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