Army Science Board (ASB), 45835-45836 [E9-21369]

Download as PDF srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 171 / Friday, September 4, 2009 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the draft SEIS should be addressed to Dr. William P. Klein, Jr., CEMVN–PM–RS, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160–0267; telephone: (504) 862–2540; fax: (504) 862–1583; or by e-mail: william.p.klein.jr@usace.army.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Authority. This SEIS will tier from the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)—Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The Record of Decision for the Programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005. The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA 2007) authorized the LCA ecosystem restoration program. The authority includes requirements for comprehensive planning, program governance, implementation, and other program components. The LCA restoration program will facilitate the implementation of critical restoration features and essential science and technology demonstration projects, increase the beneficial use of dredged material and determine the need for modification of selected existing projects to support coastal restoration objectives. The LCA near-term plan includes fifteen elements authorized for implementation contingent upon meeting certain reporting requirements. Specifically, Section 7006(e) of WRDA 2007 authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out additional projects referred to in the restoration plan. Section 7006(e)(1) authorizes the following additional projects: Maintain Land Bridge between Caillou Lake and the Gulf of Mexico at a total cost of $56,300,000; Stabilize the Gulf Shoreline at Point Au Fer Island project at a total cost of $43,400,000; the Modification of Caernarvon Diversion project at a total cost of $20,700,000; and the Modification of Davis Pond Diversion Project at a total cost of $64,200,000; if the Secretary of the Army determines such projects are feasible. 2. Proposed Action. The LCA Maintain Land Bridge between Caillou (Sister) Lake and the Gulf of Mexico restoration project would propose measures to increase the stability of the land bridge separating Caillou (Sister) Lake from the Gulf of Mexico. The objectives of the restoration project are to stem shoreline retreat and prevent further breaches that have allowed increased water exchange between the gulf and the interior water bodies (Bay Junop and Caillou (Sister) Lake). Prevention of increased marine influence would reduce interior wetland VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:16 Sep 03, 2009 Jkt 217001 loss as well as preserve the potential for long-range restoration. Closure of newly opened channels would restore historic cross-sections of exchange points, would reduce marine influences in interior areas, and allow increased freshwater influence from Four League Bay to benefit area marshes. 3. Public Involvement. Public involvement, an essential part of the SEIS process, is integral to assessing the environmental consequences of the proposed action and improving the quality of the environmental decision making process. The public includes affected and interested Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, concerned citizens, stakeholders, and other interested parties. Public participation in the SEIS process will be strongly encouraged, both formally and informally, to enhance the probability of a more technically accurate, economically feasible, and socially and politically acceptable SEIS. Public involvement will include but is not limited to: Information dissemination; identification of problems, needs and opportunities; idea generation; public education; problem solving; providing feedback on proposals; evaluation of alternatives; public and scoping notices and meetings; public, stakeholder and advisory groups consultation and meetings; and making the SEIS and supporting information readily available in conveniently located places, such as libraries and on the World Wide Web. 4. Scoping. Scoping, an early and open process for identifying the scope of significant issues related to the proposed action to be addressed in the SEIS, will be used to: (a) Identify the affected public and agency concerns; (b) facilitate an efficient SEIS preparation process; (c) define the issues and alternatives that will be examined in detail in the SEIS; and (d) save time in the overall process by helping to ensure that the draft SEIS adequately addresses relevant issues. A Scoping Meeting Notice announcing the locations, dates and times for scoping meetings will be mailed to all interested parties in August 2009. 5. Coordination. The USACE and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have formally committed to work together to conserve, protect, and restore fish and wildlife resources while ensuring environmental sustainability of our Nation’s water resources under the January 22, 2003, Partnership Agreement for Water Resources and Fish and Wildlife. The USFWS will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report. Coordination will be maintained with the USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 45835 (NMFS) regarding threatened and endangered species under their respective jurisdictional responsibilities. Coordination will be maintained with the NMFS regarding essential fish habitat. Coordination will be maintained with the Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding prime and unique farmlands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be consulted regarding the ‘‘Swampbuster’’ provisions of the Food Security Act. Coordination will be maintained with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concerning compliance with Executive Order 12898, ‘‘Federal Action to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.’’ Coordination will be maintained with the Advisory Counsel on Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources will be consulted regarding consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be consulted concerning potential impacts to Natural and Scenic Streams, and fish and wildlife issues including coordination regarding the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation. 5. Availability of Draft SEIS. The earliest that the draft SEIS will be available for public review would be in spring of 2011. The draft SEIS or a Notice of Availability will be distributed to affected Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and other interested parties. Dated: August 25, 2009. Alvin B. Lee, Colonel, US Army, District Commander. [FR Doc. E9–21374 Filed 9–3–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Army Science Board (ASB) Department of the Army, DOD. ACTION: Notice; correction. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The notice of an open meeting scheduled for Sep 15, 2009 published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2009 (74 FR 44828) has a revised classification and agenda. The survivability and deployability study of ground platforms session (1230–1330) will be a classified session at the Secret clearance level. A second unclassified session (1345–1430) has been added to adopt recommendations from the ASB E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM 04SEN1 45836 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 171 / Friday, September 4, 2009 / Notices Installation 2025 study. The meeting will now be adjourned at 1445 EDT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Schmidt, Army Science Board Secretariat, at 703–604–7474 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public attendees desiring to attend the classified session must have a Secret clearance and a need to know the information related to the survivability topic. Please contact Mr. Justin Bringhurst at 703–604–7468 or justin.bringhurst@us.army.mil to arrange access to this meeting. Brenda S. Bowen, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. E9–21369 Filed 9–3–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710–08–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Record of Decision (ROD) for the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCOE) Actions at Fort Benning, GA Department of the Army, DoD. Record of Decision. AGENCY: ACTION: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the ROD that implements MCOE actions at Fort Benning including construction, operation and maintenance of proposed operational facilities, training areas (including ranges and maneuver areas), and infrastructure to accommodate the consolidated Armor and Infantry missions of the MCOE and the increase in military personnel and students due to Army growth. ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the ROD, contact Mr. John Brent, FortBenning Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Management Division, 6650 Meloy Hall, Building 6, Room 308, Fort Benning, GA 31905, or e-mail to: john.brent@us.army.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two action alternatives were identified in the June 2009 MCOE Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that would fulfill the purpose and need of the MCOE action: Alternative A and Alternative B. The No Action Alternative was also considered but it does not meet the purpose and need of the MCOE actions. The Army has identified Alternative A as its preferred alternative because it best meets the purpose and need of the MCOE actions. Of the two action alternatives, Alternative A is the environmentally preferred alternative. The Army has decided to proceed with implementing the Preferred Alternative (Alternative A) consistent srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:16 Sep 03, 2009 Jkt 217001 with the analysis in the MCOE EIS and supporting studies and comments provided during formal comment and review periods. Administrative, maintenance, barracks, commercial services, medical, community, dining, and recreation facilities would be constructed in three of the four cantonment areas: Main Post, Sand Hill, and Harmony Church. Additional construction in the ranges and maneuver areas include small- and large-caliber weapons ranges, heavy maneuver areas and corridors, drivers’ training course, and vehicle recovery area to support the training requirements. In addition, MCOE activities will include a substantial long-term increase in training operations and associated land disturbance. Included in this EIS is an increase of 118 military personnel and 2,640 new military students (daily average) resulting from Grow the Army actions. Special consideration was given to the effect of the preferred alternative on natural, cultural, and human environments. Mitigation measures, as described in the ROD, will be implemented to avoid, minimize, or compensate for the adverse effects identified in the MCOE EIS at Fort Benning for land use, operational noise, biological resources (fish and wildlife), water resources, cultural resources, and soils. Alternative B would also meet the MCOE purpose and need, but it was not selected because it would have substantially greater impacts on the redcockaded woodpecker (RCW) and other natural and cultural resources. The No Action Alternative would not meet the Army’s purpose and need for the MCOE actions. There are no differences between Alternatives A and B in impact to resources such as aesthetics and visual, socioeconomics, transportation, utilities, noise, hazardous and toxic materials and waste, and safety. Alternative A would impact fewer acres of soil and water resources than Alternative B resulting in substantially less impacts on biological resources, water resources, soils, and cultural resources. Impacts on land use and noise would be significant under both alternatives. Both alternatives will have significant impacts on special status species but Alternative B would have much greater impacts to the federally endangered RCW than Alternative A. The Preferred Alternative includes actions to avoid or reduce adverse effects on federally listed species as identified in the Army’s Biological Assessment and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Jeopardy Biological Opinion (JBO) including the Reasonable PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and Prudent Alternative, minimization measures, and terms and conditions. Even with these mitigation measures, impacts could still be potentially significant. Among the changes required by the JBO are the relocation of the Scout Leaders Course field training outside of Fort Benning boundaries to a location yet to be identified. This will further reduce impacts to environmental resources. This relocation action will be the subject of further National Environmental Policy Act analysis. Substantive comments received on the Final ElS during the waiting period are addressed in the ROD. An electronic version of the ROD is available at https://www.hqda.army.mil/ acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm. Dated: August 28, 2009. Addison D. Davis, IV, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health). [FR Doc. E9–21300 Filed 9–3–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710–08–M DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Request Department of Education. The Secretary of Education requests comments on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that the Secretary proposes to use for the 2010–2011 award year. The FAFSA is completed by students and their families, and the information submitted on the form is used to determine the students’ eligibility and need for financial aid under the student financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (Title IV, HEA Programs). The Department is committed to improving the federal student aid application process for individuals completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Because 99 percent of student applicants opt to apply electronically, much of the Department’s recent improvements have focused on FAFSA on the Web which maximizes the use of ‘skip logic’ and previously submitted FAFSA data, to dramatically reduce applicant’s burden. For the 2010–2011 cycle FAFSA on the Web and the Pre-filled FAFSA will be further improved by the implementation of significant enhancements facilitated by a Web technology upgrade. The upgraded application will include new features, functionality and a level of user interaction that was not previously AGENCY: SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM 04SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 171 (Friday, September 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45835-45836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21369]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Army Science Board (ASB)

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice; correction.

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SUMMARY: The notice of an open meeting scheduled for Sep 15, 2009 
published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2009 (74 FR 44828) has 
a revised classification and agenda. The survivability and 
deployability study of ground platforms session (1230-1330) will be a 
classified session at the Secret clearance level. A second unclassified 
session (1345-1430) has been added to adopt recommendations from the 
ASB

[[Page 45836]]

Installation 2025 study. The meeting will now be adjourned at 1445 EDT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Schmidt, Army Science Board 
Secretariat, at 703-604-7474

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public attendees desiring to attend the 
classified session must have a Secret clearance and a need to know the 
information related to the survivability topic. Please contact Mr. 
Justin Bringhurst at 703-604-7468 or justin.bringhurst@us.army.mil to 
arrange access to this meeting.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-21369 Filed 9-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P
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