Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Resumption of Year-Round Firing Opportunities at Fort Richardson, AK, 12735-12736 [2010-5376]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 17, 2010 / Notices SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability A copy of BP’s application may be obtained by writing to the address specified above (ADDRESSES), calling the contact listed above (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or visiting the Internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pr/permits/incidental.htm. Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review. Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘...an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’ Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the MMPA defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with NOTICES_PART 1 any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering [Level B harassment]. Summary of Request On November 6, 2009, NMFS received an application from BP requesting authorization for the take of six marine mammal species incidental to operation of the Northstar development in the Beaufort Sea, AK, over the course of 5 years, which would necessitate the promulgation of new five-year regulations. Construction of Northstar was completed in 2001. The proposed activities for 2011–2016 include a VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:08 Mar 16, 2010 Jkt 220001 continuation of drilling, production, and emergency training operations but no construction or activities of similar intensity to those conducted between 1999 and 2001. The likely or possible impacts of the planned offshore oil developments at Northstar on marine mammals involve both non-acoustic and acoustic effects. Potential non-acoustic effects could result from the physical presence of personnel, structures and equipment, construction or maintenance activities, and the occurrence of oil spills. Petroleum development and associated activities in marine waters introduce sound into the environment, produced by island construction, maintenance, and drilling, as well as vehicles operating on the ice, vessels, aircraft, generators, production machinery, gas flaring, and camp operations. BP requests authorization to take individuals of three cetacean and three pinniped species by Level B Harassment. Further, BP requests authorization to take five individual ringed seals by serious injury or mortality annually over the course of the 5-year rule. Specified Activities In the application submitted to NMFS, BP requests authorization to take marine mammals incidental to operation of offshore oil and gas facilities in the U.S. Beaufort Sea. Activities include: the transportation of personnel, equipment, and supplies; production operations; drilling operations; pipeline design, inspection, and maintenance; routine repair and maintenance; and emergency and oil spill response training. Sections 1 and 2 of BP’s application describe the full suite of activities, as well as the location and duration of activity. Information Solicited Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and comments concerning BP’s request (see ADDRESSES). All information, suggestions, and comments related to BP’s request and NMFS’ potential development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals by BP’s activities will be considered by NMFS in developing, if appropriate, the most effective regulations governing the issuance of letters of authorization. Dated: March 11, 2010. James H. Lecky, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–5835 Filed 3–16–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12735 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Resumption of Year-Round Firing Opportunities at Fort Richardson, AK Department of the Army, DoD. Notice of Availability. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a DEIS that describes and analyzes the potential environmental effects associated with the U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) proposal to strengthen unit preparedness and improve Soldier and Family quality of life by maximizing live-fire training capacity at Fort Richardson. Current restrictions cause a shortage of live-fire training opportunities at Fort Richardson, resulting in the need for units to travel to other installations for required training. The Proposed Action is to restore year-round live-fire training capabilities at Fort Richardson in order to allow active duty units to achieve and maintain combat readiness, reduce deployment hardships on Soldiers and their Families, and to reduce annual expenditures associated with travel to distant facilities to conduct training. DATES: The public comment period ends 60 days following publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to Ms. Carrie McEnteer, Directorate of Public Works, Attention: IMPC–FWA–PWE (C. McEnteer), 1060 Gaffney Road #4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703–4500; fax: (907) 361–9867; email: carrie.mcenteer@us.army.mil. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Hall, Public Affairs Office, 724 Postal Service Loop Road #6000, Building 600, Room B349, Fort Richardson, AK 99505–6000; telephone: (907) 384–2546, e-mail: robert.hall33@us.army.mil. The Proposed Action analyzed in this DEIS is to restore year-round live-firing capabilities at Fort Richardson. Army units must be certified with a variety of weapons systems before they can be safely and effectively deployed. Army policy stipulates how much units are to fire each type of weapon to achieve certification. Fort Richardson currently serves as home station to the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (4/25 ABCT) and must, therefore, provide the training SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\17MRN1.SGM 17MRN1 wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with NOTICES_PART 1 12736 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 17, 2010 / Notices opportunities necessary for this Brigade to attain and sustain certification. Since the 1940s, units stationed at Fort Richardson have conducted their live-fire munitions training at the Eagle River Flats Impact Area, the only permanent impact area on post. Training with a variety of highexplosive weapons continued at this location until the discovery in 1990 that white phosphorus (a substance contained in certain Army munitions) deposited into Eagle River Flats was causing large-scale mortality of dabbling waterfowl (e.g., ducks and swans). USARAK took several actions to address this situation. First, all firing at the Eagle River Flats Impact Area was suspended. Second, an Environmental Assessment to examine alternatives for resumption of firing was prepared—an analysis that led to the current ‘‘winter only’’ firing regimen. These restrictions are still in effect today and permit indirect live-fire at the Eagle River Flats Impact Area only when the ice is sufficiently thick to eliminate the risk of disturbing any underlying white phosphorus particles. Because of these restrictions, Fort Richardson units travel great distances to train elsewhere, resulting in deployment hardships on Soldiers and their Families, and additional annual expenditures associated with travel to distant facilities to conduct training. Third, USARAK supported a major Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) remediation effort to eliminate white phosphorus from the local ecosystem. Active CERCLA cleanup at Eagle River Flats is scheduled for completion early in 2010. In addition to consideration of a No Action Alternative (continued use of the Eagle River Flats Impact Area under a ‘‘winter only’’ firing regimen), the DEIS analyzed two alternatives as possible scenarios for the resumption of a year round live-fire training opportunity at Fort Richardson: (1) Year-round use of the Eagle River Flats Impact Area and (2) the development of a new explosive munitions impact area on Fort Richardson. USARAK has identified resumption of year-round live-fire training at the Eagle River Flats Impact Area as its preferred alternative. The DEIS is available for public review at local libraries and at https:// www.usarak.army.mil/conservation/ NEPA_home.htm. Comments from the public will be considered before any final decision is made. The Army plans to hold public meetings in Anchorage and Eagle River to provide information on the DEIS and to provide opportunities for public comment. In VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:08 Mar 16, 2010 Jkt 220001 addition, the Army will meet with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as several Alaska Native tribes. Dated: March 4, 2010. Addison D. Davis, IV, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health). Command Southwest, 1220 Pacific Highway, Building 1, 5th Floor, San Diego, CA 92132; or https://www.silvers trandtrainingcomplexeis.com. [FR Doc. 2010–5376 Filed 3–16–10; 8:45 am] Dated: March 11, 2010. A.M. Vallandingam, Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. BILLING CODE 3710–08–M [FR Doc. 2010–5824 Filed 3–16–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Notice of Reopening of Comment Period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Silver Strand Training Complex Proposed Emergency Agency Information Collection Department of the Navy, DoD. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: A notice of availability was published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register (75 FR 3730) on January 22, 2010, for the Silver Strand Training Complex (SSTC) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The public review period ended on March 8, 2010. This notice announces the reopening of the public comment period until March 30, 2010. DATES: The comment period for the notice published January 22, 2010, at 75 FR 3730 is reopened. Comments are due by March 30, 2010. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, Attention: Mr. Kent Randall, SSTC EIS Project Manager, 1220 Pacific Highway, Building 1, 5th Floor, San Diego, CA 92132. In addition, comments may be submitted online at https://www.silver strandtrainingcomplexeis.com. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public comment period on the SSTC Draft EIS will be reopened until March 30, 2010. All written comments must be submitted online or postmarked by March 30, 2010, to ensure they become part of the official record. All comments will be addressed in the Final EIS. Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public review at the following libraries: Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA; and Imperial Beach Branch Library, 810 Imperial Beach Boulevard, Imperial Beach, CA. The SSTC Draft EIS/OEIS is also available for electronic public viewing online. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kent Randall, SSTC EIS Project Manager, Naval Facilities Engineering SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 U.S. Department of Energy. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, has submitted an emergency information collection request package with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concerning the retrospective Weatherization Assistance Program Evaluation for Program Years 2007 and 2008. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/ or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Information about the operation of the program, energy used before and after weatherization, energy used by control group low-income homes, the effectiveness of specific energy efficiency measures, customer satisfaction with the program, and nonenergy benefits is needed for a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the program. DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before March 31, 2010. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to: DOE Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10102, 735 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503; and Bruce Tonn, Environment Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, P.O. Box 2008, MS–6038, Oak Ridge, TN 37381–6038, Fax#: (865) 576– 8646, tonnbe@ornl.gov. E:\FR\FM\17MRN1.SGM 17MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12735-12736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5376]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Resumption of 
Year-Round Firing Opportunities at Fort Richardson, AK

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a 
DEIS that describes and analyzes the potential environmental effects 
associated with the U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) proposal to strengthen 
unit preparedness and improve Soldier and Family quality of life by 
maximizing live-fire training capacity at Fort Richardson. Current 
restrictions cause a shortage of live-fire training opportunities at 
Fort Richardson, resulting in the need for units to travel to other 
installations for required training. The Proposed Action is to restore 
year-round live-fire training capabilities at Fort Richardson in order 
to allow active duty units to achieve and maintain combat readiness, 
reduce deployment hardships on Soldiers and their Families, and to 
reduce annual expenditures associated with travel to distant facilities 
to conduct training.

DATES: The public comment period ends 60 days following publication of 
a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to Ms. Carrie McEnteer, 
Directorate of Public Works, Attention: IMPC-FWA-PWE (C. McEnteer), 
1060 Gaffney Road 4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-4500; fax: 
(907) 361-9867; e-mail: carrie.mcenteer@us.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Hall, Public Affairs 
Office, 724 Postal Service Loop Road 6000, Building 600, Room 
B349, Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6000; telephone: (907) 384-2546, e-
mail: robert.hall33@us.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action analyzed in this DEIS is 
to restore year-round live-firing capabilities at Fort Richardson. Army 
units must be certified with a variety of weapons systems before they 
can be safely and effectively deployed. Army policy stipulates how much 
units are to fire each type of weapon to achieve certification. Fort 
Richardson currently serves as home station to the 4th Brigade Combat 
Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (4/25 ABCT) and must, 
therefore, provide the training

[[Page 12736]]

opportunities necessary for this Brigade to attain and sustain 
certification.
    Since the 1940s, units stationed at Fort Richardson have conducted 
their live-fire munitions training at the Eagle River Flats Impact 
Area, the only permanent impact area on post. Training with a variety 
of high-explosive weapons continued at this location until the 
discovery in 1990 that white phosphorus (a substance contained in 
certain Army munitions) deposited into Eagle River Flats was causing 
large-scale mortality of dabbling waterfowl (e.g., ducks and swans). 
USARAK took several actions to address this situation. First, all 
firing at the Eagle River Flats Impact Area was suspended. Second, an 
Environmental Assessment to examine alternatives for resumption of 
firing was prepared--an analysis that led to the current ``winter 
only'' firing regimen. These restrictions are still in effect today and 
permit indirect live-fire at the Eagle River Flats Impact Area only 
when the ice is sufficiently thick to eliminate the risk of disturbing 
any underlying white phosphorus particles. Because of these 
restrictions, Fort Richardson units travel great distances to train 
elsewhere, resulting in deployment hardships on Soldiers and their 
Families, and additional annual expenditures associated with travel to 
distant facilities to conduct training. Third, USARAK supported a major 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA) remediation effort to eliminate white phosphorus from the 
local ecosystem. Active CERCLA cleanup at Eagle River Flats is 
scheduled for completion early in 2010.
    In addition to consideration of a No Action Alternative (continued 
use of the Eagle River Flats Impact Area under a ``winter only'' firing 
regimen), the DEIS analyzed two alternatives as possible scenarios for 
the resumption of a year round live-fire training opportunity at Fort 
Richardson: (1) Year-round use of the Eagle River Flats Impact Area and 
(2) the development of a new explosive munitions impact area on Fort 
Richardson. USARAK has identified resumption of year-round live-fire 
training at the Eagle River Flats Impact Area as its preferred 
alternative.
    The DEIS is available for public review at local libraries and at 
https://www.usarak.army.mil/conservation/NEPA_home.htm. Comments from 
the public will be considered before any final decision is made. The 
Army plans to hold public meetings in Anchorage and Eagle River to 
provide information on the DEIS and to provide opportunities for public 
comment. In addition, the Army will meet with local, state, and federal 
agencies, as well as several Alaska Native tribes.

    Dated: March 4, 2010.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 2010-5376 Filed 3-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M

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