Request for Public Comment on New Proposed Categorical Exclusion for Real Property Disposal Under the National Environmental Policy Act, 29145-29147 [2013-11867]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2013 / Notices
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
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Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
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Contact Person: Tomas Drgon, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
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93.846–93.878, 93.892, 93.893, National
Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: May 13, 2013.
Melanie J. Gray,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013–11737 Filed 5–16–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[Docket No. DHS–2013–0022]
President’s National Security
Telecommunications Advisory
Committee
National Protection and
Programs Directorate, DHS.
ACTION: Committee Management; Notice
of Partially Closed Federal Advisory
Committee Meeting; Correction.
AGENCY:
The Department of Homeland
Security published a document in the
SUMMARY:
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15:20 May 16, 2013
Jkt 229001
Federal Register of May 14, 2013,
providing notice of a May 22, 2013,
meeting of the President’s National
Security Telecommunications Advisory
Committee (NSTAC). The document
contained an incorrect date for the close
of the comment period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Echols, NSTAC Alternate
Designated Federal Officer, Department
of Homeland Security, telephone (703)
235–5469.
Correction
In the Federal Register of May 14,
2013, in FR Doc. 2013–11324, on page
28238, in the first column, in the first
paragraph of the ADDRESSES caption,
correct the sixth sentence to read:
Comments must be submitted in
writing no later than May 21, 2013 and
must be identified by DHS–2013–0222
and may be submitted by one of the
following methods:
Dated: May 15, 2013.
Christina E. McDonald,
Associate General Counsel for Regulatory
Affairs.
29145
You may submit comments
identified by docket number USCG–
2013–0339 using any one of the
following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202–493–2251.
(3) Mail: Docket Management Facility
(M–30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590–
0001.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail
address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number
is 202–366–9329.
To avoid duplication, please use only
one of these four methods. See the
‘‘Public Participation and Request for
Comments’’ portion of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below for instructions on submitting
comments.
ADDRESSES:
Coast Guard
If
you have questions on this notice, call
or email Ms. Kebby Kelly, United States
Coast Guard Office of Environmental
Management; telephone 202–475–5690,
email Kebby.Kelley@uscg.mil. If you
have questions on viewing or submitting
material to the docket, call Barbara
Hairston, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, telephone 202–366–9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[Docket No. USCG–2013–0339]
Public Participation and Request for
Comments
[FR Doc. 2013–11948 Filed 5–16–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–9P–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Request for Public Comment on New
Proposed Categorical Exclusion for
Real Property Disposal Under the
National Environmental Policy Act
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of availability and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This is a notice and request
for comments on a Proposed New
Categorical Exclusion for Real Property
Disposal. This proposal would amend
the Coast Guard Commandant
Instruction and Department of
Homeland Security Directive used to
comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act by
establishing a new categorical exclusion
(CATEX) for real property disposal
undertaken by the United States Coast
Guard. The Coast Guard seeks
comments on this proposed CATEX.
DATES: Comments and related material
must either be submitted to our online
docket via https://www.regulations.gov
on or before June 17, 2013 or reach the
Docket Management Facility by that
date.
SUMMARY:
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Sfmt 4703
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
We encourage you to submit
comments and related material on the
proposed new Coast Guard Categorical
Exclusion (CATEX) for real property
disposal. All comments received will be
posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov and will include
any personal information you have
provided.
Submitting comments: If you submit a
comment, please include the docket
number for this notice (USCG–2013–
0339) and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. You
may submit your comments and
material online, or by fax, mail or hand
delivery, but please use only one of
these means. We recommend that you
include your name and a mailing
address, an email address, or a
telephone number in the body of your
document so that we can contact you if
we have questions regarding your
submission.
To submit your comment online, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, insert
(USCG–2013–0339) in the Search box,
look for this notice in the docket and
click the comment button next to it. If
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
17MYN1
29146
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2013 / Notices
you submit your comments by mail or
hand delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by
11 inches, suitable for copying and
electronic filing. If you submit them by
mail and would like to know that they
reached the Facility, please enclose a
stamped, self-addressed postcard or
envelope. We will consider all
comments and material received during
the comment period.
Viewing comments and supporting
material: To view comments, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, insert
(USCG–2013–0339) in the Search box,
then click on the ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’
option. If you do not have access to the
internet, you may view the docket by
visiting the Docket Management Facility
in Room W12–140 on the ground floor
of the Department of Transportation
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. We
have an agreement with the Department
of Transportation to use the Docket
Management Facility.
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic
form of comments received into any of
our dockets by the name of the
individual submitting the comment (or
signing the comment, if submitted on
behalf of an association, business, labor
union, etc.). You may review a Privacy
Act notice regarding our public dockets
in the January 17, 2008, issue of the
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Background
The Coast Guard has determined that
a new CATEX is needed to cover two
new real property disposal authorities
specific to the Coast Guard. In the past,
the Coast Guard exclusively used the
process established by the General
Services Administration (GSA) to
dispose of excess real property, unless
specifically directed otherwise by
Congress. Because the Coast Guard
previously worked through the GSA for
property disposal, the GSA was able to
use its CATEX to fulfill obligations
under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA). Recently, Congress
passed two pieces of legislation that
directly authorize DHS and the Coast
Guard to dispose of real property
through sale and keep the proceeds for
use in specific Coast Guard programs.
Specifically, the Coast Guard has been
granted authority to dispose of property
previously used for Long Range
Navigation (Loran-C) equipment. The
Coast Guard has also been granted the
authority to dispose of real property in
order to pay for military family and
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15:20 May 16, 2013
Jkt 229001
military unaccompanied housing
projects. The Coast Guard seeks to add
a CATEX that contains the same
language as the GSA’s CATEX that will
allow the Coast Guard to satisfy its
NEPA obligations when disposing of
excess real property.
The Department of Homeland
Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub.
L. 111–83), authorizes the Coast Guard
to sell any real and personal property
under the administrative control of the
Coast Guard and used for the Loran-C
system, by directing the Administrator
of GSA to sell such real and personal
property. This is allowed, provided that
the proceeds, less the costs of sale
incurred by the GSA, shall be deposited
as offsetting collections into the ‘‘Coast
Guard Environmental Compliance and
Restoration’’ account and, subject to
appropriation, shall be available until
expended for environmental compliance
and restoration purposes associated
with the Loran-C system.
Additionally, Congress passed 14
U.S.C. 685, Conveyance of Real Property
(January 7, 2011), which states that
notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of the respective
department in which the Coast Guard is
operating (Secretary) may convey, at fair
market value, real property, owned or
under the administrative control of the
Coast Guard, for the purpose of
expending the proceeds from such
conveyance to acquire and construct
military family housing and military
unaccompanied housing. The
conveyance of real property under this
section shall be by sale, for cash. The
Secretary shall deposit the proceeds
from the sale in the Coast Guard
Housing Fund.
This proposal is to add the following
Coast Guard-specific CATEX to the
existing list of CATEXs published in
Coast Guard Commandant Instruction
16475.1D, National Environmental
Policy Act Implementing Procedures
and Policy for Considering
Environmental Impacts, and to the DHS
Environmental Planning Program
Directive 023–01 (71 FR 16790):
*[L64] Disposal of real property (including
facilities) by the Coast Guard where the
reasonably foreseeable use will not change
significantly or where the reasonably
foreseeable use is similar to existing
surrounding properties (e.g. commercial store
in a commercial strip, warehouse in an urban
complex, office building in downtown area,
row house or vacant lot in an urban area).
The asterisk (*) indicates application
of this CATEX requires the completion
of an environmental review of the
proposed disposal action documented
in a Record of Environmental
Consideration to ensure extraordinary
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
circumstances have been appropriately
considered. The availability of this
CATEX does not exempt the
applicability of other environmental
requirements such as, but not limited to,
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act,
section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, and the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act. These requirements must be
met regardless of the applicability of
this CATEX under NEPA.
The Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) guidance entitled,
‘‘Establishing, Applying, and Revising
Categorical Exclusions under the
National Environmental Policy Act’’
(February 18, 2010) encourages agencies
to establish new CATEXs and revise
existing CATEXs to eliminate
unnecessary paperwork and effort
reviewing the environmental effects of
categories of actions that, absent
extraordinary circumstances, do not
have significant environmental effects.
Without a CATEX for real property
disposal, DHS and the Coast Guard
would have to prepare an
Environmental Assessment for every
action of this type, including those that
experience has shown do not typically
have the potential for significant
environmental impacts. Therefore, DHS
and the Coast Guard need a CATEX for
these types of actions that experience
has shown do not have significant
environmental impacts in order to carry
out its new legislative authorities in a
timely and efficient manner.
The CEQ guidance also states that
when substantiating a new or revised
CATEX, agencies can draw on several
sources of supporting information.
These sources include professional staff
and expert opinion and benchmarking
other agencies’ experiences. Through a
review of other agencies’ NEPA
procedures, the Coast Guard and DHS
found that numerous other Federal
agencies have CATEXs for real property
disposal activities that are sufficiently
descriptive of the activity as to establish
that those activities were similar in
nature, scope, and impact on the human
environment as those real property
disposals that would be performed by
the Coast Guard. In addition, all Federal
agencies, with very few exceptions,
must meet the same requirements to
protect the environment.
Particular agency CATEXs examined
by the Coast Guard include those used
by the GSA and the Department of the
Army. DHS also received expert
opinions from NEPA practitioners at
GSA and the Department of the Army
that supports this proposed new CATEX
for the disposal of real property
(including facilities) by the Coast Guard.
Descriptions of the other agency
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
17MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2013 / Notices
CATEXs (with hyperlinks) and expert
opinions obtained are provided in the
administrative record available at
https://www.regulations.gov by searching
docket number USCG–2013–0339.
This notice is issued under authority
of: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.; 40 CFR parts 1500–1508;
Department of Homeland Security
Management Directive 023–01
Environmental Planning Program; and
United States Coast Guard Commandant
Instruction M16475.1D, National
Environmental Policy Act Implementing
Procedures and Policy for Considering
Environmental Impacts.
Dated: May 13, 2013.
J. Smith,
Chief, Office of Environmental Management,
U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2013–11867 Filed 5–16–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
United States Secret Service
30-Day Notice and Request for
Comments
The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) has submitted the
following information collection
requests (ICR) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995: 1620–0002. This information
collection was previously published in
the Federal Register on March 7, 2013
at 78 FR 14807, allowing for OMB
review and a 60-day public comment
period. No comments were received.
This notice allows for an additional 30
days for public comment.
DATES: Comments are encouraged and
will be accepted until June 17, 2013.
This process is conduced in accordance
with 5 CFR 1320.10.
Written comments and/or suggestions
regarding the items contained in this
notice should be directed to the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget, Attn:
Desk Officer for United States Secret
Service, Department of Homeland
Security, and sent via electronic mail to
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov; or faxed
to 202–395–5806.
The Office of Management and Budget
is particularly interested in comments
which:
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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15:20 May 16, 2013
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whether the information will have
practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the form(s) and instructions
should be directed to: United States
Secret Service, Security Clearance
Division, Attn: ASAIC Michael Smith,
Communications Center (SCD), 345
Murray Lane SW., Building T5,
Washington, DC 20223. Telephone
number: 202–406–6658.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires
each Federal agency to provide
interested Federal agencies and the
public an early opportunity to comment
on information collection requests. The
notice for this proposed information
collection contains the following: (1)
The name of the component of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security; (2)
Type of review requested, e.g., new,
revision, extension, existing or
reinstatement; (3) OMB Control
Number, if applicable; (4) Title; (5)
Summary of the collection; (6)
Description of the need for, and
proposed use of, the information; (7)
Respondents and frequency of
collection; and (8) Reporting and/or
recordkeeping burden.
The Department of Homeland
Security invites public comment.
The Department of Homeland
Security is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Is the estimate of burden for this
information collection accurate; (3) How
might the Department enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4) How
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. All
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29147
comments will become a matter of
public record. In this document the
U. S. Secret Service is soliciting
comments concerning the following
information collection:
Title: U.S. Secret Service Facility
Access Request.
OMB Number: 1620–0002.
Form Number: SSF 3237.
Abstract: Respondents are primarily
Secret Service contractor personnel or
non-Secret Service Government
employees on official business that
require access to Secret Service
controlled facilities in performance of
official duties. These individuals, if
approved for access, will require
escorted, unescorted, and staff-like
access to Secret Service-controlled
facilities. Responses to questions on the
SSF 3237 yield information necessary
for the adjudication of eligibility for
facility access.
Agency: Department of Homeland
Security, United States Secret Service.
Frequency: Occasionally.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or
Households/Business.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
5000.
Estimated Time per Respondent: 15
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 1250 hours.
Estimated Total Burden Cost (capital/
startup): None.
Total Burden Cost (operating/
maintaining): None.
Dated: May 8, 2013.
Sharon Johnson,
Chief—Policy Analysis and Organizational
Development Branch, U.S. Secret Service,
U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2013–11780 Filed 5–16–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–42–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5681–N–20]
Federal Property Suitable as Facilities
To Assist the Homeless
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This Notice identifies
unutilized, underutilized, excess, and
surplus Federal property reviewed by
HUD for suitability for use to assist the
homeless.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Juanita Perry, Department of Housing
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
17MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29145-29147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11867]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2013-0339]
Request for Public Comment on New Proposed Categorical Exclusion
for Real Property Disposal Under the National Environmental Policy Act
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This is a notice and request for comments on a Proposed New
Categorical Exclusion for Real Property Disposal. This proposal would
amend the Coast Guard Commandant Instruction and Department of Homeland
Security Directive used to comply with the National Environmental
Policy Act by establishing a new categorical exclusion (CATEX) for real
property disposal undertaken by the United States Coast Guard. The
Coast Guard seeks comments on this proposed CATEX.
DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to our
online docket via https://www.regulations.gov on or before June 17, 2013
or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2013-0339 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-366-9329.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
call or email Ms. Kebby Kelly, United States Coast Guard Office of
Environmental Management; telephone 202-475-5690, email
Kebby.Kelley@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or submitting
material to the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the
proposed new Coast Guard Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) for real
property disposal. All comments received will be posted without change
to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information
you have provided.
Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the
docket number for this notice (USCG-2013-0339) and provide a reason for
each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and
material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only
one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a
mailing address, an email address, or a telephone number in the body of
your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding
your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov,
insert (USCG-2013-0339) in the Search box, look for this notice in the
docket and click the comment button next to it. If
[[Page 29146]]
you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped,
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period.
Viewing comments and supporting material: To view comments, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, insert (USCG-2013-0339) in the Search box,
then click on the ``Open Docket Folder'' option. If you do not have
access to the internet, you may view the docket by visiting the Docket
Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the
Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. We have an agreement with the Department of
Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Background
The Coast Guard has determined that a new CATEX is needed to cover
two new real property disposal authorities specific to the Coast Guard.
In the past, the Coast Guard exclusively used the process established
by the General Services Administration (GSA) to dispose of excess real
property, unless specifically directed otherwise by Congress. Because
the Coast Guard previously worked through the GSA for property
disposal, the GSA was able to use its CATEX to fulfill obligations
under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Recently, Congress
passed two pieces of legislation that directly authorize DHS and the
Coast Guard to dispose of real property through sale and keep the
proceeds for use in specific Coast Guard programs.
Specifically, the Coast Guard has been granted authority to dispose
of property previously used for Long Range Navigation (Loran-C)
equipment. The Coast Guard has also been granted the authority to
dispose of real property in order to pay for military family and
military unaccompanied housing projects. The Coast Guard seeks to add a
CATEX that contains the same language as the GSA's CATEX that will
allow the Coast Guard to satisfy its NEPA obligations when disposing of
excess real property.
The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub.
L. 111-83), authorizes the Coast Guard to sell any real and personal
property under the administrative control of the Coast Guard and used
for the Loran-C system, by directing the Administrator of GSA to sell
such real and personal property. This is allowed, provided that the
proceeds, less the costs of sale incurred by the GSA, shall be
deposited as offsetting collections into the ``Coast Guard
Environmental Compliance and Restoration'' account and, subject to
appropriation, shall be available until expended for environmental
compliance and restoration purposes associated with the Loran-C system.
Additionally, Congress passed 14 U.S.C. 685, Conveyance of Real
Property (January 7, 2011), which states that notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of the respective department in which
the Coast Guard is operating (Secretary) may convey, at fair market
value, real property, owned or under the administrative control of the
Coast Guard, for the purpose of expending the proceeds from such
conveyance to acquire and construct military family housing and
military unaccompanied housing. The conveyance of real property under
this section shall be by sale, for cash. The Secretary shall deposit
the proceeds from the sale in the Coast Guard Housing Fund.
This proposal is to add the following Coast Guard-specific CATEX to
the existing list of CATEXs published in Coast Guard Commandant
Instruction 16475.1D, National Environmental Policy Act Implementing
Procedures and Policy for Considering Environmental Impacts, and to the
DHS Environmental Planning Program Directive 023-01 (71 FR 16790):
*[L64] Disposal of real property (including facilities) by the Coast
Guard where the reasonably foreseeable use will not change
significantly or where the reasonably foreseeable use is similar to
existing surrounding properties (e.g. commercial store in a
commercial strip, warehouse in an urban complex, office building in
downtown area, row house or vacant lot in an urban area).
The asterisk (*) indicates application of this CATEX requires the
completion of an environmental review of the proposed disposal action
documented in a Record of Environmental Consideration to ensure
extraordinary circumstances have been appropriately considered. The
availability of this CATEX does not exempt the applicability of other
environmental requirements such as, but not limited to, section 7 of
the Endangered Species Act, section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These requirements
must be met regardless of the applicability of this CATEX under NEPA.
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) guidance entitled,
``Establishing, Applying, and Revising Categorical Exclusions under the
National Environmental Policy Act'' (February 18, 2010) encourages
agencies to establish new CATEXs and revise existing CATEXs to
eliminate unnecessary paperwork and effort reviewing the environmental
effects of categories of actions that, absent extraordinary
circumstances, do not have significant environmental effects. Without a
CATEX for real property disposal, DHS and the Coast Guard would have to
prepare an Environmental Assessment for every action of this type,
including those that experience has shown do not typically have the
potential for significant environmental impacts. Therefore, DHS and the
Coast Guard need a CATEX for these types of actions that experience has
shown do not have significant environmental impacts in order to carry
out its new legislative authorities in a timely and efficient manner.
The CEQ guidance also states that when substantiating a new or
revised CATEX, agencies can draw on several sources of supporting
information. These sources include professional staff and expert
opinion and benchmarking other agencies' experiences. Through a review
of other agencies' NEPA procedures, the Coast Guard and DHS found that
numerous other Federal agencies have CATEXs for real property disposal
activities that are sufficiently descriptive of the activity as to
establish that those activities were similar in nature, scope, and
impact on the human environment as those real property disposals that
would be performed by the Coast Guard. In addition, all Federal
agencies, with very few exceptions, must meet the same requirements to
protect the environment.
Particular agency CATEXs examined by the Coast Guard include those
used by the GSA and the Department of the Army. DHS also received
expert opinions from NEPA practitioners at GSA and the Department of
the Army that supports this proposed new CATEX for the disposal of real
property (including facilities) by the Coast Guard. Descriptions of the
other agency
[[Page 29147]]
CATEXs (with hyperlinks) and expert opinions obtained are provided in
the administrative record available at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching docket number USCG-2013-0339.
This notice is issued under authority of: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR parts 1500-1508; Department of Homeland
Security Management Directive 023-01 Environmental Planning Program;
and United States Coast Guard Commandant Instruction M16475.1D,
National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures and Policy
for Considering Environmental Impacts.
Dated: May 13, 2013.
J. Smith,
Chief, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2013-11867 Filed 5-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
