Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the West Region of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network and Notice of Public Meetings, 64444-64445 [2016-22575]

Download as PDF 64444 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 182 / Tuesday, September 20, 2016 / Notices Dated: September 14, 2016. Jason Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2016–22616 Filed 9–19–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration First Responder Network Authority [Docket Number: 160830796–6796–01] RIN 0660–XC030 Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the West Region of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network and Notice of Public Meetings First Responder Network Authority, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Announcement of availability of a draft programmatic environmental impact statement and of public meetings. AGENCY: The First Responder Network Authority (‘‘FirstNet’’) announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the West Region (‘‘Draft PEIS’’). FirstNet also announces a series of public meetings to be held throughout the West Region to receive comments on the Draft PEIS. The Draft PEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the proposed nationwide public safety broadband network in the West Region, composed of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. DATES: Submit comments on the Draft PEIS for the West Region on or before November 15, 2016. FirstNet will also hold public meetings in each of the six states. See SUPPLMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates. ADDRESSES: At any time during the public comment period, members of the public, public agencies, and other interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments, questions, and concerns about the project for FirstNet’s consideration or to attend any of the public meetings. Written comments may be submitted electronically via www.regulations.gov, FIRSTNET–2016–0004, or by mail to Genevieve Walker, Director of Environmental Compliance, First Responder Network Authority, National sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Sep 19, 2016 Jkt 238001 Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M/S 243, Reston, VA 20192. Comments received will be made a part of the public record and may be posted to FirstNet’s Web site (www.firstnet.gov) without change. Comments should be machine readable and should not be copy-protected. All personally identifiable information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. The Draft PEIS is available for download from www.regulations.gov, FIRSTNET–2016– 0004. A CD containing the electronic files of this document is also available at public libraries (see Chapter 14 of the Draft PEIS for the complete distribution list). See SUPPLMENTARY INFORMATION section for public meeting addresses. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Draft PEIS, contact Genevieve Walker, Director of Environmental Compliance, First Responder Network Authority, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M/S 243, Reston, VA 20192. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Meetings Attendees can obtain information regarding the project and/or submit a comment in person during public meetings. The meeting details are as follows: • Olympia, Washington: October 3, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Olympia, 415 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501. • Los Angeles, California: October 4, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. • Sacramento, California: October 5, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Hyatt Regency Sacramento, 1209 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. • Carson City, Nevada: October 6, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Courtyard Carson City, 3870 South Carson Street, Carson City, NV 89701. • Salem, Oregon: October 12, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Salem, Oregon, 1590 Weston Court NE., Salem, OR 97301. • Phoenix, Arizona: October 18, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 100 North 1st Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004. • Pocatello, Idaho: October 20, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Red Lion PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Hotel Pocatello, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello, ID 83201. Background The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112–96, Title VI, 126 Stat. 156 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.)) (the ‘‘Act’’) created and authorized FirstNet to take all actions necessary to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of an interoperable, nationwide public safety broadband network (‘‘NPSBN’’) based on a single, national network architecture. The Act meets a longstanding and critical national infrastructure need, to create a single, nationwide network that will, for the first time, allow police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical service professionals, and other public safety entities to effectively communicate with each other across agencies and jurisdictions. The NPSBN is intended to enhance the ability of the public safety community to perform more reliably, effectively, and safely; increase situational awareness during an emergency; and improve the ability of the public safety community to effectively engage in those critical activities. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4347) (‘‘NEPA’’) requires federal agencies to undertake an assessment of environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making a final decision and implementing the action. NEPA requirements apply to any federal project, decision, or action that may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. NEPA also establishes the Council on Environmental Quality (‘‘CEQ’’), which issued regulations implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (see 40 CFR parts 1500–1508). Among other considerations, CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1508.28 recommend the use of tiering from a ‘‘broader environmental impact statement (such as a national program or policy statements) with subsequent narrower statements or environmental analysis (such as regional or basin wide statements or ultimately site-specific statements) incorporating by reference the general discussions and concentrating solely on the issues specific to the statement subsequently prepared.’’ Due to the geographic scope of FirstNet (all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories) and the diversity of ecosystems potentially traversed by the project, FirstNet has elected to prepare five regional PEISs. The five PEISs were divided into the East, Central, West, South, and Non- E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM 20SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 182 / Tuesday, September 20, 2016 / Notices Contiguous Regions. The West Region consists of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The Draft PEIS analyzes potential impacts of the deployment and operation of the NPSBN on the natural and human environment in the West Region, in accordance with FirstNet’s responsibilities under NEPA. Next Steps All comments received by the public and any interested stakeholders will be evaluated and considered by FirstNet during the preparation of the Final PEIS. Once a PEIS is completed and a Record of Decision (ROD) is signed, FirstNet will evaluate site-specific documentation, as network design is developed, to determine if the proposed project has been adequately evaluated in the PEIS or warrants a Categorical Exclusion, an Environmental Assessment, or an Environmental Impact Statement. Dated: September 15, 2016. Elijah Veenendaal, Attorney—Advisor, First Responder Network Authority. [FR Doc. 2016–22575 Filed 9–19–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–TL–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Defense Innovation Board; Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting Office of the Deputy Chief Management Officer, Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee meeting. AGENCY: The DoD is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Defense Innovation Board (‘‘the Board’’). This meeting is partially closed to the public. DATES: The public meeting of the Board will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. The open portion of the meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 11:30 a.m. (Escort required; see guidance in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, ‘‘Public’s Accessibility to the Meeting.’’) The closed portion of the meeting of the Board will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The open portion of the meeting will be held in the Pentagon Conference Center Room B6 in the Pentagon, Washington, DC (Escort required; See guidance in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, ‘‘Public’s Accessibility to the Meeting.’’) sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Sep 19, 2016 Jkt 238001 The closed portion of the meeting will be held at various locations in the Pentagon. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Board’s Designated Federal Officer (DFO) is Roma Laster, Defense Innovation Board, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Room 5B1088A, Washington, DC 20301–1155, roma.k.laster.civ@ mail.mil. The Board’s Executive Director is Joshua Marcuse, Defense Innovation Board, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Room 3A1078, Washington, DC 20301–1155, joshua.j.marcuse.civ@ mail.mil. For meeting information and to submit written comments or questions to the Board, send via email to mailbox address: joshua.j.marcuse.civ@mail.mil. Please include in the Subject line ‘‘DIB October 2016 Meeting.’’ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This meeting is being held under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102–3.140. Purpose of the Meeting: The mission of the Board is to examine and provide the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense independent advice and recommendations on innovative means to address future challenges in terms of integrated change to organizational structure and processes, business and functional concepts, and technology applications. The Board focuses on (a) technology and capabilities, (b) practices and operations, and (c) people and culture. Meeting Agenda: During the open portion of the meeting on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, the Board will present and discuss their observations and recommendations on how to expand and advance innovation across the Department of Defense. Time permitting, the Board will discuss and deliberate on interim findings and recommendations regarding the challenges of: (a) Promoting innovative practices and culture in the conventional forces; (b) barriers to innovation and collaboration in the civilian workforce; (c) barriers to information sharing and the processing, exploitation, dissemination, and interoperability of data; (d) enabling workforce-driven innovation using crowdsourcing methodologies and techniques; (e) the lack of adequate organic capability and capacity for software development and rapid prototyping of software solutions; (f) approaches to increasing collaboration with entities outside the federal PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 64445 government; (g) recommendations on how to improve the digital infrastructure that supports command and control; (h) streamlining of rapid fielding processes, particularly for unmanned systems; (i) the lack of a dedicated computer science core in the workforce; and (j) potential application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomy, and man-machine teaming. During the closed portion of the meeting on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, the Board will hold discussions of innovation with senior leaders from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of Net Assessment, and the Office of the Secretary of the Army. Discussion topics will include, but are not limited to, strategic platforms and technological advancements, briefings on emerging threats, future military capabilities, and observations from research sessions involving classified material. All presentations and resulting discussions are classified. Public’s Accessibility to the Meeting: Pursuant to Federal statutes and regulations (5 U.S.C., Appendix, 5 U.S.C. 552b, and 41 CFR 102–3.140 through 102–3.165) and the availability of space, the meeting is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Seating is on a first-come basis. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting should contact the Executive Director to register and make arrangements for a Pentagon escort, if necessary, no later than five business days prior to the meeting, at the email address noted in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Public attendees requiring escort should arrive at the Pentagon Visitor’s Center, located near the Pentagon Metro Station’s south exit (the escalators to the left upon exiting through the turnstiles) and adjacent to the Pentagon Transit Center bus terminal, with sufficient time to complete security screening no later than 8:30 a.m. on October 5, 2016. Note: Pentagon tour groups enter through the Visitor’s Center, so long lines could form well in advance. To complete security screening, please come prepared to present two forms of identification of which one must be a picture identification card. While some Government and military DoD Common Access Card holders are not required to have an escort, they may be required to pass through the Visitor’s Center to gain access to the Pentagon. Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring special accommodations to access the public meeting should contact the Executive Director at least five business days prior to the meeting E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM 20SEN1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
First Responder Network Authority

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64444-64445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22575]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

First Responder Network Authority

[Docket Number: 160830796-6796-01]
RIN 0660-XC030


Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement for the West Region of the Nationwide Public Safety 
Broadband Network and Notice of Public Meetings

AGENCY: First Responder Network Authority, National Telecommunications 
and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of a draft programmatic 
environmental impact statement and of public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The First Responder Network Authority (``FirstNet'') announces 
the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for the West Region (``Draft PEIS''). FirstNet also announces 
a series of public meetings to be held throughout the West Region to 
receive comments on the Draft PEIS. The Draft PEIS evaluates the 
potential environmental impacts of the proposed nationwide public 
safety broadband network in the West Region, composed of Arizona, 
California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

DATES: Submit comments on the Draft PEIS for the West Region on or 
before November 15, 2016. FirstNet will also hold public meetings in 
each of the six states. See SUPPLMENTARY INFORMATION section for 
meeting dates.

ADDRESSES: At any time during the public comment period, members of the 
public, public agencies, and other interested parties are encouraged to 
submit written comments, questions, and concerns about the project for 
FirstNet's consideration or to attend any of the public meetings. 
Written comments may be submitted electronically via 
www.regulations.gov, FIRSTNET-2016-0004, or by mail to Genevieve 
Walker, Director of Environmental Compliance, First Responder Network 
Authority, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M/S 243, 
Reston, VA 20192. Comments received will be made a part of the public 
record and may be posted to FirstNet's Web site (www.firstnet.gov) 
without change. Comments should be machine readable and should not be 
copy-protected. All personally identifiable information (e.g., name, 
address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information. The Draft PEIS is 
available for download from www.regulations.gov, FIRSTNET-2016-0004. A 
CD containing the electronic files of this document is also available 
at public libraries (see Chapter 14 of the Draft PEIS for the complete 
distribution list). See SUPPLMENTARY INFORMATION section for public 
meeting addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Draft 
PEIS, contact Genevieve Walker, Director of Environmental Compliance, 
First Responder Network Authority, National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 12201 Sunrise 
Valley Drive, M/S 243, Reston, VA 20192.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Meetings

    Attendees can obtain information regarding the project and/or 
submit a comment in person during public meetings. The meeting details 
are as follows:
     Olympia, Washington: October 3, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 
8:00 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Olympia, 415 Capitol Way North, 
Olympia, WA 98501.
     Los Angeles, California: October 4, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. 
to 8:00 p.m., Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, 251 South 
Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
     Sacramento, California: October 5, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 
8:00 p.m., Hyatt Regency Sacramento, 1209 L Street, Sacramento, CA 
95814.
     Carson City, Nevada: October 6, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 
8:00 p.m., Courtyard Carson City, 3870 South Carson Street, Carson 
City, NV 89701.
     Salem, Oregon: October 12, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 
p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Salem, Oregon, 1590 Weston Court NE., 
Salem, OR 97301.
     Phoenix, Arizona: October 18, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 
p.m., Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 100 North 1st Street, 
Phoenix, AZ 85004.
     Pocatello, Idaho: October 20, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 
p.m., Red Lion Hotel Pocatello, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello, 
ID 83201.

Background

    The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 
112-96, Title VI, 126 Stat. 156 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.)) 
(the ``Act'') created and authorized FirstNet to take all actions 
necessary to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of an 
interoperable, nationwide public safety broadband network (``NPSBN'') 
based on a single, national network architecture. The Act meets a 
longstanding and critical national infrastructure need, to create a 
single, nationwide network that will, for the first time, allow police 
officers, fire fighters, emergency medical service professionals, and 
other public safety entities to effectively communicate with each other 
across agencies and jurisdictions. The NPSBN is intended to enhance the 
ability of the public safety community to perform more reliably, 
effectively, and safely; increase situational awareness during an 
emergency; and improve the ability of the public safety community to 
effectively engage in those critical activities.
    The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347) 
(``NEPA'') requires federal agencies to undertake an assessment of 
environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making a final 
decision and implementing the action. NEPA requirements apply to any 
federal project, decision, or action that may have a significant impact 
on the quality of the human environment. NEPA also establishes the 
Council on Environmental Quality (``CEQ''), which issued regulations 
implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (see 40 CFR parts 1500-
1508). Among other considerations, CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1508.28 
recommend the use of tiering from a ``broader environmental impact 
statement (such as a national program or policy statements) with 
subsequent narrower statements or environmental analysis (such as 
regional or basin wide statements or ultimately site-specific 
statements) incorporating by reference the general discussions and 
concentrating solely on the issues specific to the statement 
subsequently prepared.''
    Due to the geographic scope of FirstNet (all 50 states, the 
District of Columbia, and five territories) and the diversity of 
ecosystems potentially traversed by the project, FirstNet has elected 
to prepare five regional PEISs. The five PEISs were divided into the 
East, Central, West, South, and Non-

[[Page 64445]]

Contiguous Regions. The West Region consists of Arizona, California, 
Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The Draft PEIS analyzes 
potential impacts of the deployment and operation of the NPSBN on the 
natural and human environment in the West Region, in accordance with 
FirstNet's responsibilities under NEPA.

Next Steps

    All comments received by the public and any interested stakeholders 
will be evaluated and considered by FirstNet during the preparation of 
the Final PEIS. Once a PEIS is completed and a Record of Decision (ROD) 
is signed, FirstNet will evaluate site-specific documentation, as 
network design is developed, to determine if the proposed project has 
been adequately evaluated in the PEIS or warrants a Categorical 
Exclusion, an Environmental Assessment, or an Environmental Impact 
Statement.

    Dated: September 15, 2016.
Elijah Veenendaal,
Attorney--Advisor, First Responder Network Authority.
[FR Doc. 2016-22575 Filed 9-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-TL-P

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