Notice of Public Meetings of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing, 47729-47731 [2017-22195]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2017 / Notices
Notch Brook and a portion of the
Passaic River located in the Township
of Little Falls and the Borough of
Woodland Park in Passaic County, New
Jersey.
Plaza, Room 2151, New York, NY
10279–0090; Phone: (917) 790–8722;
email: kimberly.a.rightler@
usace.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the overall Peckman
River Basin Flood Risk Management
Feasibility Study should be directed to
Robert Greco, Project Manager, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, New York
District, Programs and Project
Management Division, Civil Works
Programs Branch, 26 Federal Plaza,
Room 2127, New York, NY 10279–0090;
Phone: (917) 790–8394; email:
robert.m.greco@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
1. Background
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps), in partnership with the New
Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (NJDEP) as the non-Federal
sponsor is undertaking this study.
Extensive development in the Peckman
River Basin has resulted in flood
damages with flooding occurring from
intense thunderstorms and heavy
rainfall. The District was authorized
under U.S. House of Representatives
Resolution Docket 2644, dated June 21,
2000 to identify recommendations in
the interest of water resources
development.
A Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement
(FCSA) was executed in 2002 with the
NJDEP in 2002. A Notice of Intent (NOI)
to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) was published in the
May 14, 2004 issue of the Federal
Register (69 FR 26811). A NEPA scoping
meeting held on February 11, 2004 in
Little Falls, New Jersey at the initiation
of the study. The alternative analysis
was completed in 2014, and nonstructural improvements located within
the 10 year floodplain within Little
Falls, N.J. with a bypass culvert
designed to mitigate the flood risk from
the Peckman River and floodwalls along
Great Notch Brook in Woodland Park
was identified as the Tentatively
Selected National Economic
Development Plan. The NJDEP
requested a Locally Preferred Plan that
consists of a levee/floodwall system in
Little Falls along with the bypass
culvert for the Peckman River and
floodwalls along Great Notch Brook in
Woodland Park. The LPP plan will be
designed to protect Little Falls and
Woodland Park from the 1% annual
chance exceedance (100-yr) event from
the Peckman River.
3. Public Participation
The Corps and the NJDEP are
currently anticipating hosting a NEPA
Scoping Meeting in late November/early
December 2017. Public notices
announcing the meeting date, time,
location and agenda will be published
in the appropriate local newspapers,
Little Falls Township Web page,
Borough of Woodland Park Web page
and on the Corps’ New York District
Web page (see STUDY WEBPAGE AND
ADDRESSES) and will be distributed to
the local stakeholders and known
interested parties.
A scoping comment period of 30 days
will be established from the scheduled
date of the meeting to allow agencies,
organizations and individuals to submit
comments, questions and/or concerns
regarding the Feasibility Study.
Comments, concerns and information
submitted to the Corps will be evaluated
and considered during the development
of the Draft EIS.
5. Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
the lead federal agency for the
preparation of the environmental impact
statement (EIS) and meeting the
requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act and the NEPA
Implementing Regulations of the
President’s Council on Environmental
Quality (40 CFR 1500–1508). Federal
agencies interested in participating as a
Cooperating Agency are requested to
submit a letter of intent to Colonel
Thomas D. Asbery, District Engineer
(see ADDRESSES). The preparation of the
EIS will be coordinated with New Jersey
State and local municipalities with
discretionary authority relative to the
proposed actions. The Draft integrated
Feasibility Report/EIS is currently
scheduled for distribution to the public
March 2018.
Dated: October 3, 2017.
Peter M. Weppler,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch,
Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2017–21933 Filed 10–12–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
2. Project Area
The project area encompasses the
portion of the Peckman River, Great
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47729
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Public Meetings of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement for Hawaii-Southern
California Training and Testing
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of the Navy
(DoN) has prepared and filed with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS/OEIS). It is the role of
DoN to maintain, train and equip
combat ready naval forces capable of
winning wars, deterring aggression, and
maintaining freedom of the seas. To
fulfil its role, the DoN will continue
ongoing military readiness activities,
which include training and research,
development, testing, and evaluation
activities (hereafter referred to as
‘‘training and testing’’) conducted
within the Hawaii-Southern California
Training and Testing (HSTT) EIS/OEIS
Study Area (hereafter referred to as the
‘‘Study Area’’). In the Draft EIS/OEIS,
the DoN re-evaluates potential
environmental impacts associated with
training and testing in the study area.
The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) is a cooperating agency for this
EIS/OEIS. This notice announces the
dates and locations of the public
meetings and provides supplementary
information about the environmental
planning effort.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: Public meetings
will include an open-house information
session, followed by a short
presentation by the DoN and public oral
comment session. DoN representatives
will be available during the open-house
information sessions to clarify
information related to the Draft EIS/
OEIS. Federal, state, and local agencies
and officials, and interested
organizations and individuals are
encouraged to provide substantive
comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS in
writing during the public review period
or in person at one of the scheduled
public meetings.
Public meetings will be held in
Hawaii from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and in
San Diego from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A DoN
presentation and public oral comment
session will occur twice during the
meetings. Public meetings will be held
on the following dates and at the
following locations:
1. Monday, November 6, 2017, at Oahu
Veterans Center, Fred Ballard Hall,
SUMMARY:
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asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
47730
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2017 / Notices
1298 Kukila St., Honolulu, HI
96818.
2. Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at Maui
High School, Cafeteria, 660 S. Lono
Ave., Kahului, HI 96732.
3. Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at
Kauai Veterans Center, Main
Ballroom, 3215 Kapule Highway,
Lihue, HI 96766.
4. Thursday, November 9, 2017, at
Waiakea High School, Cafeteria, 155
W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720.
5. Monday, November 13, 2017, at
Portuguese Hall, Main Hall, 2818
Avenida de Portugal, San Diego, CA
92106.
Attendees will be able to submit oral
and written comments during the public
meetings. Oral comments from the
public will be recorded by a court
reporter and each speaker’s comments
will be limited to three (3) minutes.
Equal weight will be given to oral and
written statements. Comments may also
be mailed to Naval Facilities
Engineering Command Pacific,
Attention: HSTT EIS/OEIS Project
Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite
100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860–3134, or
electronically via the project Web site
(www.HSTTEIS.com). All comments,
oral or written, submitted during the 60day public comment period will become
part of the public record and substantive
comments will be addressed in the Final
EIS/OEIS. Comments must be
postmarked or received online by
December 12, 2017, for consideration in
the Final EIS/OEIS.
Concurrent with the NEPA public
involvement process, the DoN is
conducting National Historic
Preservation Act section 106
consultations regarding potential effects
of the Proposed Action on historic
properties. Historic properties include
districts, sites, buildings, structures, or
objects listed or eligible for listing in the
National Register of Historic Places.
During each of the meetings, an
information station will be available,
where subject matter experts will
explain the section 106 process and
solicit public input.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Pacific, Attention: HSTT EIS/OEIS
Project Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive,
Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860–3134.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice
of Intent to prepare this Draft EIS/OEIS
was published in the Federal Register
on November 12, 2015 (80 FR 59952).
The Proposed Action is to conduct
DoN training and testing activities
within the Study Area. These activities
include the use of active sonar and
explosives while employing marine
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18:05 Oct 12, 2017
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species protective mitigation measures.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is
to maintain a ready force, which is
needed to ensure the DoN can
accomplish its mission to maintain,
train, and equip combat-ready naval
forces capable of winning wars,
deterring aggression, and maintaining
freedom of the seas, consistent with
Congressional direction in Section 5062
of Title 10 of the U.S. Code (U.S.C.).
To achieve and maintain military
readiness, the DoN proposes to: (1)
Conduct training and testing activities at
levels required to support DoN military
readiness requirements beginning in
2018; and (2) Accommodate evolving
mission requirements, including those
resulting from the development, testing,
and introduction of vessels, aircraft, and
weapons systems into the fleet.
Proposed training and testing
activities are similar to those that have
occurred in the Study Area for decades.
The tempo and types of training and
testing activities fluctuate because of the
introduction of new technologies, the
evolving nature of international events,
advances in warfighting doctrine and
procedures, and changes in force
structure (organization of ships,
weapons, and personnel). These factors
can influence the frequency, duration,
intensity, and location of training and
testing activities. This EIS/OEIS reflects
the most up-to-date compilation of
training and testing activities deemed
necessary to accomplish military
readiness requirements. The types and
numbers of activities included in the
Proposed Action account for
fluctuations in training and testing to
meet evolving or emergent military
readiness requirements.
In the Draft EIS/OEIS, the DoN
evaluates the potential environmental
impacts of three alternatives, including
a No Action Alternative. Under the No
Action Alternative, the DoN would not
conduct the proposed training and
testing activities in the Study Area, and
no authorizations or permits would be
issued from NMFS. Under Alternative 1
(the DoN’s preferred alternative), the
DoN proposes to conduct military
readiness training and testing activities,
as needed to meet current and future
readiness requirements, including new
activities and activities subject to
previous analysis that are ongoing and
have historically occurred in the Study
Area. Alternative 1 reflects a
representative annual level of training
and testing to account for the natural
fluctuation of training cycles and
deployment schedules that generally
limit the maximum level of training
from occurring year after year in any
five-year period. Using a representative
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Sfmt 4703
annual level of activity rather than a
maximum level of training activity in
every year has reduced the amount of
active sonar estimated to be necessary to
meet training requirements. Under
Alternative 1, the DoN assumes that
some unit-level training would be
conducted using synthetic means (e.g.,
simulators). Alternative 2 includes new
and ongoing training and testing
activities to enable the DoN to meet the
highest levels of required military
readiness. Alternative 2 reflects the
maximum number of training and
testing activities that could occur within
a given year, and assumes that the
maximum level of activity would occur
every year over any five-year period.
Alternative 2 would allow for the
greatest flexibility for the DoN to
maintain readiness when considering
potential changes in the national
security environment, fluctuations in
schedules, and anticipated demands.
Additional project information,
including details on the key differences
between the 2013 Final EIS/OEIS and
the 2017 Draft EIS/OEIS, can be found
on the project Web site at
www.HSTTEIS.com.
Minimizing impacts on the marine
environment from training and testing
activities is an important goal for the
DoN. The DoN will implement
mitigation and monitoring measures to
avoid or reduce environmental impacts
from naval activities. Due to the
exposure of marine mammals to
underwater sound from sonar and
explosives, NMFS has received an
application from the DoN for a Marine
Mammal Protection Act Letter of
Authorization and governing regulations
to authorize the unintentional takes of
marine mammals incidental to the
activities conducted in the Study Area.
In accordance with section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act, the DoN will
consult with NMFS and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, as appropriate, on
the potential impacts of training and
testing activities on federally listed
species. In accordance with the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, the
DoN will consult with NMFS on
federally managed species and their
managed essential fish habitat, as
appropriate. As applicable, the DoN will
comply with the Coastal Zone
Management Act, National Historic
Preservation Act, and the National
Marine Sanctuaries Act.
The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to
federal and local agencies in which the
DoN consulted with. Copies of the Draft
EIS/OEIS are available for public review
at the following local public libraries:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2017 / Notices
1. Hawaii State Library, 478 S. King St.,
Honolulu, HI 96813.
2. Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue
Ave., Hilo, HI 96720.
3. Kahului Public Library, 90 School St.,
Kahului, HI 96732.
4. Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75–138
Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI
96740.
5. Lihue Public Library, 4344 Hardy St.,
Lihue, HI 96766.
6. City of San Diego Central Library, 330
Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101.
7. Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange
Ave., Coronado, CA 92118.
8. Long Beach Main Library, 101 Pacific
Ave., Long Beach, CA 90822.
The HSTT Draft EIS/OEIS is available
for electronic viewing or download at
www.HSTTEIS.com. A compact disc of
the Draft EIS/OEIS will be made
available upon written request by
contacting: Naval Facilities Engineering
Command Pacific, Attention: HSTT EIS/
OEIS Project Manager, 258 Makalapa
Drive, Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI
96860–3134.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4332, EO 12114, and
40 CFR 1500–1508.
Dated: October 10, 2017.
A.M. Nichols,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate
General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017–22195 Filed 10–12–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. EL18–5–000]
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Braintree Electric Light Department;
Notice of Petition For Limited Waiver
Take notice that on October 5, 2017,
pursuant to Rule 207(a)(5) of the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission’s
(Commission) Rules of Practice and
Procedure, 18 CFR 385.207(a)(5) and
section 554(e) of the Administrative
Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 554(e)),
Braintree Electric Light Department
filed a petition for the Commission to
authorize a limited, one-time waiver of
the October 1 deadline for delivery of
notification to ISO New England, Inc.
(ISO–NE) of its proposed participation
in ISO–NE’s 2017–2018 Winter
Reliability Program, as more fully
described in the filing.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest in any of the above proceedings
must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:05 Oct 12, 2017
Jkt 244001
and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m.
Eastern time on the specified comment
date. It is not necessary to separately
intervene again in a subdocket related to
a compliance filing if you have
previously intervened in the same
docket. Protests will be considered by
the Commission in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but will
not serve to make protestants parties to
the proceeding. Anyone filing a motion
to intervene or protest must serve a copy
of that document on the Applicant. In
reference to filings initiating a new
proceeding, interventions or protests
submitted on or before the comment
deadline need not be served on persons
other than the Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the
FERC Online links at https://
www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
service, persons with Internet access
who will eFile a document and/or be
listed as a contact for an intervenor
must create and validate an
eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling
link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 14 copies
of the intervention or protest to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First St. NE., Washington, DC
20426.
The filings in the above proceedings
are accessible in the Commission’s
eLibrary system by clicking on the
appropriate link in the above list. They
are also available for review in the
Commission’s Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC. There is an
eSubscription link on the Web site that
enables subscribers to receive email
notification when a document is added
to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance
with any FERC Online service, please
email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or
call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY,
call (202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on October 26, 2017.
Dated: October 6, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–22214 Filed 10–12–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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47731
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017–0141; FRL–9966–70]
Certain New Chemicals or Significant
New Uses; Statements of Findings for
July 2017
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Section 5(g) of the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires
EPA to publish in the Federal Register
a statement of its findings after its
review of TSCA section 5(a) notices
when EPA makes a finding that a new
chemical substance or significant new
use is not likely to present an
unreasonable risk of injury to health or
the environment. Such statements apply
to premanufacture notices (PMNs),
microbial commercial activity notices
(MCANs), and significant new use
notices (SNUNs) submitted to EPA
under TSCA section 5. This document
presents statements of findings made by
EPA on TSCA section 5(a) notices
during the period from July 1, 2017 to
July 31, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
technical information contact: Greg
Schweer, Chemical Control Division
(7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone
number: 202–564–8469; email address:
schweer.greg@epa.gov.
For general information contact: The
TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422
South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY
14620; telephone number: (202) 554–
1404; email address: TSCA-Hotline@
epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public
in general. As such, the Agency has not
attempted to describe the specific
entities that this action may apply to.
Although others may be affected, this
action applies directly to the submitters
of the PMNs addressed in this action.
B. How can I get copies of this document
and other related information?
The docket for this action, identified
by docket identification (ID) number
EPA–HQ–OPPT–2017–0141, is available
at https://www.regulations.gov or at the
Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics Docket (OPPT Docket),
Environmental Protection Agency
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47729-47731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22195]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Public Meetings of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Hawaii-Southern
California Training and Testing
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS). It is the
role of DoN to maintain, train and equip combat ready naval forces
capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom
of the seas. To fulfil its role, the DoN will continue ongoing military
readiness activities, which include training and research, development,
testing, and evaluation activities (hereafter referred to as ``training
and testing'') conducted within the Hawaii-Southern California Training
and Testing (HSTT) EIS/OEIS Study Area (hereafter referred to as the
``Study Area''). In the Draft EIS/OEIS, the DoN re-evaluates potential
environmental impacts associated with training and testing in the study
area. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is a cooperating
agency for this EIS/OEIS. This notice announces the dates and locations
of the public meetings and provides supplementary information about the
environmental planning effort.
DATES and ADDRESSES: Public meetings will include an open-house
information session, followed by a short presentation by the DoN and
public oral comment session. DoN representatives will be available
during the open-house information sessions to clarify information
related to the Draft EIS/OEIS. Federal, state, and local agencies and
officials, and interested organizations and individuals are encouraged
to provide substantive comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS in writing during
the public review period or in person at one of the scheduled public
meetings.
Public meetings will be held in Hawaii from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and
in San Diego from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A DoN presentation and public oral
comment session will occur twice during the meetings. Public meetings
will be held on the following dates and at the following locations:
1. Monday, November 6, 2017, at Oahu Veterans Center, Fred Ballard
Hall,
[[Page 47730]]
1298 Kukila St., Honolulu, HI 96818.
2. Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at Maui High School, Cafeteria, 660 S.
Lono Ave., Kahului, HI 96732.
3. Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at Kauai Veterans Center, Main
Ballroom, 3215 Kapule Highway, Lihue, HI 96766.
4. Thursday, November 9, 2017, at Waiakea High School, Cafeteria, 155
W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720.
5. Monday, November 13, 2017, at Portuguese Hall, Main Hall, 2818
Avenida de Portugal, San Diego, CA 92106.
Attendees will be able to submit oral and written comments during
the public meetings. Oral comments from the public will be recorded by
a court reporter and each speaker's comments will be limited to three
(3) minutes. Equal weight will be given to oral and written statements.
Comments may also be mailed to Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Pacific, Attention: HSTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive,
Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134, or electronically via the
project Web site (www.HSTTEIS.com). All comments, oral or written,
submitted during the 60-day public comment period will become part of
the public record and substantive comments will be addressed in the
Final EIS/OEIS. Comments must be postmarked or received online by
December 12, 2017, for consideration in the Final EIS/OEIS.
Concurrent with the NEPA public involvement process, the DoN is
conducting National Historic Preservation Act section 106 consultations
regarding potential effects of the Proposed Action on historic
properties. Historic properties include districts, sites, buildings,
structures, or objects listed or eligible for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places. During each of the meetings, an
information station will be available, where subject matter experts
will explain the section 106 process and solicit public input.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Pacific, Attention: HSTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive,
Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to prepare this Draft
EIS/OEIS was published in the Federal Register on November 12, 2015 (80
FR 59952).
The Proposed Action is to conduct DoN training and testing
activities within the Study Area. These activities include the use of
active sonar and explosives while employing marine species protective
mitigation measures. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to maintain
a ready force, which is needed to ensure the DoN can accomplish its
mission to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready naval forces capable
of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the
seas, consistent with Congressional direction in Section 5062 of Title
10 of the U.S. Code (U.S.C.).
To achieve and maintain military readiness, the DoN proposes to:
(1) Conduct training and testing activities at levels required to
support DoN military readiness requirements beginning in 2018; and (2)
Accommodate evolving mission requirements, including those resulting
from the development, testing, and introduction of vessels, aircraft,
and weapons systems into the fleet.
Proposed training and testing activities are similar to those that
have occurred in the Study Area for decades. The tempo and types of
training and testing activities fluctuate because of the introduction
of new technologies, the evolving nature of international events,
advances in warfighting doctrine and procedures, and changes in force
structure (organization of ships, weapons, and personnel). These
factors can influence the frequency, duration, intensity, and location
of training and testing activities. This EIS/OEIS reflects the most up-
to-date compilation of training and testing activities deemed necessary
to accomplish military readiness requirements. The types and numbers of
activities included in the Proposed Action account for fluctuations in
training and testing to meet evolving or emergent military readiness
requirements.
In the Draft EIS/OEIS, the DoN evaluates the potential
environmental impacts of three alternatives, including a No Action
Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the DoN would not conduct
the proposed training and testing activities in the Study Area, and no
authorizations or permits would be issued from NMFS. Under Alternative
1 (the DoN's preferred alternative), the DoN proposes to conduct
military readiness training and testing activities, as needed to meet
current and future readiness requirements, including new activities and
activities subject to previous analysis that are ongoing and have
historically occurred in the Study Area. Alternative 1 reflects a
representative annual level of training and testing to account for the
natural fluctuation of training cycles and deployment schedules that
generally limit the maximum level of training from occurring year after
year in any five-year period. Using a representative annual level of
activity rather than a maximum level of training activity in every year
has reduced the amount of active sonar estimated to be necessary to
meet training requirements. Under Alternative 1, the DoN assumes that
some unit-level training would be conducted using synthetic means
(e.g., simulators). Alternative 2 includes new and ongoing training and
testing activities to enable the DoN to meet the highest levels of
required military readiness. Alternative 2 reflects the maximum number
of training and testing activities that could occur within a given
year, and assumes that the maximum level of activity would occur every
year over any five-year period. Alternative 2 would allow for the
greatest flexibility for the DoN to maintain readiness when considering
potential changes in the national security environment, fluctuations in
schedules, and anticipated demands.
Additional project information, including details on the key
differences between the 2013 Final EIS/OEIS and the 2017 Draft EIS/
OEIS, can be found on the project Web site at www.HSTTEIS.com.
Minimizing impacts on the marine environment from training and
testing activities is an important goal for the DoN. The DoN will
implement mitigation and monitoring measures to avoid or reduce
environmental impacts from naval activities. Due to the exposure of
marine mammals to underwater sound from sonar and explosives, NMFS has
received an application from the DoN for a Marine Mammal Protection Act
Letter of Authorization and governing regulations to authorize the
unintentional takes of marine mammals incidental to the activities
conducted in the Study Area. In accordance with section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act, the DoN will consult with NMFS and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, as appropriate, on the potential impacts of
training and testing activities on federally listed species. In
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, the DoN will consult with NMFS on federally managed
species and their managed essential fish habitat, as appropriate. As
applicable, the DoN will comply with the Coastal Zone Management Act,
National Historic Preservation Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries
Act.
The Draft EIS/OEIS was distributed to federal and local agencies in
which the DoN consulted with. Copies of the Draft EIS/OEIS are
available for public review at the following local public libraries:
[[Page 47731]]
1. Hawaii State Library, 478 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813.
2. Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo, HI 96720.
3. Kahului Public Library, 90 School St., Kahului, HI 96732.
4. Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI
96740.
5. Lihue Public Library, 4344 Hardy St., Lihue, HI 96766.
6. City of San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA
92101.
7. Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118.
8. Long Beach Main Library, 101 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, CA 90822.
The HSTT Draft EIS/OEIS is available for electronic viewing or
download at www.HSTTEIS.com. A compact disc of the Draft EIS/OEIS will
be made available upon written request by contacting: Naval Facilities
Engineering Command Pacific, Attention: HSTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager,
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4332, EO 12114, and 40 CFR 1500-1508.
Dated: October 10, 2017.
A.M. Nichols,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-22195 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
