Polar Security Cutter Program; Notice of Availability of Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, 4508-4509 [2019-02550]

Agencies

• Coast Guard
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4508-4509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02550]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket Number USCG-2018-0193]


Polar Security Cutter Program; Notice of Availability of Final 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard, as lead agency, announces the 
availability of the final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
for the Polar Security Cutter Program's design, build, and operation of 
up to six polar security cutters (PSC).

DATES: The U.S. Coast Guard will not issue a final decision on the 
proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date on which the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of 
Availability (NOA) of the final EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, 
State, and local governments; public libraries in the Project area; and 
interested parties that previously requested a copy. The final EIS and 
other supporting documents will be published in the docket at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=USCG-2018-0193 and also on the following 
U.S. Coast Guard website: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-9/Acquisition%20PDFs/CG_PSC_Final%20PEIS_05%20Feb%202019.pdf?ver=2019-02-08-121637-803×tamp=1549650805158.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notice of availability, email Ms. Christine Wiegand, Assistant Program 
Manager, Polar Security Cutter Program, U.S. Coast Guard; email 
PIBEnvironment@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CGC Coast Guard Cutter
DHS Department of Homeland Security
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
FR Federal Register
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
PIBs Polar Icebreakers
PSCs Polar Security Cutters
U.S.C. United States Code

Background and Purpose

    The Final EIS was prepared in accordance with the requirements of 
NEPA; the CEQ regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508); DHS 
procedures for implementing NEPA (DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01 
(series)), U.S. Coast Guard procedures for implementing NEPA (COMDTINST 
16475.1(series)); and other applicable DHS and U.S. Coast Guard 
policies and guidance. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2018 (83 FR 18319) and 
the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS was published in the 
Federal Register on August 6, 2018 (83 FR 38317). The U.S. Coast Guard 
is the lead agency for the proposed action.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to design, build, and operate 
new PSCs to carry out the U.S. Coast Guard's primary missions supported 
by the current polar icebreaker fleet. Expected missions include Ice 
Operations, Defense Readiness, Aids to Navigation, Living Marine 
Resources, Marine Safety, Marine Environmental Protection, Other Law 
Enforcement, Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security, and Search and 
Rescue.
    The U.S. Coast Guard's current fleet of PIBs consists of two heavy 
icebreakers, Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) POLAR STAR and CGC POLAR SEA, and 
one medium icebreaker, CGC HEALY. The U.S. Coast Guard's heavy 
icebreakers have both exceeded their designed 30 year service life. The 
current PSC program acquisition strategy is approved to construct up to 
three heavy PSCs and may (at a future date) potentially expand to 
include up to three medium icebreakers, with planned service design 
lives of 30 years each. The first of these new PSCs is expected to 
delivered in 2023. Because the first new PSC would not be operational 
in the Polar Regions until at least 2023, new information may become 
available after the completion of this EIS. In that case, supplemental 
NEPA documentation may, as appropriate, be prepared in support of 
individual proposed actions. Examples of new information may include, 
but are not limited to, changes to a species listing status or any 
other applicable laws and directives, and information regarding 
mission, training, homeporting, maintenance, and eventual 
decommissioning of the new PSCs.
    In executing its various missions, the U.S. Coast Guard protects 
the public, the environment, and U.S. economic and security interests 
in any maritime

[[Page 4509]]

region, including international waters and the Nation's coasts, ports, 
and inland waterways, as required to support national security. 
Legislation and executive orders assign the U.S. Coast Guard a wide 
range of responsibilities applicable to Polar Regions. The U.S. Coast 
Guard derives its authority for the use of icebreaking from several 
statutes governing execution of its missions. These include: 14 U.S.C. 
541 (previously 14 U.S.C. 81) \1\ Coast Guard establishment, 
maintenance, and operation of aids to navigation; 14 U.S.C. 521 
(previously 14 U.S.C. 88) Coast Guard saving of life and property; 14 
U.S.C. 522 (previously 14 U.S.C. 89) Coast Guard law enforcement; 14 
U.S.C. 716 (previously 14 U.S.C. 90) Arctic maritime transportation; 14 
U.S.C. 527 (previously 14 U.S.C. 91) controlling anchorage and movement 
of vessels; 14 U.S.C. 715 (previously 14 U.S.C. 94) conduct 
oceanographic research; and 14 U.S.C. 701 (previously 14 U.S.C. 141) 
cooperation with agencies, States, territories, and others. In 
addition, Executive Order 7521 (Use of Vessels for Icebreaking in 
Channels and Harbors), 1 FR 2184, Dec. 24, 1936, directs the U.S. Coast 
Guard to assist in keeping channels and harbors open to navigation by 
means of icebreaking operations.
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    \1\ The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 
(Pub. L. 115-282), enacted December 4, 2018, redesignated many 
existing sections within Title 14 of the United States Code.
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    In accordance with NEPA, the U.S. Coast Guard prepared an EIS 
analyzing the potential impacts of up to six new PSCs, as this is the 
maximum number anticipated to be operational in the Polar Regions under 
the current PSC program acquisition strategy. A lesser number of 
icebreakers is expected to result in a similar or reduced impact than 
what will be discussed and evaluated in the EIS. Potential 
environmental stressors include acoustic (underwater acoustic 
transmissions, vessel noise, icebreaking noise, aircraft noise, and 
gunnery noise), and physical (vessel movement, aircraft or in-air 
device movement, in-water device movement, icebreaking, and marine 
expended materials).
    The Final EIS has considered three alternatives:
     The No Action Alternative included use of the existing 
assets to fulfil Coast Guard missions, which are reaching the end of 
their service lives.
     Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative) included the design 
and build up to six polar icebreakers to fulfill mission requirements 
in the Arctic and Antarctic.
     Alternative 2 included various forms of icebreaker 
leasing, such as those leases used by the United States Navy, the 
National Science Foundation, other federal agencies, and the domestic 
maritime industry, to close the Coast Guard icebreaking capability gap.
    The Final EIS addresses potential environmental impacts under each 
alternative associated with physical, biological, and socioeconomic 
environmental resources. The analysis addresses direct and indirect 
impacts, and accounts for cumulative impacts from other foreseeable 
federal, state, or local activities in the proposed action area. The 
U.S. Coast Guard conducted a scoping process to identify community 
concerns and local issues that should be addressed in the EIS, as well 
as gathered public comments on the Draft EIS following its release in 
August 2018. The Coast Guard considered the public comments we received 
when drafting the Final EIS. The changes between the draft EIS and the 
Final EIS are identified and described in Appendix C of the Final EIS, 
which can be found at one of the locations in the ADDRESSES section.
    The Final EIS identifies minor to moderate adverse impacts 
associated with the proposed action that would be mitigated by the 
implementation of standard operating procedures and best management 
practices. An increase in the Coast Guard icebreaking fleet would be 
beneficial because Coast Guard support would readily available during 
an at-sea emergiencies to commercial fishing, recreational fishing, 
transportation and shipping, tourism, and cultural resources and the 
communities that depend on them. The Final EIS has been distributed to 
various federal, state, and local agencies, as well as other interested 
individuals and organizations.
    Following a 30-day waiting period, after publication of the NOA in 
the Federal Register, the U.S. Coast Guard will announce its Record of 
Decision which will be published in the Federal Register.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

Timothy J. Connors,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Program Manager, Polar Security Cutter 
Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-02550 Filed 2-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P