Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Mariana Islands Training and Testing, 69634-69636 [2020-24357]
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69634
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Notices
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
Review Special Emphasis Panel; ImmunoOncology Research.
Date: December 1–2, 2020.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892, (Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: Mehrdad Mohseni, MD,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5211,
MSC 7854, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
0484 mohsenim@csr.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
Review Special Emphasis Panel; Small
Business: Drug Discovery Involving the
Nervous System.
Date: December 1–2, 2020.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892, (Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: Aurea D. De Sousa, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, National Institutes
of Health, Center for Scientific Review, 6701
Rockledge Drive, Room 5186, Bethesda, MD
20892, 301–827–6829, aurea.desousa@
nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
Review Special Emphasis Panel; Small
Business: Instrumentation, Environmental
and Occupational Safety.
Date: December 1–2, 2020.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892, (Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: Marie-Jose Belanger, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Rm 6188, MSC
7804, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 435–1267,
belangerm@csr.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
Review Special Emphasis Panel; Member
Conflict: Visual System Biology.
Date: December 1, 2020.
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892, (Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: John Burch, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institute of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3213,
MSC 7808, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–408–
9519, burchjb@csr.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
Review Special Emphasis Panel; PAR: 18–
731 Cancer Biology—Workforce Diversity.
Date: December 1, 2020.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:55 Nov 02, 2020
Jkt 253001
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892, (Telephone Conference
Call).
Contact Person: Juraj Bies, Ph.D., Scientific
Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review,
National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge
Drive, Rm. 4158, MSC 7806, Bethesda, MD
20892, 301–435–1256, biesj@mail.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine;
93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333,
93.337, 93.393–93.396, 93.837–93.844,
93.846–93.878, 93.892, 93.893, National
Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: October 28, 2020.
Ronald J. Livingston, Jr.,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–24255 Filed 11–2–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Drive, Rm. 2137C, Bethesda, MD 20817, 301–
827–4902, kimberly.houston@nih.gov.
Name of Committee: National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development
Special Emphasis Panel Member Conflict.
Date: November 24, 2020.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development, 6710B Rockledge
Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, (Video-Assisted
Meeting).
Contact Person: Christiane M. Robbins,
Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review
Branch (SRB), DER, Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute, of Child Health and
Human Development, NIH, DHHS, 6710B
Rockledge Drive, Rm 2121A, Bethesda, MD
20817, 301–451–4989, crobbins@
mail.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.865, Research for Mothers
and Children, National Institutes of Health,
HHS)
Dated: October 28, 2020.
Ronald J. Livingston, Jr.,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–24254 Filed 11–2–20; 8:45 am]
National Institutes of Health
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
Institute Of Child Health & Human
Development; Notice of Closed
Meetings
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, notice is hereby given of the
following meetings.
The meetings will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications
and/or contract proposals the
discussions could disclose confidential
trade secrets or commercial property
such as patentable material, and
personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development
Special Emphasis Panel ZHD1/Child Health
Research Career Development Award
(CHRCDA) Program.
Date: November 16, 2020.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development, 6710B Rockledge
Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, (Video-Assisted
Meeting).
Contact Person: Kimberly L. Houston,
M.D., Scientific Review Officer, Scientific
Review Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of Child Health and
Human Development, NIH, 6710B Rockledge
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG–2020–0311]
Notice of Availability of Record of
Decision for the Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement/
Supplemental Overseas Environmental
Impact Statement for Mariana Islands
Training and Testing
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard is adopting
portions of the Navy’s Mariana Islands
Training and Testing (MITT) Final 2020
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement/Supplemental Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS/
SOEIS), dated June 2020. The Coast
Guard is doing this in its role as a
cooperating agency to the lead agency,
which is the Department of the Navy.
The Coast Guard is issuing a Record of
Decision to implement Alternative 2 to
fully meet current and future training
requirements.
DATES: The Coast Guard’s Record of
Decision is dated October 9, 2020.
ADDRESSES: To view the full text of the
ROD or the Final SEIS/SOEIS, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, insert MITT
study area or USCG–2020–0311 in the
‘‘Keyword’’ box, and then click
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM
03NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Notices
‘‘Search.’’ Project documents, including
the 2020 Final SEIS/SOEIS, are also
available on the ‘‘2020 Mariana Islands
Training and Testing Final
Supplemental EIS/OEIS’’ web page at
https://mitt-eis.com/. The 2015 Final
EIS/OEIS can be accessed at https://
mitt-eis.com/ as well at the ‘‘2015
Mariana Islands Training and Testing
EIS/OEIS Documents’’ web page.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information about this Record of
Decision call or email Ms. Maile
Norman, Office of Enforcement, U.S.
Coast Guard; telephone 1–808–535–
3264, email Maile.C.Norman@uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
FR Federal Register
MIRC Mariana Islands Range Complex
MITT Mariana Islands Training and Testing
ROD Record of Decision
SEIS Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement
SOEIS Supplemental Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement
U.S.C. United States Code
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Background and Legal Basis
This Coast Guard Record of Decision
(ROD) adopts portions of the 2020 Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement/Supplemental Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS/
SOEIS). This is necessary because the
Coast Guard plans to continue joint and
independent training and testing in the
Mariana Islands Training and Testing
(MITT) study area with the Navy
through at least December 31, 2027. The
purpose and need for the Coast Guard
action is to allow Coast Guard personnel
to qualify and train, jointly with and
independent of the Navy, in the
effective and safe operational use of
Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, and
weapons under realistic conditions in
the area where they would operate and
to ensure our Nation’s maritime safety
and security.
The Coast Guard has broad,
multifaceted authority for management
of activities over all waters subject to
jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard’s
law enforcement and national defense
mission authority, which is based in 14
U.S.C. 102. This section requires the
Coast Guard to:
(1) Enforce federal law in waters of
the U.S.;
(2) Maintain maritime surveillance;
(3) Enforce safety regulations; and
(4) ‘‘Maintain a state of readiness to
function as a specialized service in the
Navy in time of war, including the
fulfillment of Maritime Defense Zone
command responsibilities.’’
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:55 Nov 02, 2020
Jkt 253001
The Coast Guard conducts search and
rescue missions under authorities in 14
U.S.C. 102, 502, and 701. These
missions are achieved in part by
conducting training and testing within
the MITT study area to develop,
sharpen, and maintain tactics,
coordination, and personnel readiness.
Discussion
The Navy solicited public comment
on the Draft SEIS/SOEIS on February 1,
2019 (84 FR 1119), and extended the
public comment period until April 17,
2019 (84 FR 12238). The Navy also
scheduled and held public meetings (84
FR 8515). The Navy announced its final
SEIS/SOEIS in the Federal Register on
June 5, 2020.
The MITT SEIS/SOEIS identified and
examined the alternatives available to
achieve the purposes of the training and
testing, and assessed the potential
environmental impact of each.
Alternatives considered but eliminated
were continuing actions at levels
identified in the 2015 MITT Final EIS/
OEIS and ROD, alternative training and
testing locations, reduced training and
testing, alternatives including
geographic mitigation measures within
the study area and simulated training
and testing only.
Three alternatives were examined in
detail in the SEIS/SOEIS.
(1) No Action Alternative: Under the
no action alternative, the Navy, Air
Force, and Coast Guard would not
conduct the proposed training and
testing activities in the MITT study area.
Other military activities not associated
with either Alternatives 1 or 2 would
continue to occur. For Farallon de
Medinilla, the lease agreement between
the U.S. Government and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands would remain in place, and the
island would continue to be maintained
as a Navy range, although strike warfare
would no longer continue on the island.
(2) Alternative 1: Alternative 1 reflects
a representative year of training and
testing to account for the typical
fluctuation of training cycles, testing
programs, and deployment schedules
that generally limit the maximum level
of training and testing from occurring
for the reasonably foreseeable future.
Alternative 1 also reflects a level of
testing activities to be conducted into
the reasonably foreseeable future, with
adjustments from the 2015 MITT Final
EIS/OEIS that account for changes in the
types and tempo (increases or decreases)
of testing activities to meet current and
future military readiness requirements.
(3) Alternative 2 (Preferred
Alternative): Alternative 2 includes the
same types of training activities as
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
69635
Alternative 1 but also considers
additional exercises and associated unitlevel activities should unanticipated
emergent world events require increased
readiness levels. For example,
Alternative 2 considers Joint MultiStrike Group Exercises (i.e., Valiant
Shield) occurring annually as compared
to every other year under Alternative 1.
Alternative 2 reflects the maximum
number of training activities that could
occur within a given year, and assumes
that the maximum number of exercises
would occur annually. Alternative 2
entails a level of testing activities to be
conducted into the reasonably
foreseeable future. Under Alternative 2,
types and tempos of testing activities
would increase compared to Alternative
1.
Under Alternative 2, the Navy, Air
Force, and Coast Guard will be able to
meet current and future Navy, Air
Force, and Coast Guard training and
testing, including the use of aerial and
vessel assets conducting anchoring and
gunnery training within the MITT study
area. These actions will allow joint and
independent training and testing for
Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard
personnel to establish, maintain, and
advance readiness in meeting statutory
mission requirements. For Coast Guard,
the MITT study area is composed of
established sea-based (at-sea) ranges
along Guam and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands and
operating areas and special use airspace
in the regions of the Mariana Islands
that are part of the Mariana Islands
Range Complex (MIRC). The study area
also includes a transit corridor that
connects the MIRC and the Hawaiian
Islands Range Complex. For the Navy
and Air Force, the study area is the
same as what is described for the Coast
Guard but also includes land-based
training areas in Guam and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
Alternative 2 was selected because it
fulfills the purpose and need of the
proposed action and, in combination
with avoidance and mitigation
measures, results in a minimum of
environmental impacts.
This notice is issued under authority
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (Section 102(2)(c)), as
implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40
CFR 1500–1508), U.S. Coast Guard
Environmental Planning Policy (Coast
Guard Commandant Instruction 5090.1),
law enforcement and national defense
mission authority at 14 U.S.C. 102, and
search and rescue authority at 14 U.S.C.
102, 502, and 701.
E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM
03NON1
69636
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Notices
Dated: October 22, 2020.
Craig M. O’Brien,
Captain, 14th District, U.S. Coast Guard,
Chief of Response.
[FR Doc. 2020–24357 Filed 11–2–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
[Docket ID FEMA–2020–0002; Internal
Agency Docket No. FEMA–B–2066]
Changes in Flood Hazard
Determinations
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice lists communities
where the addition or modification of
Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood
depths, Special Flood Hazard Area
(SFHA) boundaries or zone
designations, or the regulatory floodway
(hereinafter referred to as flood hazard
determinations), as shown on the Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and
where applicable, in the supporting
Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports,
prepared by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) for each
community, is appropriate because of
new scientific or technical data. The
FIRM, and where applicable, portions of
the FIS report, have been revised to
reflect these flood hazard
determinations through issuance of a
Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in
accordance with Federal Regulations.
The LOMR will be used by insurance
agents and others to calculate
appropriate flood insurance premium
rates for new buildings and the contents
of those buildings. For rating purposes,
the currently effective community
number is shown in the table below and
must be used for all new policies and
renewals.
SUMMARY:
State and county
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Arizona:
Maricopa ......
Maricopa ......
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Location and
case No.
City of Glendale
(20–09–
0467P).
City of Peoria
(20–09–
0467P).
16:55 Nov 02, 2020
These flood hazard
determinations will be finalized on the
dates listed in the table below and
revise the FIRM panels and FIS report
in effect prior to this determination for
the listed communities.
From the date of the second
publication of notification of these
changes in a newspaper of local
circulation, any person has 90 days in
which to request through the
community that the Deputy Associate
Administrator for Insurance and
Mitigation reconsider the changes. The
flood hazard determination information
may be changed during the 90-day
period.
ADDRESSES: The affected communities
are listed in the table below. Revised
flood hazard information for each
community is available for inspection at
both the online location and the
respective community map repository
address listed in the table below.
Additionally, the current effective FIRM
and FIS report for each community are
accessible online through the FEMA
Map Service Center at https://
msc.fema.gov for comparison.
Submit comments and/or appeals to
the Chief Executive Officer of the
community as listed in the table below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick
Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services
Branch, Federal Insurance and
Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400
C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472,
(202) 646–7659, or (email)
patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov; or visit
the FEMA Mapping and Insurance
eXchange (FMIX) online at https://
www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_
main.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
specific flood hazard determinations are
not described for each community in
this notice. However, the online
location and local community map
repository address where the flood
hazard determination information is
available for inspection is provided.
Any request for reconsideration of
flood hazard determinations must be
DATES:
submitted to the Chief Executive Officer
of the community as listed in the table
below.
The modifications are made pursuant
to section 201 of the Flood Disaster
Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4105,
and are in accordance with the National
Flood Insurance Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C.
4001 et seq., and with 44 CFR part 65.
The FIRM and FIS report are the basis
of the floodplain management measures
that the community is required either to
adopt or to show evidence of having in
effect in order to qualify or remain
qualified for participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP).
These flood hazard determinations,
together with the floodplain
management criteria required by 44 CFR
60.3, are the minimum that are required.
They should not be construed to mean
that the community must change any
existing ordinances that are more
stringent in their floodplain
management requirements. The
community may at any time enact
stricter requirements of its own or
pursuant to policies established by other
Federal, State, or regional entities. The
flood hazard determinations are in
accordance with 44 CFR 65.4.
The affected communities are listed in
the following table. Flood hazard
determination information for each
community is available for inspection at
both the online location and the
respective community map repository
address listed in the table below.
Additionally, the current effective FIRM
and FIS report for each community are
accessible online through the FEMA
Map Service Center at https://
msc.fema.gov for comparison.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
97.022, ‘‘Flood Insurance.’’)
Michael M. Grimm,
Assistant Administrator for Risk
Management, Department of Homeland
Security, Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
Chief executive officer
of community
Community map repository
Online location of letter
of map revision
The Honorable Jerry P.
Weiers, Mayor, City of
Glendale, 5850 West
Glendale Avenue, Suite
451, Glendale, AZ
85301.
The Honorable Cathy
Carlat, Mayor, City of
Peoria, 8401 West Monroe Street, Peoria, AZ
85345.
City Hall, 5850 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale,
AZ 85301.
https://msc.fema.gov/portal/
advanceSearch.
Dec. 18, 2020 ....
040045
City Hall, 8401 West Monroe Street, Peoria, AZ
85345.
https://msc.fema.gov/portal/
advanceSearch.
Dec. 18, 2020 ....
040050
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03NON1
Date of
modification
Community
No.
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69634-69636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24357]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2020-0311]
Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement for Mariana Islands Training and Testing
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is adopting portions of the Navy's Mariana
Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Final 2020 Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental Overseas Environmental
Impact Statement (SEIS/SOEIS), dated June 2020. The Coast Guard is
doing this in its role as a cooperating agency to the lead agency,
which is the Department of the Navy. The Coast Guard is issuing a
Record of Decision to implement Alternative 2 to fully meet current and
future training requirements.
DATES: The Coast Guard's Record of Decision is dated October 9, 2020.
ADDRESSES: To view the full text of the ROD or the Final SEIS/SOEIS, go
to https://www.regulations.gov, insert MITT study area or USCG-2020-0311
in the ``Keyword'' box, and then click
[[Page 69635]]
``Search.'' Project documents, including the 2020 Final SEIS/SOEIS, are
also available on the ``2020 Mariana Islands Training and Testing Final
Supplemental EIS/OEIS'' web page at https://mitt-eis.com/. The 2015
Final EIS/OEIS can be accessed at https://mitt-eis.com/ as well at the
``2015 Mariana Islands Training and Testing EIS/OEIS Documents'' web
page.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this Record of
Decision call or email Ms. Maile Norman, Office of Enforcement, U.S.
Coast Guard; telephone 1-808-535-3264, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
FR Federal Register
MIRC Mariana Islands Range Complex
MITT Mariana Islands Training and Testing
ROD Record of Decision
SEIS Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
SOEIS Supplemental Overseas Environmental Impact Statement
U.S.C. United States Code
Background and Legal Basis
This Coast Guard Record of Decision (ROD) adopts portions of the
2020 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS/SOEIS). This is necessary
because the Coast Guard plans to continue joint and independent
training and testing in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT)
study area with the Navy through at least December 31, 2027. The
purpose and need for the Coast Guard action is to allow Coast Guard
personnel to qualify and train, jointly with and independent of the
Navy, in the effective and safe operational use of Coast Guard vessels,
aircraft, and weapons under realistic conditions in the area where they
would operate and to ensure our Nation's maritime safety and security.
The Coast Guard has broad, multifaceted authority for management of
activities over all waters subject to jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast
Guard's law enforcement and national defense mission authority, which
is based in 14 U.S.C. 102. This section requires the Coast Guard to:
(1) Enforce federal law in waters of the U.S.;
(2) Maintain maritime surveillance;
(3) Enforce safety regulations; and
(4) ``Maintain a state of readiness to function as a specialized
service in the Navy in time of war, including the fulfillment of
Maritime Defense Zone command responsibilities.''
The Coast Guard conducts search and rescue missions under
authorities in 14 U.S.C. 102, 502, and 701. These missions are achieved
in part by conducting training and testing within the MITT study area
to develop, sharpen, and maintain tactics, coordination, and personnel
readiness.
Discussion
The Navy solicited public comment on the Draft SEIS/SOEIS on
February 1, 2019 (84 FR 1119), and extended the public comment period
until April 17, 2019 (84 FR 12238). The Navy also scheduled and held
public meetings (84 FR 8515). The Navy announced its final SEIS/SOEIS
in the Federal Register on June 5, 2020.
The MITT SEIS/SOEIS identified and examined the alternatives
available to achieve the purposes of the training and testing, and
assessed the potential environmental impact of each. Alternatives
considered but eliminated were continuing actions at levels identified
in the 2015 MITT Final EIS/OEIS and ROD, alternative training and
testing locations, reduced training and testing, alternatives including
geographic mitigation measures within the study area and simulated
training and testing only.
Three alternatives were examined in detail in the SEIS/SOEIS.
(1) No Action Alternative: Under the no action alternative, the
Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard would not conduct the proposed
training and testing activities in the MITT study area. Other military
activities not associated with either Alternatives 1 or 2 would
continue to occur. For Farallon de Medinilla, the lease agreement
between the U.S. Government and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands would remain in place, and the island would continue to
be maintained as a Navy range, although strike warfare would no longer
continue on the island.
(2) Alternative 1: Alternative 1 reflects a representative year of
training and testing to account for the typical fluctuation of training
cycles, testing programs, and deployment schedules that generally limit
the maximum level of training and testing from occurring for the
reasonably foreseeable future. Alternative 1 also reflects a level of
testing activities to be conducted into the reasonably foreseeable
future, with adjustments from the 2015 MITT Final EIS/OEIS that account
for changes in the types and tempo (increases or decreases) of testing
activities to meet current and future military readiness requirements.
(3) Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative): Alternative 2 includes
the same types of training activities as Alternative 1 but also
considers additional exercises and associated unit-level activities
should unanticipated emergent world events require increased readiness
levels. For example, Alternative 2 considers Joint Multi-Strike Group
Exercises (i.e., Valiant Shield) occurring annually as compared to
every other year under Alternative 1. Alternative 2 reflects the
maximum number of training activities that could occur within a given
year, and assumes that the maximum number of exercises would occur
annually. Alternative 2 entails a level of testing activities to be
conducted into the reasonably foreseeable future. Under Alternative 2,
types and tempos of testing activities would increase compared to
Alternative 1.
Under Alternative 2, the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard will be
able to meet current and future Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard
training and testing, including the use of aerial and vessel assets
conducting anchoring and gunnery training within the MITT study area.
These actions will allow joint and independent training and testing for
Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard personnel to establish, maintain, and
advance readiness in meeting statutory mission requirements. For Coast
Guard, the MITT study area is composed of established sea-based (at-
sea) ranges along Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands and operating areas and special use airspace in the regions of
the Mariana Islands that are part of the Mariana Islands Range Complex
(MIRC). The study area also includes a transit corridor that connects
the MIRC and the Hawaiian Islands Range Complex. For the Navy and Air
Force, the study area is the same as what is described for the Coast
Guard but also includes land-based training areas in Guam and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Alternative 2 was selected because it fulfills the purpose and need
of the proposed action and, in combination with avoidance and
mitigation measures, results in a minimum of environmental impacts.
This notice is issued under authority of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Section 102(2)(c)), as implemented by the Council
on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), U.S. Coast
Guard Environmental Planning Policy (Coast Guard Commandant Instruction
5090.1), law enforcement and national defense mission authority at 14
U.S.C. 102, and search and rescue authority at 14 U.S.C. 102, 502, and
701.
[[Page 69636]]
Dated: October 22, 2020.
Craig M. O'Brien,
Captain, 14th District, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief of Response.
[FR Doc. 2020-24357 Filed 11-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
