Army Department October 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Announcement is made of the availability for licensing of the invention set forth in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/670,250, entitled ``Obstetrics Simulation and Training Method and System,'' filed January 22, 2010. Foreign rights are also available for licensing (PCT/US2008/076725). The United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, has rights to this invention.

The Department of the Army announces the availability of the ROD, which summarizes the decision on how to implement property disposal in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (the Base Closure Act), Public Law 101-510, as amended, following the closure of Fort Monroe, Virginia. The Army has decided to implement its preferred alternative of early transfer of surplus non-reverting federal property to other entities for reuse. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and its implementing regulations, the Army prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that includes the evaluation of the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposing of surplus Federal property that does not revert to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the implementation by others of reasonable, foreseeable reuse alternatives for the entire property. Under the early transfer alternative, the Army can transfer and dispose of non-reverting property for redevelopment before environmental remedial actions have been completed. This method of early disposal, allowable under Section 120(h)(3)(C) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), would defer the CERCLA covenant requirement to complete all necessary environmental cleanup prior to the transfer of the remediated property. In this way, parcels could become available for redevelopment and reuse sooner under this disposal alternative than under any other. The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia must concur with the deferral request for the non-reversionary property at Fort Monroe.

The Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), intends to prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) to the MsCIP Comprehensive Plan and Integrated Programmatic EIS, prepared in June 2009, which evaluated comprehensive water resource improvements associated with hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, shoreline erosion, salt water intrusion and fish and wildlife preservation in three coastal counties of Mississippi. As described in the Comprehensive Plan, the SEIS will address potential impacts associated with the comprehensive restoration of the Mississippi barrier islands. These actions are related to the consequences of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 and will be used as a basis for ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is issuing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which analyzes programmatically the direct, indirect and cumulative effects associated with six residential development projects in the Sunridge Specific Plan area in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, CA. The purpose of the EIS is to provide decision-makers and the public with information pertaining to the Proposed Action and alternatives, and disclose environmental impacts and identify mitigation measures to reduce impacts. The Proposed Action is the construction of the six projects (collectively, the ``Sunridge Properties'') which would require the filling of approximately 29.7 acres of waters of the United States, including wetlands. The EIS has been prepared as part of ongoing litigation concerning Department of the Army (DA) permits issued by the Corps between 2005 and 2007 for five of the projects and a pending DA permit decision for the sixth. A stay in the litigation is in place for the Corps to complete the EIS. The EIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Corps' regulations for NEPA implementation at 33 Code of Federal Regulations parts 230 and 325 Appendix B. The Corps is the lead Federal agency responsible for complying with NEPA and information contained in the EIS serves as the basis for decisions regarding issuance of a DA permit.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Medium Diversion at Myrtle Grove with Dedicated Dredging project. The proposed restoration feature consists of a diversion, coupled with dedicated dredging, that would allow the reintroduction of freshwater, sediment and nutrients into the critically effected area of the Barataria Basin, which is located in the Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist parishes, Louisiana. This particular combination of restoration features would allow for rapid creation of wetland acreage and enable long-term stability. This EIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the LCA Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005.

In accordance with Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), announcement is made of the following committee meeting: Name of Committee: Board on Coastal Engineering Research. Date of Meeting: October 25-26, 2010. Place: Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, 2020 Convention Center Concourse, Atlanta, GA 30337. Time: 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. (October 25, 2010). 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (October 26, 2010).

The Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will prepare an EIS to support the San Juan Creek, South Orange County, Feasibility Study. The purpose of this feasibility study is to evaluate flood risk management alternative measures along the lower portions of San Juan, Trabuco, and Oso Creeks. The San Juan Creek Watershed encompasses approximately 176 square miles of southern Orange County and western Riverside County in southern California. The Orange County Public Works Department is the local sponsor for this study. The study area extends along approximately 10.5 miles of San Juan Creek from the Pacific Ocean to the southern end of Ronald W. Casper's Wilderness Park, at the confluence of Bell Canyon Creek; Trabuco Creek from its confluence with San Juan Creek north approximately 9.5 miles to its confluence with Tijeras Creek; and Oso Creek from its confluence with Trabuco Creek northwest approximately 4.5 miles to just north of Oso Parkway. The communities of San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch, and Las Flores are located within the study boundary.