Army Department – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is proposing to establish ten restricted areas at Naval Support Activity (NSA), Panama City (PC), Florida. NSA, Panama City, and its major tenant command, the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), have been recognized as one of the lead research, development, test and evaluation laboratories of the U.S. Navy. In addition, the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) relocated from the Washington Navy Yard to NSA PC and now hosts a consolidated training for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, the Navy's satellite dive schools, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. As such, a large majority of military dive training is now concentrated at NSA, PC. The proposed restricted areas in Panama City waters meet strict military training parameters that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Military training in and around St. Andrews Bay has existed in harmony with local boat traffic and development since 1945. NSA, PC requests to formalize these ongoing activities within the waters of St. Andrews Bay in efforts to maximize public safety and to preserve current military training vital to the Global War on Terror and to all service military readiness.

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6 and 404.7, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of the invention set forth in U.S. Patent No. 7,016,292 entitled ``Geometry for Optical Data Storage,'' issued on March 21, 2006. The United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, has rights in this invention.

This notice of availability announces the public release of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) to evaluate construction of authorized improvements to the Federal Pascagoula Harbor Navigation Project in Jackson County, MS. The Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published in the Federal Register, June 14, 2006, (71 FR 34320) a Notice of Intent to Prepare a DSEIS to address the potential impacts associated with construction of authorized improvements to the Federal Pascagoula Harbor Navigation Project in Jackson County, MS. The DSIES was used as a basis to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and for evaluating the following two alternative plans: ``No Action'' and deepening the federally authorized project from 38 feet to 42 feet deep in the Upper Pascagoula channel, deepening the Horn Island Impoundment Basin from 44 feet to 56 feet, and widening the Gulf Entrance Channel from 450 feet to 550 feet wide. Pascagoula Harbor is authorized to (a) An entrance channel 44 deep and 550 feet wide from the Gulf of Mexico to Horn Island Pass, a channel 44 feet deep and 600 feet wide through Horn Island Pass, including a sediment trap situated on the east side of the channel 1,500 feet long, 56 feet deep, and 175 feet wide; (b) A channel 42 feet deep and 350 feet wide in Mississippi Sound and the Pascagoula River to the railroad bridge at Pascagoula, including a turning basin 2,000 feet long and 950 feet wide (including the channel area) on the west side of the river below the railroad bridge; (c) A channel 42 feet deep throughout and 350 feet wide from the ship channel in Mississippi Sound to the 1,150-foot turning basin at the mouth of Bayou Casotte, then 350 feet wide for about one mile to the northern turning basin, 900 feet wide and 1,750 feet long; (d) A channel 22 feet deep and 150 feet wide up Pascagoula River from the railroad bridge to the mouth of Escatawpa River (Dog River), thence up the Escatawpa River to the Highway 613 Bridge; (e) A channel 12 feet deep and 125 feet wide from the Highway 613 Bridge, via Robertson and Bounds Lakes to mile 6.0 on the Escatawpa River; and (f) A channel 12 feet deep by 80 feet extending from deep water in the Pascagoula River to a turning basin in Krebs Lake a distance of about 1,500 feet, then along the south bank of the lake a channel 10 feet deep and 60 feet wide, terminating at a second turning basin, a distance of 2,700 feet from the first. The tentatively recommended alternative includes construction of the authorized project dimensions.

The Department of the Army announces the availability of the FEIS that evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with realignment actions directed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project (Atlantic Coast Project) evaluating new borrow sources to provide sand for routine periodic beach nourishment of Ocean City, MD for the years 2010-2044. Existing borrow sources in state waters are anticipated to be exhausted in about 2010. Between 6,800,000 and 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand would be needed through 2044, depending on future storm frequency and intensity. Three offshore shoals in Federal waters are proposed as sand sources: Weaver, Isle of Wight, and ``A.'' Sand may also be dredged from Shoal ``B,'' also known as Bass Grounds or First Lump, in the future, but only if its value as a fishing ground declines substantially. Guidelines to minimize long-term impacts to the offshore shoals were formulated in coordination with resource agency personnel and academic experts. Dredging would be conducted in accordance with these guidelines. Specific dredging plans would be developed in coordination with resource agencies prior to each beach nourishment cycle. We are making the Draft SEIS available to the public for a 45-day review and comment period.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (U.S.C. 552b, as amended) and 41 Code of the Federal Regulations (CFR 102-3. 140 through 160), the Department of the Army announces the following committee meeting: Name of Committee: Army Science Board (ASB). Date(s) of Meeting: July 18-19, 2007. Time(s) of Meeting: 0800-1700, July 18, 2007. 0800-1500, July 19, 2007. Place of Meeting: Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center, 100 Academy Drive, Irvine CA 92617.

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: Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board (EAB). Topic: The EAB will discuss national considerations related to ecosystem restoration through integrated water resources management. Date of Meeting: July 18, 2007. Place: Hotel Palomar, 2121 P Street, NW., Washington, DC. Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thirty minutes will be set aside for public comment. Members of the public who wish to speak must register prior to the start of the meeting. Registration will begin at 8:30. Statements are limited to 3 minutes.

The Army announces the availability of the Final Fort Carson Transformation EIS evaluating the environmental effects of implementing restationing actions of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 and other Army transformation programs at the Fort Carson military installation near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The final EIS also documents the U.S. Army's evaluation of environmental effects of withdrawal of public land and mineral rights under Public Law 104-201.

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:

The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), as the Program Manager for Department of Defense (DOD) Personal Property Non-Temporary Storage Program, is informing the NTS Transportation Service Provider (TSP)/contractor community of the mandatory requirement for increased Firearms Security in the DOD Personal Property Non-Temporary Storage Program. All shipments awarded or already in storage prior to the effective date of the contract modification would not be affected by this notice. Changes to Appendix J Tender of Service (TOS) Personal Property Non-Temporary Storage Section C are denoted by italics.

The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), as the Program Manager for Department of Defense (DOD) Personal Property Storage Program, is informing the Non-Temporary Storage (NTS) Transportation Service Provider (TSP)/contractor community of the mandatory requirement to provide a Warehouse Performance Bond (WPD) coverage for all contracts/agreements in the DOD Personal Property Non- Temporary Storage Program. The cost of WPB shall be included in agreements/contracts with movers and WPB shall be used to offset costs to the DOD associated with a termination of these contracts with movers. All shipments that have been awarded up or are already in storage prior to the effective dates noted below will not be required to be covered by WPB. This notice affords TSPs/contractors ample time to incorporate the cost of providing the WPB into their rates.

The U.S. Army Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM), Army Reserve Installations Directorate (ARID) and U.S. Army Combat Support Training Center (CSTC) have prepared a DEIS in support of the RPMP and RPX on Camp Parks. The RPMP presents a plan for the redevelopment of the cantonment area of Camp Parks, with approximately 180-acres being transferred out of Federal ownership (approximately 171.5-acres is controlled by the U.S. Army and 8.5-acres controlled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)).

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for the summer meeting of the Board of Visitors (BoV) for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463). The Board's charter was renewed on February 1, 2006 in compliance with the requirements set forth in Title 10 U.S.C. 2166. Date: Thursday, June 14, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: 2212 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Proposed Agenda: The WHINSEC BoV will be briefed on activities at the Institute since the last Board meeting on November 30-December 1, 2006 as well as receive other information appropriate to its interests.

The Department of the Army is publishing our rule concerning law enforcement reporting. The regulation prescribes policies and procedures on preparing, reporting, using, retaining, and disposing of Military Police Reports. The regulation prescribes policies and procedures for offense reporting and the release of law enforcement information.

The President of the United States has directed the growth of the United States Army. In an unpredictable and rapidly changing global security environment, this directive is designed to ensure the Nation has the ground forces necessary to meet its strategic security and defense needs. These needs, as outlined in the National Security Strategy, include the disruption of terrorist networks, the prevention of nuclear proliferation, the support of peace and regional stability, the denial of rogue Nation support to terrorist organizations, and the promotion and advancement of democratic forms of government. The President has determined that the implementation of these security goals in the 21st century will require increased numbers of U.S. Army forces to sustain the military operaitons required to support these objectives. The Army, therefore, intends to prepare a PEIS to analyze alternatives for executing the Presidentially directed growth required to support the defense and security missions of the Nation in the 21st century. The Presidential decision directs the Army to add 74,200 active and reserve component Soldiers to its total end strength. This growth includes the addition of six Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) and the combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) units required to support them. In addition, the growth of the force will include ``right sizing'' or rebalancing the Army force structure to add increaed numbers of high demand critical skills which have been identified as shortfalls. Military skills, such as military police, engineers, and explosive ordnance detachments, must be added to the force in greater numbers to meet the increased needs for these types of units in operational theaters abroad. Rebalancing of the Army's force is needed to ensure the Army has the proper capabilities to sustain operations for promoting global and national security now and into the foreseeable future. In addition to this growth, the Army recognizes the need to continue with initiatives to restructure its forces to implement the standard modular unit configurations directed by the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) in 2001 and 2006. Modularity is a critical component of Army Transformation and the Army continues to implement the QDR directive to standardize its units and their force structure. This standardization of Army force structure will continue to improve management and generate increased operational efficiencies within the Army. Stationing actions supporting modularity will be evaluated and considered in conjunction with stationing actions required to support Army growth. The PEIS will assess the environmental capacity of the Army's installations to accommodate different types and combinations of new units as part of the growth and restructuring. The PEIS will examine the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts at installations resulting from various combinations of new unit stationing actions. These stationing actions could include additional CS or CSS units, the addition of different types of modular BCTs, or combinations of these actions at a given stationing location. Under the Army's modularity initiative, which standardizes BCT force structure, there are three types of maneuver BCTs that will be discussed in the PEIS. These include the infantry BCT which consists of approximately 3,500 Soldiers; the Stryker BCT which consists of approximately 4,000 Soldiers; and the heavy BCT which consists of approximately 3,800 Soldiers. Potential impacts resulting from stationing actions of new CS and CSS units and these maneuver BCTs will be discussed and assessed at installation locations that have potential to support the growth and restructuring of the Army. The PEIS will analyze the proposed action's impacts upon the natural, cultural, and man-made environments at those stationing locations best able to meet the needs of the Army and its Soldiers and Families. The Army intends to analyze the following alternatives in the PEIS: (1) Grow and restructure the Army by permanently stationing new units at existing Army installations within the United States and retaining some units at overseas installations outside of the continental United States that were originally scheduled to return to the United States; (2) Grow and restructure the Army by permanently stationing units at existing stationing locations within the United States. As part of this alternative, overseas installations would be used to temporarily accommodate a portion of Army growth while permanent facilities were constructed at existing Army installations within the United States; and (3) Grow and restructure the Army by permanently stationing new units at new and existing Army stationing locations within the United States. This alternative would include the construction of permanent party facilities at locations where the Army owns land but does not currently station permanent party personnel. As part of this alternative, overseas installations would be used to temporarily accommodate a portion of Army growth while permanent facilities were constructed within the United States. In addition to the above alternatives, the no-action alternatives will be considered and used as a baseline for comparison of alternatives. The no-action alternative is to retain the U.S. Army at its current and strength and force structure. The no-action alternative includes those realignments and stationing actions directed by Base Realignment and Closure legislation in 2005, Army Global Defense Posture Realignment, and Army Modular Forces initiatives. The no-action alternative serves as a baseline for the comparison only and is not a viable means for meeting the current and future strategic security and defense requirements of the Nation. Viable alternative stationing locations considered in this analysis for the growth of the Army are those installations that are best able to meet Army unit requirements for training ranges and maneuver space, housing and office space, maintenance and vehicle parking, and Soldier and Family quality of life (e.g., schools, gyms, medical facilities, reducing family disruption). The proposed action will require the Army to balance strategic, sustainment, and environmental considerations with evolving world conditions and threats to national defense and security.

The Department of the Army has revised its regulation that prescribes policies and procedures concerning recruiting and enlistment into the Regular Army and Reserve Components.

In accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i), announcement is made of the intent to grant an exclusive, royalty- bearing, revocable license within the geographic area of the United States of America and its territories and possessions to U.S. Patent number 6,181,303, issued on January 30, 2001 entitled ``Flat panel three-dimensional display unit'', to Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc. with its principal place of business at 200 West Court Square Suite 302, Huntsville, AL 35801.

This notice provides information regarding the properties that have been determined surplus to the United States needs in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended, and the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission Report, as approved, and following screening with Federal agencies and Department of Defense components. This Notice amends the Notice published in the Federal Register (71 FR 26930) on May 9, 2006.

The Department of the Army announces the general availability of exclusive, partially exclusive or non-exclusive licenses relative to a novel aeroballistic diagnostic system as described in U.S. Patent 6,349,652; entitled ``Aeroballistic Diagnostic System''; Hepner; et al. Any license shall apply comply with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), will conduct a review of the 1990 Chesapeake Bay Shoreline Erosion Study to investigate shoreline erosion and related sediment management measures which could be undertaken to protect the water and land resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and achieve the water quality conditions necessary to protect the Bay's living resources. USACE will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and integrated feasibility report documenting study findings and plan formulation.

In accordance with 37 CFR part 404.6, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent No. US 7,195,205 B1 entitled ``Parachute with Skirt Reefing System'' issued March 27, 2007. This patent has been assigned to the United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army.