Department of Defense December 22, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Defense Information Systems Agency is deleting two systems of records notices in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The responsible lead agency is the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersNew York District (District). The Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) project area is in the Port of New York/New Jersey and includes the New York Bight Apex, the Lower Bay Complex (Lower Bay, Raritian and Sandy Hook Bays), the Upper Bay Complex (Hudson and East Rivers, Kill Van Kull, and Newark Bay), and the lands contiguous to these water bodies for a radius of approximately 20 miles. The study area approximates the boundaries of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ). The Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) that was listed in the October 31, 2008 Federal Register (73 FR 64944) completed the NEPA process, laying out the goals and generic impacts of the alternatives considered in preparing the overall DMMP. This finalized PEIS includes Appendix (D) which lists the comments received during the draft PEIS comment period. Comments, if warranted, were incorporated into the main text of the final PEIS as well. It should be noted that the DMMP outlines a series of goals and an overall master plan on meeting the dredged material needs of the Port through 2062. Its alternatives analysis is, as of necessity, generic in nature, identifying potential concerns, generic impacts and overall issues to be considered in greater site-specific detail before implementing any alternative in a given location. As such, it does not recommend or prioritize any site-specific alternative, but clearly sets out the process to be followed should any of the alternatives be implemented. Since no sustentative changes or addition of new alternatives to the DMMP have been identified that would alter the discussion or conclusion of generic impacts in the FPEIS, a supplemental PEIS was not deemed warranted. However, separate 2005 and 2008 DMMP Update reports are available tracking the progress in meeting the DMMP goals and a copy of the latest update is included with the Final PEIS as Appendix A. As individual site-specific projects are initiated to implement various DMMP goals individual NEPA and/or permit documents will continue to be prepared by the implementing agencies.

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 January Plenary Meeting: January 13-14, 2009. Time(s) of Meeting: 0800-1700, January 13, 2009. 0800-1500, January 14, 2009. Place of Meeting: University of Maryland University College, Inn and Conference Center, 3501 University Boulevard East, Adelphi, MD 20783.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Convey Atchafalaya River Water to Northern Terrebonne Marshes restoration project. This restoration project will increase existing Atchafalaya River influence to central (Lake Boudreaux) and eastern (Grand Bayou) Terrebonne marshes via the GIWW by introducing flow into the Grand Bayou Basin. This SEIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Small Diversion at Convent/Blind River restoration project. This restoration project involves a small diversion (less than 5,000 cubic feet per second [cfs]) from the Mississippi River into the Blind River through a new control structure. This SEIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005.

The U.S. Army intends to prepare an EIS to analyze the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of implementing the stationing and realignment decisions in the 2007 ``Grow the Army'' Programmatic EIS (GTA PEIS) and other ongoing Army realignment and stationing initiatives that pertain to Fort Lewis and YTC. The GTA PEIS Record of Decision (ROD) made the decision to station additional units at Fort Lewis including an Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and specified unit restructuring actions that would increase active duty strength at Fort Lewis by approximately 1,900 Soldiers. This EIS will also analyze Fort Lewis and YTC as potential locations for the stationing of additional units, to include approximately 1,000 combat service support (CSS) Soldiers consisting of Quartermaster, Medical, Transportation or Headquarters units to support combat operations, and a Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) consisting of approximately 2,800 soldiers and 110 helicopters. These actions could occur over the next five years.