Department of Defense November 5, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of the Army announces the availability of the Draft PEIS for the proposed growth, realignment, and stationing of new and existing Army aviation assets. The proposed action includes the consolidation and reorganization of existing aviation units, and the potential establishment of one or more Combat Aviation Brigades (CABs). The proposed action will increase the availability of helicopter assets to meet current and future national security requirements and will allow the Army better to organize existing aviation assets to promote more effective training and force management. The Draft PEIS evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, which also includes the construction and renovation of garrison facilities, as well as additional training needed to support the aviation units. Land acquisition is not being considered as part of this action. The Draft PEIS considers the following alternatives: Alternative 1Realign and Station Existing Aviation Elements of Up to a Full CAB or Activate and Station a New CAB at Fort Carson, Colorado. Under this alternative, the Army either will consolidate existing aviation units not currently assigned to a CAB into a standard CAB structure at Fort Carson or activate a new CAB at Fort Carson. As part of this alternative, aviation units will conduct training on existing land at Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS), Colorado, in order to maintain training proficiency and support integrated training with ground units. Land acquisition is not being considered as part of this action. Alternative 2Realign and Station Existing Aviation elements of Up to a Full CAB or Grow, Station and Activate a CAB at Joint Base Lewis- McChord (JBLM) Washington. Under this alternative, the Army either will consolidate existing aviation units not currently assigned to a CAB into a standard CAB structure at JBLM or activate a new CAB at JBLM. As part of this alternative, aviation units will conduct training on existing training land at Yakima Training Center (YTC), Washington, in order to maintain training proficiency and support integrated training with ground units. Land acquisition is not being considered as part of this action. Alternative 3Implement Alternatives 1 and 2 (preferred alternative). Under this alternative, the Army will implement both alternatives. Under this alternative, the consolidated units forming a CAB would be stationed at one installation, and the new CAB would be activated and stationed at the other installation. Fort Carson and JBLM would each gain up to one CAB. As part of this alternative, aviation units would conduct training on existing training land at the installation's training maneuver area (PCMS for Fort Carson and YTC for JBLM) in order to maintain training proficiency and support integrated training with ground units. Alternative 4No Action Alternative. Under this alternative, the Army would retain its aviation force structure at its current levels, configurations, and locations. Fort Carson and JBLM are the only stationing alternatives that meet all of the Army's stationing requirements for new CAB stationing. These locations have existing runways and airfields, provide adequate maneuver and airspace for CAB operations, and are equipped with existing training ranges that can support CAB training. Most importantly, Fort Carson and JBLM are the only major installations that have three or more Brigade Combat Teams but no CAB dedicated to provide aviation support for training. The proposed action would allow the Army to maximize integrated air-ground training. Land acquisition is not being considered as part of this action.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), DoD announces the proposed extension of a public information collection requirement and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. DoD invites comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DoD, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved this information collection requirement for use through April 30, 2011. DoD proposes that OMB extend its approval for three additional years.

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended) and the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended) the Department of Defense announces the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Threat Reduction Advisory Committee (Hereafter referred to as ``the Committee'').

The Department of the Navy (DoN) is amending its certifications and exemptions under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to reflect that the Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General (DAJAG) (Admiralty and Maritime Law) has determined that USS OSCAR AUSTIN (DDG 79) is a vessel of the Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot fully comply with certain provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this rule is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.