Department of Defense March 18, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to inform a decision on an application from Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC to construct a seawater air conditioning system (SWAC) at Kaka`ako on the south shore of O`ahu. The applicant's overall project purpose is to provide a renewable-energy air conditioning system for downtown Honolulu buildings. In order to obtain deep, cold seawater to chill fresh water that would circulate through the SWAC system and return it to the ocean after it has passed through onshore heat exchangers, the applicant proposes to construct intake and return pipelines in adjacent coastal waters. The proposed pipeline staging and installation sites are located within the navigable waters of the United States and the proposed activity is subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Proposed onshore improvements and upland infrastructure are briefly described to provide an overview of the project, but their impacts to terrestrial environmental resources are not a primary focus of the document. Of primary federal concern are potential effects of proposed in- water construction, including the discharge of fill material at the offshore pipeline receiving pit, and operation of the system on the quality of the human environment. The DEIS considers alternative cooling technologies, cooling station designs and locations, pipeline installation methods, diffuser location and depth, and intake design. It evaluates two alternatives involving different pipeline alignments. Identified environmental resources potentially affected include marine biota and habitat; water quality; navigation and other human use; noise; and air quality.

The National Defense University, Designated Federal Officer, has scheduled a meeting of the Board of Visitors. The National Defense University Board of Visitors is a Federal Advisory Board. The Board meets twice a year in proceedings that are open to the public.

Mrs. Katrina McFarland, President, Defense Acquisition University (DAU), will host a forum to discuss implementation of Better Buying Power: Guidance for Obtaining Greater Efficiency and Productivity in Defense Spending, outlined in the Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Undersecretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, 14 September 2010 memorandum to acquisition professionals. Name of Event: Defense Acquisition University Industry Day: ``Better Buying Power'' Initiatives.