Department of Defense May 31, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Defense Education Activity announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the potential deployment of a Continental United States (CONUS) Interceptor Site (CIS). A CIS Draft EIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA and assesses the impacts of the potential deployment of a CIS. As required by the fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, the MDA has conducted extensive surveys and assessments for development of a Draft EIS in order to evaluate candidate sites for the potential future deployment of additional ground-based interceptors for homeland defense against threats from nations such as North Korea and Iran. All potential sites analyzed in this Draft EIS contain wetlands that would be affected. All practicable measures were taken to arrange a CIS footprint to minimize and avoid impacts to wetlands while still maintaining operational effectiveness. However there are no practicable deployment alternatives that would completely avoid impacts to wetlands. If a deployment decision were made MDA would coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and applicable state department of environmental protection to determine appropriate mitigations for wetland impacts. As required by Executive Order (EO) 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), MDA would prepare a Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONPA) for the selected site. The FONPA would explain why there is no practicable alternative to impacting wetlands at the identified site. MDA is providing a public review, in accordance with EO 11990, of its findings in the Draft EIS concerning wetlands impacts and potential mitigation measures.