Department of the Navy September 29, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR pts 1500-1508), and Executive Order (EO) 12114, ``Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions'' (44 Fed. Reg. 62,18722 (Mar. 29, 1979)), the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its intent to prepare a combined NEPA EIS and EO 12114, OEIS, to evaluate the potential environmental consequences associated with mine warfare (MIW) and antisubmarine warfare (ASW) active sonar training exercises along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico. The MIW/ASW sonar training exercises include Independent Unit Level Training, Coordinated Unit Level Training, and Strike Group Training exercises. These active sonar training exercises include air, surface, and subsurface sonar platforms that are manned by personnel who require training in order to maintain certification and readiness for deployment. Additionally, effective MIW and ASW are dependent on training involving coordination among these platforms. The EIS/OEIS will consider two Action Alternatives to accomplish these objectives, in addition to the No Action Alternative.