Department of the Navy November 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of the Navy (DoN) is extending the public scoping period for the Revised Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for EA-18G Growler airfield operations at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington and announcing two additional public scoping meetings. The public scoping period will be extended an additional 45-days to January 9, 2015 and two additional public scoping meetings have been scheduled, one in Lopez Island, Washington and the other in Port Townsend, Washington. Dates and Addresses: Two open house information sessions will be held between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on: 1. Wednesday, December 3, 2014, Lopez Island Center for Community and Arts, 204 Village Road, Lopez Island, Washington 98261. 2. Thursday, December 4, 2014, Fort Worden Commons, Building 210, 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend, Washington 98368. Each of the open house information sessions will be informal and consist of information stations staffed by DoN representatives. The DoN invites comments on the proposed scope and content of the EIS from all interested parties, including Federal agencies, state agencies, local agencies, American Indian Tribes and Nations, and interested persons. Comments on the scope of the EIS may be provided via the U.S. Postal Service or the EIS Web site at: www.whidbeyeis.com. All comments provided orally or in writing at the scoping meetings, through the project Web site or by mail during the scoping period will receive the same consideration during EIS preparation. All comments must be postmarked no later than January 9, 2015. The DoN will not release the names, street addresses, email addresses and screen names, telephone numbers, or other personally identifiable information of individuals who provide comments during scoping unless required by law. However, the DoN may release the city, state, and 5-digit zip code of individuals who provide comments. Each commenter making oral comments at the public scoping meetings will be asked by the stenographer if he/she otherwise elects to authorize the release of their personally identifiable information prior to providing their comments. Commenters submitting written comments, either using comment forms or via the project Web site, may elect to authorize release of personally identifiable information by checking a ``release'' box on the comment form. To be included on the DoN's mailing list for the EIS (or to receive a copy of the Draft EIS, when released), electronic requests can be made on the project Web site at www.whidbeyeis.com. Requests via the U.S. Postal Service should be submitted to: EA-18G EIS Project Manager (Code EV21/SS); Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23508. The same policy for release of personally identifiable information as identified above for scoping comments will be maintained by DoN for individuals requesting to be included on the EIS mailing list.

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 MILWAUKEE (LCS 5) 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.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and Executive Order 12114, the Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/ Supplemental Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (Draft SEIS/SOEIS) to analyze the potential impact of SURTASS LFA sonar on the five common bottlenose dolphin stocks comprising the Hawaiian Islands Stock Complex (Kauai/Niiahu, Oahu, 4-Islands, Hawaii Island, and Hawaii Pelagic). USEPA published their notice of availability of the SURTASS LFA sonar draft supplement on October 24, 2014 (79 FR 63622).