Department of the Navy March 29, 2019 – 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, and Presidential Executive Order 12114, the Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with the United States Environmental Protection Agency a draft supplement to the 2015 Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Final Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) to reassess the potential environmental impacts associated with conducting proposed ongoing and future military readiness activities within the NWTT Study Area, referred to as the ``Study Area.'' Military readiness activities include training and research, development, testing, and evaluation activities, referred to as ``training and testing.'' In the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the DoN evaluated new, relevant information, such as more recent marine mammal density data and new scientific information, and updated the environmental analyses as appropriate. The DoN prepared the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS to support the issuance of federal regulatory permits and authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. The DoN will consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service to renew these authorizations. Additionally, NMFS and the United States Coast Guard are cooperating agencies for this Supplemental EIS/OEIS. The DoN's lead action proponent is Commander, United States Pacific Fleet. Additional action proponents include Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Air Systems Command.