Department of the Navy – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The United States Department of the Navy, after carefully weighing the strategic, operational and environmental consequences of the proposed action, announces its decision to support and conduct airfield operations at Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West by accomplishing the proposed action as set out in Alternative 2. Alternative 2 will provide for the transition from legacy aircraft to next generation aircraft, alteration of existing facilities as necessary to meet requirements for next generation aircraft, and will potentially accommodate carrier air wing detachment training events should primary carrier air wing training locations on the U.S. East Coast be unavailable. Total annual airfield operations could equal up to approximately 52,000 operations.

The Department of the Navy published a document in the Federal Register(78 FR 178) on September 13, 2013, concerning public meetings to support the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) for the Mariana Islands Training and Testing Study Area. Due to the shutdown of the U.S. federal government, the public meetings have been postponed and the public comment period extended. The public comment period on the Draft EIS has been extended from November 12, 2013, to December 12, 2013.

The Department of the Navy (DoN), after carefully weighing the strategic operational and environmental consequences of the proposed action, announces its decision to expand the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division's (NSWCDD) outdoor research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) activities within the Potomac River Test Range (PRTR) complex, the Explosives Experimental Area range complex, the Mission Area, and special-use airspace at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren. These activities include outdoor operations that require the use of ordnance (guns and explosives), electromagnetic energy, high energy lasers, chemical and biological simulants (non-toxic substances used to mimic dangerous agents), and PRTR use. The DoN has decided to implement the preferred alternative, Alternative 2, which will enable NSWCDD to meet current and future mission-related warfare and force- protection requirements by providing RDT&E of surface ship combat systems, ordnance, lasers and directed energy systems, force-level warfare, and homeland and force protection.

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 AMERICA (LHA 6) 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.

This notice announces the availability of a corrected Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas EIS (OEIS) for Hawaii- Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT), which was filed by the Department of the Navy (DoN) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on September 20, 2013 as required by Council on Environmental Quality regulations pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The corrected HSTT Final EIS/ OEIS includes an 11-page Section E.5 that was inadvertently omitted from Appendix E in the August 23, 2013 filing with the USEPA. To allow the public adequate time to review Section E.5, the DoN is extending the wait period from September 30, 2013 to October 28, 2013, an additional 30 days.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The proposed action evaluated in the Draft Supplemental EIS is to provide facilities and functions to dual site the P-8A at two established maritime patrol home bases: Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida and NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. The proposed action also includes a permanent rotating squadron detachment at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and periodic squadron detachments to Naval Base Coronado, California. This document supplements the 2008 Final EIS for the Introduction of the P- 8A Multi-Mission Aircraft into the U.S. Navy Fleet (hereinafter Final EIS) with additional alternatives to provide facilities and functions associated with the proposed home basing action, changes in circumstances at the home base locations, and the latest P-8A project information. A notice of the Record of Decision (ROD) related to the Final EIS was published in the Federal Register on January 2, 2009 (74 FR 100). With the filing of the Draft Supplemental EIS, the DoN is initiating a 45-day public comment period beginning on September 20, 2013 and ending on November 4, 2013. During this period, the DoN will conduct two public meetings to receive oral and written comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS. This notice announces the dates, times, and locations of the public meetings and provides supplementary information about this environmental planning effort. Dates and Addresses: Public information and comment meetings will be held by the DoN to provide individuals with information on the Draft Supplemental EIS in an open house format. DoN representatives at informational poster stations will be available during the public meetings to clarify information related to the Draft Supplemental EIS. The public meetings will be held between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the following dates and at the following locations: 1. Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at Oak Harbor High School Student Union Building, 1 Wildcat Way, Oak Harbor, Washington 98277. 2. Thursday, October 17, 2013 at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 620 Wells Road, Orange Park, Florida 32073. Federal, state, and local agencies and officials, and interested groups and individuals are encouraged to provide comments in person at the public meetings or in writing anytime during the public comment period. At the public meetings, attendees will be able to submit comments in writing or orally using a stenographer who will listen to and transcribe comments. Comments may also be submitted via the U.S. Postal Service to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Attn: Code EV21/CZ (P-8A SEIS Project Manager), 6506 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278 or electronically via the project Web site (https://www.mmaseis.com). All statements submitted during the public review period will be given equal weight, whether they are received orally at the public meetings or submitted in writing at the public meetings, via the U.S. Postal Service, or electronically via the public Web site. All comments received will become part of the public record on the Draft Supplemental EIS and be responded to in the Final Supplemental EIS. All written comments must be postmarked or received online by November 4, 2013 to ensure they become part of the official record.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 1500-1508), and Presidential Executive Order 12114, the Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS). The Draft EIS/OEIS evaluates the potential environmental effects associated with military readiness training and research, development, test, and evaluation activities (training and testing) conducted within the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Study Area. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard are cooperating agencies for this EIS/OEIS. The MITT Study Area is composed of established ranges (at-sea ranges and land based training areas on Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands [CNMI]); operating areas; and special use airspace in the region of the Mariana Islands that are part of the Mariana Islands Range Complex (MIRC) and its surrounding seas; includes a transit corridor between the MIRC and the Hawaii Range Complex; and Navy pierside locations where sonar maintenance and testing activities occur. With the filing of the Draft EIS/OEIS, the DoN is initiating a 60- day public comment period and has scheduled four public meetings to receive comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS. This notice announces the dates and locations of the public meetings and provides supplementary information about the environmental planning effort. DATES and ADDRESSES: The 60-day Draft EIS/OEIS public review period will begin September 13, 2013 and end November 12, 2013. The DoN will hold four public meetings to inform the public about the Proposed Action and alternatives under consideration, and to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the Proposed Action, alternatives, and the adequacy and accuracy of the analysis in the Draft EIS/OEIS. Each of the public meetings will include an open house information session and an opportunity to present oral comments. DoN representatives will be available during the public meetings to clarify information related to the Draft EIS/OEIS. Federal and local agencies and officials, and interested organizations and individuals are encouraged to provide comments in writing during the public review period or in person at one of the scheduled public meetings. The public meetings will be held between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the following dates: 1. October 7, 2013, at the University of Guam, Leon Guerrero School of Business and Public Administration Building, Anthony Leon Guerrero Multi-Purpose Room 129, Mangilao, Guam 96923. 2. October 8, 2013, at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, Saipan, MP 96950. 3. October 9, 2013, at the Tinian High School Cafeteria, San Jose Village, Tinian, MP 96952. 4. October 10, 2013, at the Sinapalo Elementary School Cafeteria, Sinapalo I, Songsong Village, Rota, MP 96951. Attendees will be able to submit oral and written comments during the public meetings. Oral comments from the public will be recorded by a court reporter. In the interest of available time, and to ensure all who wish to provide an oral comment to the court reporter have the opportunity to do so, each speaker's comments will be limited to three (3) minutes, which may be extended if meeting attendance permits. Equal weight will be given to oral and written statements. Comments may also be submitted via the U.S. Postal Service to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Attention: MITT EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134, or electronically via the project Web site (www.MITT-EIS.com). All comments, oral or written, submitted during the public review period will become part of the public record on the Draft EIS/OEIS and will be responded to in the Final EIS/OEIS. All public comments must be postmarked or received by November 12, 2013, Chamorro Standard Time (ChST) to ensure they become part of the official record.

The Department of the Navy hereby gives notice of its intent to grant to Silvanus, LLC. a revocable, nonassignable, partially exclusive license to practice in the United States, the Government- owned invention described in U.S. Patent 8,408,460 (Navy Case 100000): issued April 2, 2013, entitled ``Auto Adjusting Ranging Device''.

The United States Department of the Navy (DoN), after carefully weighing the environmental consequences of the proposed actions, announces its decision to construct and operate the Medical Facilities Development (MFD) at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda, Bethesda, MD. DoN also announces its decision to construct and operate the expansion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU or the University Expansion) at NSA Bethesda. The DoN has decided to implement the preferred alternatives for the MFD and University Expansion, as described in the MFD and University Expansion Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) dated July 2013. The preferred alternatives are also the Environmentally Preferable Alternatives. The preferred alternative for the MFD will fully meet the Congressional mandate in the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act to achieve the new statutory world-class standards for military medicine at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) by providing enduring medical facilities commensurate in quality, capability and condition as those provided by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure investment. The preferred alternative for the University Expansion will provide adequate education and research space to meet Military Health System commitments to deliver training and post-graduate level education to the military medical community and enable USU to serve as the core academic health research center at WRNMMC. The proposed actions will enhance and support but not add to the missions of the installation, medical center, or the USU.

Pursuant to Section (102)(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508), Department of the Navy (DoN) NEPA regulations (32 CFR Part 775), and United States Marine Corps (USMC) NEPA directives (Marine Corps Order P5090.2A, changes 1 and 2), the DoN intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for several proposed construction, repair, and renovation projects in support of the Marine Barracks Washington (MBW), District of Columbia (DC). Dates and Addresses: The DoN, USMC, is initiating a 30-day public scoping process to identify community interests and local concerns to be addressed in the EIS, which starts with the publication of this Notice of Intent and ends on October 7, 2013. A public scoping meeting, using an informal open house format, will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on September 24, 2013 at Tyler Elementary School, 1001 G St SE., Washington, DC 20390. The public is invited to attend this meeting to view project- related displays, speak with USMC representatives, and submit verbal or written comments. All comments regarding the scope of issues that the USMC should consider during EIS preparation must be received prior to October 7, 2013 to be fully considered. Additional information concerning the meeting and the proposed alternatives is available on the EIS Web site at www.mbweis.com and will be announced in local and regional newspapers. Please submit requests for special assistance, sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired, or other auxiliary aids needed at the scoping meeting to the MBW Public Affairs Officer, Captain Jack Norton, at 202-433-6682 by September 13, 2013. Concurrent with the NEPA process, the USMC is initiating National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Consultation to determine the potential effects of the proposed action on historic properties. During the scoping meeting, one designated area of the room will focus on the Section 106 process and solicit public input on the identification of historic properties and potential effects of the proposed action on historic properties. Submitting Comments: Federal, state, and local agencies and members of the public are encouraged to provide oral and written comments regarding the scope of the EIS, reasonable alternatives, and specific issues or topics of interest. There are three ways comments can be submitted: (1) In person at the public scoping open house meeting, (2) using the project's public Web site comment form at www.mbweis.com, or (3) providing written comments through U.S. mail. All comments on the scope of the EIS or any specific concerns regarding potential impacts to the environment should be submitted or postmarked no later than October 1, 2013. Comments submitted by mail should be sent to: Mr. William Sadlon, MBW CIMP EIS Project Manager, 1314 Harwood St. SE., Bldg. 212, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5018. The USMC will consider all comments received during the scoping period. A mailing list has been assembled to facilitate preparation of the EIS. This list includes DC and federal agencies with jurisdiction or other interests in the alternatives. In addition, the mailing list includes adjacent property owners and other interested parties, such as historic preservation groups. Those on this list will receive notices and documents related to EIS preparation. Anyone wishing to be added to the mailing list may request to be added at the project Web site www.mbweis.com or by contacting the EIS project manager at the address provided below.

The U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors will meet to make such inquiry, as the Board shall deem necessary, into the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, and academic methods of the Naval Academy. The executive session of this meeting from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on September 30, 2013, will include discussions of disciplinary matters, law enforcement investigations into allegations of criminal activity, and personnel issues at the Naval Academy, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. For this reason, the executive session of this meeting will be closed to the public.

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 INDEPENDENCE (LCS 2) 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.

The Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) is soliciting nominations for eight new members.

The inventions listed below are assigned to the United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Navy and are available for domestic and foreign licensing by the Department of the Navy. The following patents are available for licensing: U.S. Patent No. 8,467,056: VARIABLE ANGLE, FIBER OPTIC COUPLED, LIGHT SCATTERING APPARATUS, Issued on June 18, 2013//U.S. Patent Number 8,477,308: POLARIZED, SPECULAR REFLECTOMETER APPARATUS, Issued on July 2, 2013.

The Department of the Navy proposes to alter a system of records in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of the Navy proposes to alter a system of records in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of the Navy proposes to alter a system of records in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of the Navy proposes to alter a system of records in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of the Navy proposes to alter a system of records in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of the Navy hereby gives notice of its intent to grant to Lumedyne Technologies, Inc., a revocable, nonassignable, partially exclusive license in the United States to practice the Government-Owned inventions described in Navy Case No. 100910: Harvesting Rotational Energy Using Linear-Based Energy Harvesters//Navy Case No. 101501: Reconfigurable Actively Switched Flying Capacitor Array//Navy Case No. 101592: Method for Analytical Reconstruction of Digital Signals Via Stitched Polynomial Fitting//Navy Case No. 101761: Apparatus and Methods for Time Domain Measurements of Oscillation Perturbations Using Phase Shifted Virtual Intervals//Navy Case No. 101804: Light Field Imaging Assisted Inertial Mapping and Navigation// Navy Case No. 101875: Inertial Sensors Using Sliding Plane Proximity Switches.

The United States Naval Academy Board of Visitors will meet to make such inquiry, as the Board shall deem necessary, into the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, and academic methods of the Naval Academy. The executive session of this meeting from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on June 3, 2013, will include discussions of disciplinary matters and personnel issues at the Naval Academy; the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. For this reason, the executive session of this meeting will be closed to the public.