96-27982. National Environmental Policy Act Final Environmental Impact Statement for the USCG Atlantic Protected Living Marine Resource Initiative

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 212 (Thursday, October 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 56258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27982]



[[Page 56258]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 95-066]


National Environmental Policy Act Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the USCG Atlantic Protected Living Marine Resource 
Initiative

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Atlantic Protected Living 
Marine Resource Initiative (APLMR) that it is proposing for the 
Atlantic Coast of the United States. The FEIS contains an overview of 
the Coast Guard missions and describes how the proposed action aids the 
Coast Guard in its ability to fulfill its missions and enhance 
preservation of protected species. This FEIS was prepared concurrently 
with an Endangered Species Act consultation with the National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

DATES: The review period for this FEIS will end on 9 December 1996.

ADDRESSES: Commandant (G-O), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 2nd St 
SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001, ATTN: CDR Rooth.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Commander R. Rooth at [phone], or by fax at [phone] or 
[phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard encourages interested 
persons to review the FEIS.

Background Information

    On August 9, 1995, the Coast Guard published, in the Federal 
Register (60 FR 40631), a notice of availability and request for 
comments announcing the availability of an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) and a proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on Coast 
Guard activities along the U.S. Atlantic coast. On October 11, 1995, 
the Coast Guard published in the Federal Register (60 FR 52949), a 
notice reopening and extending the comment period for the EA and FONSI.
    The EA focused on the six whale and five turtle species listed as 
threatened or endangered found along the Atlantic coast. The Coast 
Guard received comments from Federal, State, and local agencies and the 
public.
    On April 2, 1996, the Coast Guard published, in the Federal 
Register (61 FR 14590), a notice of intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the impacts of a revised proposed 
project under Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act. The decision to prepare an EIS was the result of new information 
concerning the October 1995 interaction between a Coast Guard vessel 
and a suspected Humpback whale, as well as recent observations of 
increased Northern Right Whale mortalities, and comments received in 
response to the EA and FONSI.
    The Coast Guard prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) and on July 31, 1996, published, in the Federal Register (61 FR 
40062), a notice of availability and request for comments. The comment 
period ended September 16, 1996. All comments received on the DEIS were 
considered and addressed in the FEIS.

Proposed Action

    The FEIS contains an overview of the Coast Guard missions and 
describes how the proposed action, the Atlantic Protected Living Marine 
Resource Initiative, aids the Coast Guard in fulfilling its mission 
while enhancing preservation of protected species. The proposed 
initiative in this FEIS works to preserve all protected species in the 
Atlantic.
    Measures evaluated in the FEIS include:
    1. Adding protected species information as part of the testing 
criteria for the public applying for USCG licenses to operate vessels.
    2. Training programs on marine mammal identification for USCG 
vessel lookouts.
    3. Distributing notices of species locations via marine radio 
(operating on VHF-FM frequency) and the NAVTEX program.
    4. Surveying critical habitat areas, noting presence and activities 
of protected species.
    5. Focusing on enforcement of existing laws.
    6. Participating in regional whale recovery implementation groups.
    7. Establishing or modifying vessel traffic routes.
    8. Developing Coast Guard-wide and regional procedures to alert 
mariners of seasonally heightened potentials for interaction with 
protected species.
    9. Including protected species awareness information in USCG basic 
boating safety training provided to the public.
    10. Notifying the National Marine Fisheries Service regional office 
when a significant incident is brought to the attention of the Coast 
Guard.
    11. Participating in regional species stranding networks.
    12. Surveying lighting options for Coast Guard stations in the 
vicinity of turtle nesting beaches.
    In its FEIS, the Coast Guard evaluates the latest data on the 
habits and habitats of protected species and the location of Coast 
Guard stations and vessels. The FEIS also examines navigational 
capabilities of Coast Guard vessels, training of Coast Guard employees 
regarding protected species, and possible modifications of vessel 
traffic control and aircraft operations. The FEIS also analyzes 
cumulative impacts of Coast Guard assets operating together and in 
conjunction with other vessels. This FEIS will serve as the basis for 
the Coast Guard's final Record of Decision (ROD) on the proposed APLMR 
Initiative.

    Dated: October 28, 1996.
T.J. Meyers,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Aids to Navigation.
[FR Doc. 96-27982 Filed 10-30-96; 8:45 am]
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