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Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Programmatic Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment (EA/OEA) for the Undersea Warfare Exercise (USWEX) Within the Hawaii Range Complex

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 [Federal Register: February 2, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 22)]
[Notices]
[Page 5021-5022]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02fe07-39]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Programmatic
Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment (EA/OEA) for
the Undersea Warfare Exercise (USWEX) Within the Hawaii Range Complex

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), implementing procedural
provisions of NEPA, the Department of the Navy (DON) gives notice that
a Programmatic EA/OE has been prepared and a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) has been issued for the implementation of Alternative 1,
which allows for up to six future Undersea Warfare Exercises (USWEXs)
annually within the Hawaii Range Complex from January 2007 through
January 2009.

DATES: The FONSI was signed on January 24, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The Final Programmatic EA/OEA and FONSI are available for
public review at the following locations:
    1. Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793 (Maui).
    2. Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianaenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 (Hawaii).

[[Page 5022]]

    3. Hawaii State Library, Hawaii and Pacific Section Document Unit,
478 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 (Oahu).
    4. Lihue Public Library, 4344 Hardy Street, Lihue, HI 96766 (Kauai).
    Electronic copies of the Final Programmatic EA/OEA and FONSI are
available for public viewing or downloading at http://www.govsupport.us/
uswex. Exit Disclaimer Single copies of the Final Programmatic EA/OEA
and FONSI may be obtained by written request from: Commander, U.S.
Pacific Fleet (N01CE), 250 Makalapa Drive, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3131.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (N01CE),
250 Makalapa Drive, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3131, 808-474-7836, or visit
http://www.govsupport.us/uswex. Exit Disclaimer

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USWEX is an advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare
Exercise proposed to be conducted by U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Groups
(CSGs) and Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs) while in transit from the
west coast of the United States to the western Pacific Ocean using
existing operating areas and ranges within the Hawaii Range Complex. As
identified in the USWEX Programmatic EA/OEA, the Proposed Action is to
conduct USWEXs in the Hawaii Range Complex for deploying west coast-
based CSGs and ESGs, and Hawaii homeported ships and submarines.
Training events similar to those that comprise a USWEX are currently
being conducted individually. USWEX is a combination of training events
that results in a sea control/power projection fleet exercise that is
required in order to meet training objectives for deploying or
deployable CSGs and ESGs.
    Anti-Submarine Warfare training conducted during a USWEX utilizes
ships, submarines, aircraft, non-explosive exercise weapons, and other
training systems and devices. During a typical USWEX, embarked aircraft
will also be conducting training prior to deployment to the western
Pacific Ocean. Fixed-wing aircraft will fly sorties to Pohakuloa
Training Area on the Island of Hawaii, and rotary aircraft will fly
sorties to Kaula located off the coast of Kauai. Aircraft will utilize
these live ranges to drop live or inert rounds. During an ESG USWEX,
amphibious forces could utilize the beaches at Pacific Missile Range
Facility or at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows to conduct amphibious
landings. The EA/OEA includes an analysis of three Alternatives.
Alternative 1 analyzes four CSG USWEXs and two ESG USWEXs per year
occurring in the Hawaii Range Complex. Alternative 2 analyzes three CSG
USWEXs and one ESG USWEX per year occurring in the Hawaii Range
Complex. Under the No Action Alternative, individual training events
that compose a USWEX would continue to occur; however, they would not
be consolidated into a coordinated training event.
    The analysis conducted in the USWEX Programmatic EA/OEA focused on
the following resources: Airspace, biological resources, cultural
resources, land use, noise, and safety and health. Impacts to
biological resources will not be significant. The EA/OEA analyzes mid-
frequency active sonar use associated with the USWEX and documents an
acoustic exposure effects-analysis on marine mammals that may be
affected by the USWEX training events and use of mid-frequency active
sonar. There are no predicted marine mammal sonar exposures that would
result in injury or mortality. The DON consulted with the National
Marine Fisheries Service and received a biological opinion and an
incidental take statement under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
that determined the Proposed Action would not result in jeopardy to any
endangered species. No new special use airspace proposal or any
modification to the existing special use airspace is proposed. Impacts
to cultural resources, land use, noise, and safety and health are not
anticipated.
    Based on the information gathered during preparation of the USWEX
Programmatic EA/OEA, the DoD finds that up to six USWEX per year under
Alternative 1 within the Hawaii Range Complex will not significantly
impact the environment and, therefore, an EIS is not required for
implementing Alternative 1.

    Dated: January 29, 2007.
M.A. Harvison,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-1746 Filed 2-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P

 
 

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