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28 July 2008
[Federal Register: July 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 43727-43730]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jy08-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement
for the Shock Trial of USS MESA VERDE (LPD 19)
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Record of Decision.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Navy (Navy), pursuant to Section 102(2)(C)
of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 United
States Code (U.S.C.) 4321 et seq.; the regulations implementing NEPA
issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 40 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500-1508; Navy regulations
implementing NEPA procedures (31 CFR 775); and Presidential Executive
Order 12114, hereby announces its decision to conduct a shock trial for
USS MESA VERDE in the area of the Atlantic Ocean offshore of Naval
Station Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida during the summer 2008 (June 21-
September 20).
NEPA establishes the procedures Federal agencies must follow in
analyzing environmental impacts of major Federal actions within the
United States (U.S.) and its territories. Presidential Executive Order
12114 establishes the procedures Federal agencies must follow when
environmental impacts of major Federal actions occur outside the U.S.
or its territories including the global commons. The Navy is the lead
agency for the proposed action with cooperation from the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), who agreed to be a cooperating agency
for the Environmental Impact Statement.
USS MESA VERDE will undergo a shock trial in a manner consistent
with the proposed action ``Alternative Offshore Shock Trial Locations''
as described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The
Final EIS analyzed in detail three alternative offshore areas (Norfolk,
Virginia; Mayport, Florida; and Pensacola, Florida) during all four
seasons. The No-action alternative was also analyzed in the Final EIS.
The preferred alternative is to conduct a shock trial offshore of
Mayport implementing protective measures (also referred to as
mitigation measures) to
[[Page 43728]]
minimize risk to marine mammals and sea turtles. Although all three
test areas meet minimal operational requirements, there is considerable
variability between the locations in terms of marine species presence
and status (e.g., threatened or endangered), as well as differences
with respect to potential impacts to species (i.e., mortality, injury,
and acoustic harassment). USS MESA VERDE will be subjected to a series
of up to four 10,000-pound explosive charge detonations sometime
between June 21, 2008 and September 20, 2008, conducted at a rate of
one per week to allow time to perform detailed inspections of the
ship's systems. Potential risk of impacts to marine mammals and sea
turtles in summer is highest offshore of Norfolk and Pensacola and
lowest offshore of Mayport. The Norfolk and Mayport locations are not
considered environmentally acceptable during October through April due
to the migratory patterns and presence (abundance) of the North
Atlantic right whale. Endangered marine species are not likely to be
adversely affected by the preferred alternative to conduct the proposed
shock trial offshore of Mayport in the summer. All other aspects of the
three test areas are similar. Based on the Navy's overseas deployment
requirements for the ship class and, in particular, the availability of
the ship, conducting the shock trial offshore of Mayport will meet the
project purpose and need, satisfy operational requirements, and
minimize environmental impacts.
This Record of Decision leaves the selection of primary and
secondary test sites within the Mayport test area to be made based on
pre-detonation aerial surveys for marine mammal and sea turtle
presence. This will ensure that the final test site selected for the
shock trial poses the least possible risk to the marine environment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Dawn Schroeder, NAVSEA 04RE, 1333
Isaac Hull Ave., SE., Building 197, Room 4W1673, Washington Navy Yard,
DC 20376, telephone: 202-781-2291, and e-mail: dawn.schroeder@navy.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SAN ANTONIO Class ship designated as the
shock ship for the proposed shock trial is USS MESA VERDE (LPD 19). USS
MESA VERDE is the third ship in the SAN ANTONIO Class of nine planned
amphibious transport dock ships being acquired by the Navy to meet the
Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) amphibious lift requirements. Each
new class (or major upgrade) of surface ships must be tested to assess
the survivability of the hull and ship's systems and the capability of
the ship to protect the crew after a near miss from an underwater
explosion. Section 2366 of Title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C.
2366) requires realistic survivability testing of a covered weapon
system to ensure the vulnerability of that system under combat
conditions is known. Realistic survivability testing involves firing
munitions likely to be encountered in combat to test for ship
vulnerability, commonly referred to as ``Live Fire Test and
Evaluation'' (LFT&E). The SAN ANTONIO Class is considered a covered
system with an approved LFT&E program. The LFT&E program includes three
major areas (computer modeling, surrogate testing, and an at-sea ship
shock trial) that together provide for a complete and comprehensive
evaluation of the survivability of the SAN ANTONIO Class. Only the at-
sea shock trial would provide the real-time data necessary to fully
assess ship survivability. The shock trial is a series of underwater
detonations that propagate a shock wave through the ship's hull under
deliberate and controlled conditions simulating near misses from
underwater explosions. The Navy can measure the effect of the shock
wave on the hull, equipment, and personnel safety features of the ship.
The shock trial is designed to demonstrate that all ship systems are
capable of sustained operation performance during combat situations.
This information is used to improve the shock resistance of the ship
and follow-on ships of the class, thereby reducing the risk of crew
injury.
Alternatives: NEPA requires the Navy to evaluate a reasonable range
of alternatives for implementing a proposed Federal action. The Final
EIS analyzed in detail three alternative offshore areas (Norfolk,
Virginia; Mayport, Florida; and Pensacola, Florida) during all four
seasons. The No-action alternative was also analyzed in the Final EIS.
Under the No-action alternative, only computer modeling and
component testing already completed under the LFT&E were used to
evaluate survivability. The No-action alternative was determined to not
be a reasonable alternative because it would not provide the
information and data necessary to assess the survivability of the ship,
as required by 10 U.S.C. 2366. However, the No-action alternative was
included in the comparative analysis of alternatives.
Alternative offshore locations for conducting the shock trial were
compared from both an operational and environmental perspective. To
carry out its national security mission, the Navy operates under
stringent scheduling and operational constraints to ready its frontline
combat ships for overseas deployment. Since USS MESA VERDE must be
prepared to commence its first deployment during Fiscal Year (FY) 2009,
a number of key maintenance and training events, as well as other
certification tests and trials, must occur in proper sequence to ensure
suitable preparations for overseas movement. Accordingly, the
availability of USS MESA VERDE would dictate the time of year when the
shock trial would be performed. Currently, USS MESA VERDE is scheduled
to be available for shock trial testing in the summer of 2008. Based on
the availability of USS MESA VERDE during summer 2008, the best
operational and environmental alternative is Mayport. This alternative
is the Navy's preferred alternative. Of the three location
alternatives, Mayport in summer is the environmentally preferred
alternative.
The Final EIS analysis focused on identifying alternative offshore
locations to conduct the shock trial. USS MESA VERDE is proposed to be
homeported on the East coast of the U.S. Therefore, based on
operational requirements and personnel quality of life considerations,
offshore areas other than East and Gulf coasts were eliminated from
consideration. The Navy screened possible East coast and Gulf of Mexico
locations according to the following operational criteria: personnel
quality of life considerations, water depth, proximity to a Navy
facility with homeported vessels or sufficient pier space for support
vessels, proximity to an airfield for supporting aircraft, proximity to
a Naval Station support facility, proximity to a vessel repair
facility, proximity to an ordnance storage/loading station, vessel
traffic, weather and sea state, and Gulf Stream conditions. A detailed
analysis concluded that three test areas could operationally support
the shock trial--Mayport, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; and Pensacola,
Florida. Although all three test areas meet minimal operational
requirements, there is considerable variability between the locations
in terms of marine species presence and status (e.g., threatened or
endangered), as well as differences wi