Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2023 / Notices 86885 

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) 

F–15 fighter aircraft and constructing 

proposed infrastructure upgrades at 

Andersen AFB. The beddown of 12 

RSAF F–15 fighter aircraft is in addition 

to what was previously proposed. 

DATES: A public scoping period of 30 

days, to update the public on changes to 

the DAF’s proposal that have occurred 

since the original scoping period ended 

on May 30, 2021, will take place starting 

from the date of this NOI publication in 

the Federal Register. Comments will be 

accepted at any time during the 

environmental impact analysis process; 

however, to ensure the DAF has 

sufficient time to consider public 

scoping comments during preparation of 

the Draft EIS, please submit comments 

within the 30-day scoping period. The 

Draft EIS is anticipated mid-2024. The 

Final EIS and a decision on the 

Proposed Action are expected in early to 

mid-2025. 

ADDRESSES: For EIS inquires or requests 

for printed or digital copies of scoping 

materials, please contact Mr. David 

Martin, phone: (210) 925–4266 or 

david.martin.127@us.af.mil, or postal 

address provided below. The project 

website 

(www.AAFBInfraandF15EIS.com) 

provides additional information on the 

EIS and can be used to submit scoping 

comments. Scoping comments may also 

be submitted via postal mail to 36th 

Civil Engineer Squadron, ATTN: CEV 

(AAFB F–15 and Infrastructure EIS), 

Unit 14007, APO, AP 96543–4007. For 

printed material requests, the standard 

U.S. Postal Service shipping timeline 

will apply. Please consider the 

environment before requesting printed 

material. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DAF 

is proposing to beddown and support 

the mission of 12 RSAF F–15 fighter 

aircraft, and construct infrastructure 

upgrades at Andersen AFB, Guam. 

Following the initial scoping period 

conducted in April to May 2021 (86 FR 

20487, April 20, 2021), the DAF placed 

the EIS on a strategic pause to further 

consider the scope of the EIS, including 

the requirements of evolving strategic 

initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region and 

how the Proposed Action could best 

support these initiatives. As a result of 

the strategic pause, the DAF revised the 

scope of the Proposed Action to include 

the beddown of 12 RSAF F–15 fighter 

aircraft and associated mission support. 

The purpose of the Proposed Action is 

to provide critical infrastructure that 

enhances U.S. posture west of the 

International Date Line. Additionally, 

the purpose of the Proposed Action is to 

beddown and operate Republic of 

Singapore Air Force fighter aircraft at 

Andersen AFB to support training 

requirements. The Proposed Action is 

needed to enhance DAF capability to 

support U.S. and partner nation forces 

within the Indo-Pacific region and 

strengthen the U.S.’s ability to respond 

regionally and worldwide, through 

construction of infrastructure upgrades 

and increased support of fighter aircraft, 

in alignment with evolving DAF and 

DoD strategies and initiatives for the 

region. Increasing and improving 

airfield and munitions infrastructure 

would address capability gaps and 

allow for greater efficiencies and agility 

in the way ground operations are 

conducted. The DAF is the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) lead 

agency, and the U.S. Navy is a 

cooperating agency for this EIS process. 

Under this proposal, the DAF is 

considering the beddown and mission 

support of 12 RSAF F–15 fighter 

aircraft, increase in annual airfield 

operations, increase in personnel to 

support the mission, and new 

infrastructure upgrades adjacent to the 

northwest corner of the airfield and 

within the munitions storage area at 

Andersen AFB. Construction would take 

place over approximately 3 to 7 years 

and would include airfield pavements, 

an aircraft hangar, maintenance and 

utilities buildings, fuel systems, fencing 

and utilities, roadways and parking, 

stormwater management infrastructure, 

and earth covered magazines. 

Approximately 209 total acres would be 

disturbed during construction, which 

would be either developed sites or 

maintained vegetation once 

construction is complete. The proposed 

infrastructure has multiple uses and 

could support both the RSAF F–15 

beddown and other DAF, service 

component, and partner nation aircraft 

or missions operating from Andersen 

AFB now or in the future. The DAF 

reviewed requirements for strategic 

capabilities within the Indo-Pacific 

region and identified Andersen AFB for 

enhanced capabilities, including 

beddown of 12 RSAF F–15 aircraft and 

upgrade of operationally relevant 

infrastructure, dismissing five other 

potential alternative locations within 

the Pacific Air Forces area of 

responsibility from consideration. Once 

Andersen AFB was identified for 

enhanced strategic capabilities, the DAF 

considered other locations on Andersen 

AFB for construction of infrastructure 

upgrades; however, only the Proposed 

Action locations were determined to 

meet the criteria for the infrastructure 

upgrades. The No Action Alternative 

will also be addressed in the EIS. 

Additional review and consultation 

which will be incorporated into the 

preparation of the Draft EIS will 

include, but are not necessarily limited 

to, consultation under Section 7 of the 

Endangered Species Act and 

consultation under Section 106 of the 

National Historic Preservation Act. The 

DAF will conduct cultural and natural 

resources surveys in the areas proposed 

for upgrades and consult with 

appropriate resource agencies to 

determine the potential for significant 

impacts on those resources. The Draft 

EIS will present the analysis of the 

potential effects of the Proposed Action 

and alternatives, which may include 

effects on historic properties, sensitive 

species or habitat, socioeconomics, and 

the noise environment among other 

currently unknown potential effects. 

Any required permits or authorizations 

will be determined through the EIS 

analysis process and presented in the 

Draft EIS. 

Scoping and Agency Coordination: To 

effectively define the full range of issues 

to be evaluated in the EIS, the DAF is 

soliciting comments from interested 

local, territorial, and federal elected 

officials and agencies, as well as 

interested members of the public and 

other stakeholders. Comments are 

requested on potential alternatives and 

impacts, and identification of any 

relevant information, studies, or 

analyses of any kind concerning impacts 

affecting the quality of the human 

environment. Concurrent with the 

publication of this Notice of Intent, 

public scoping notices will be 

announced locally. Public scoping 

updates will be accomplished via the 

project website at 

www.AAFBInfraandF15EIS.com. The 

website provides posters, an 

informational brochure, and other 

scoping materials, and the capability for 

the public to provide public scoping 

comments. 

Tommy W. Lee, 

Acting Air Force Federal Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2023–27166 Filed 12–14–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–10–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Navy 

Notice of Intent To Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement/ 

Overseas Environmental Impact 

Statement for Hawaii-California 

Training and Testing Activities 

AGENCY: Department of the Navy (DoN), 

Department of Defense (DoD). 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
86886 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2023 / Notices 

1 10 United States Code (U.S.C.), sections 8062 

(Navy), 8063 (USMC), 7062 (U.S. Army), 9062 (U.S. 

Air Force) and 14 U.S.C., sections 101 and 102 

(USCG). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 

1969, and regulations implemented by 

the Council on Environmental Quality, 

the Department of the Navy 

(DoN)(including both the U.S. Navy and 

the U.S. Marine Corps) in cooperation 

with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, 

and U.S. Air Force, announces its intent 

to prepare the Hawaii-California 

Training and Testing (HCTT) 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/ 

Overseas EIS (OEIS). The HCTT EIS/ 

OEIS will include an analysis of range 

sustainment and modernization 

activities, training activities; and 

research, development, testing, and 

evaluation activities (hereafter referred 

to as ‘‘testing’’) that will be conducted 

in the HCTT Study Area. When 

discussed together, training and testing 

are also referred to as ‘‘military 

readiness activities.’’ The DoN is 

initiating a 45-day public scoping 

process to receive comments on the 

scope of the EIS/OEIS including 

identification of potential alternatives 

and environmental concerns, 

information and analyses relevant to the 

Proposed Action, issues the public 

would like to see addressed in the EIS/ 

OEIS, and the project’s potential to 

affect historic properties pursuant to 

section 106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966. 

DATES: The 45-day public scoping 

period begins on December 15, 2023, 

and extends to January 29, 2024. The 

scoping period is extended 15 calendar 

days (from the usual 30-day period) 

since it overlaps with the holidays. 

Comments must be postmarked or 

submitted electronically via the website 

no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on 

January 29, 2024 for consideration in 

the Draft EIS/OEIS. The DoN will host 

a virtual open house presentation on the 

project website during the scoping 

period to provide information related to 

the Proposed Action, its purpose and 

need, environmental resource areas to 

be analyzed in the EIS/OEIS, the NEPA 

process, the consultation under NHPA, 

and public involvement opportunities. 

ADDRESSES: The DoN invites all 

interested parties to submit scoping 

comments on the EIS/OEIS or 

information regarding historic 

properties or section 106 consulting 

party interest through the project 

website at http://www.nepa.navy.mil/ 

hctteis or by mail to: Naval Facilities 

Engineering Systems Command, Pacific, 

Attention: HCTT EIS/OEIS Project 

Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 

100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860–3134. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. 

Pacific Fleet Command, Attn: Mr. Sean 

Gano, Environmental Public Affairs 

Specialist, 808–474–8441, or visit the 

project website: http://www.nepa.

navy.mil/hctteis. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the 

DoN’s lead action proponent. 

Additional DoN action proponents 

include Naval Sea Systems Command, 

Naval Air Systems Command, Naval 

Information Warfare Systems Command, 

Office of Naval Research, Naval 

Facilities Engineering Expeditionary 

Warfare Center, and the U.S. Marine 

Corps (USMC). In addition, this EIS/ 

OEIS includes certain activities by the 

U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, and U.S. 

Air Force when those activities are 

similar to Navy or Marine Corps 

activities and are scheduled on Navy 

controlled at-sea ranges. 

Proposed military readiness activities 

are consistent with those analyzed in 

the 2018 Hawaii-Southern California 

Training and Testing (HSTT) EIS/OEIS 

and the 2022 Point Mugu Sea Range 

(PMSR) EIS/OEIS, and are 

representative of training and testing 

activities that have been conducted off 

Hawaii and California for more than 80 

years. 

The EIS/OEIS will include an analysis 

of military readiness activities using 

new information including an updated 

acoustic effects analysis, updated 

marine mammal density data, and 

evolving and emergent best available 

science. 

The HCTT Study Area (hereafter 

referred to as the (‘‘Study Area’’) is 

comprised of established operating and 

warning areas across the Pacific Ocean, 

from California west to Hawaii and the 

International Date Line. The HCTT 

Study Area differs from the HSTT Study 

Area in that HCTT includes an extended 

Southern California (SOCAL) Range 

Complex; special use airspace 

corresponding to the new extensions 

(Proposed W–293 and W–294); two 

existing training and testing ranges, the 

PMSR and Northern California (NOCAL) 

Range Complex; areas along the 

Southern California coastline from 

approximately Dana Point to Port 

Hueneme; and four amphibious 

approach lanes providing land access 

from the NOCAL Range Complex and 

PMSR. The Study Area also includes inwater areas of San Diego Bay, Port 

Hueneme, and Pearl Harbor, including 

select pierside facilities associated with 

DoN ports and naval shipyards and a 

transit corridor on the high seas and the 

channels and routes to and from those 

ports that are not part of the range 

complexes, where training and testing 

may occur during vessel transit. 

The purpose of the Proposed Action 

is to ensure U.S. military services are 

able to organize, train, and equip service 

members and personnel to meet their 

respective national defense missions in 

accordance with their Congressionally 

mandated requirements 1 and advance 

joint interoperability in Navy led 

exercises with other military service. 

The Proposed Action is to conduct atsea military readiness activities and 

range modernization within HCTT the 

Study Area. Activities include the use of 

active sonar and explosives while 

employing marine species protective 

mitigation measures. 

The Navy has identified two 

preliminary action alternatives to carry 

forward for analysis in the EIS/OEIS 

along with the No Action Alternative. 

Alternative 1 reflects a representative 

year of training and testing to account 

for the natural fluctuation of training 

cycles and deployment schedules that 

generally limit the maximum level of 

training occurring every year over any 

seven-year period. Alternative 2 reflects 

the maximum number of training and 

testing activities that could occur within 

a given year and assumes that the 

maximum level of activity would occur 

every year over any seven-year period. 

As required by NEPA for the purpose of 

establishing a baseline for analysis, a No 

Action Alternative will be evaluated 

which represents a scenario where no 

military readiness activities are 

conducted in the Study Area. The 

tempo and types of training and testing 

activities have fluctuated because of the 

introduction of new technologies, the 

evolving nature of international events, 

advances in war fighting doctrine and 

procedures, and changes in force 

structure (organization of ships, 

submarines, aircraft, weapons, and 

Sailors). Such developments influence 

the frequency, duration, intensity, and 

location of required training and testing 

activities. The HCTT EIS/OEIS will 

reflect the current compilation of 

training and testing activities required 

to fulfill the military readiness 

requirements, and therefore both action 

alternatives include the analysis of 

newly proposed activities and changes 

to previously analyzed activities. 

Additionally, both action alternatives 

will include modernization and 

sustainment of ranges necessary to 

support military readiness activities. 

Modernization and sustainment 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2023 / Notices 86887 

proposals include new special use 

airspace in Southern California, an 

expansion of an underwater training 

range near San Clemente Island, and 

installation and maintenance of mine 

training areas off Hawaii and California. 

Environmental resources that are 

determined to be potentially affected are 

carried forward for full analysis. 

Resources to be evaluated include, but 

are not limited to, biological resources 

(including marine mammals, reptiles, 

fishes, vegetation, invertebrates, 

habitats, birds, and other protected 

species), sediments and water quality, 

air quality, cultural resources, 

socioeconomic resources, and public 

health and safety. The EIS/OEIS will 

also analyze measures that would avoid, 

minimize, or mitigate environmental 

effects. The Navy will conduct all 

coordination and consultation activities 

required by the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act (MMPA), NHPA, 

Endangered Species Act (ESA), National 

Marine Sanctuaries Act, MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act, Clean Water Act, 

Rivers and Harbor Act, Coastal Zone 

Management Act, Clean Air Act, and 

other laws and regulations determined 

to be applicable to the project. As part 

of this process, the DoN will seek the 

issuance of regulatory permits and 

authorizations under MMPA and ESA to 

support at-sea mission readiness 

activities within the Study Area, 

beginning in December 2025. 

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.8, the DoN 

invited the National Marine Fisheries 

Service and the Federal Aviation 

Administration to be cooperating 

agencies in preparation of the EIS/OEIS. 

The scoping process invites 

comments on the scope of the EIS/OEIS 

including identification of potential 

alternatives, information and analyses 

relevant to the Proposed Action, 

identification of environmental 

concerns, issues the public would like 

to see addressed in the EIS/OEIS, and 

the projects potential to affect historic 

properties pursuant to Section 106 of 

the NHPA. Parties with demonstrated 

interest in the undertaking and its 

effects on historic properties may 

request to become a consulting party in 

the section 106 process. Federal 

agencies, State agencies, local agencies, 

Native American Indian Tribes and 

Nations, Native Hawaiian 

Organizations, the public, and 

interested persons are encouraged to 

provide comments. 

Comments must be postmarked or 

submitted electronically via the website 

no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on 

January 29, 2024 for consideration 

during the development of the Draft 

EIS/OEIS. Comments can be submitted 

electronically via the project website at 

http://www.nepa.navy.mil/hctteis or 

mailed to the address noted above. 

After the scoping period, DoN will 

coordinate with participating and 

cooperating agencies to develop a Draft 

EIS/OEIS. The DoN intends to release 

the Draft EIS/OEIS in the fall of 2024, 

release the Final EIS/OEIS in the fall of 

2025, and sign a Record of Decision 

following the 30-day Final EIS/OEIS 

wait period. 

Dated: December 4, 2023. 

J.E. Koningisor, 

Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate 

General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 

Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26905 Filed 12–14–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

[Docket No.: ED–2023–SCC–0212] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Comment Request; U.S. 

Department of Education Grant 

Performance Report Form (ED 524B) 

AGENCY: Office of Finance and 

Operations (OFO), Department of 

Education (ED). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 

1995, the Department is proposing a 

revision of a currently approved 

information collection request (ICR). 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before February 

13, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the 

documents related to the information 

collection listed in this notice, please 

use https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching the Docket ID number ED– 

2023–SCC–0212. Comments submitted 

in response to this notice should be 

submitted electronically through the 

Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://

www.regulations.gov by selecting the 

Docket ID number or via postal mail, 

commercial delivery, or hand delivery. 

If the regulations.gov site is not 

available to the public for any reason, 

the Department will temporarily accept 

comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. 

Please include the docket ID number 

and the title of the information 

collection request when requesting 

documents or submitting comments. 

Please note that comments submitted 

after the comment period will not be 

accepted. Written requests for 

information or comments submitted by 

postal mail or delivery should be 

addressed to the Manager of the 

Strategic Collections and Clearance 

Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland 

Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W203, 

Washington, DC 20202–8240. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

specific questions related to collection 

activities, please contact Cleveland 

Knight, 202–987–0064. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Department, in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) 

(44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the 

general public and Federal agencies 

with an opportunity to comment on 

proposed, revised, and continuing 

collections of information. This helps 

the Department assess the impact of its 

information collection requirements and 

minimize the public’s reporting burden. 

It also helps the public understand the 

Department’s information collection 

requirements and provide the requested 

data in the desired format. The 

Department is soliciting comments on 

the proposed information collection 

request (ICR) that is described below. 

The Department is especially interested 

in public comment addressing the 

following issues: (1) is this collection 

necessary to the proper functions of the 

Department; (2) will this information be 

processed and used in a timely manner; 

(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; 

(4) how might the Department enhance 

the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (5) how 

might the Department minimize the 

burden of this collection on the 

respondents, including through the use 

of information technology. Please note 

that written comments received in 

response to this notice will be 

considered public records. 

Title of Collection: U.S. Department of 

Education Grant Performance Report 

Form (ED 524B). 

OMB Control Number: 1894–0003. 

Type of Review: Revision of a 

currently approved ICR. 

Respondents/Affected Public: State, 

Local, and Tribal Governments. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 13,300. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Burden Hours: 297,800. 

Abstract: The ED 524B form and 

instructions are used by many ED 

discretionary grant programs to enable 

grantees to meet ED deadline dates for 

submission of performance reports to 

the Department. 

As an interim (usually annual) 

performance report, ED uses the 

information submitted by grantees in 

the ED 524B to evaluate grantee 

performance and progress and to 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1