[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23752-23753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11715]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD01-01-020]


Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for 
Installation of Temporary Radio Direction Finding Equipment and 
Associated Property Use Acquisition At Five Non-Coast Guard Owned 
Facilities Within the First Coast Guard District

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces the availability of the 
Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) and Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) that address the environmental impacts expected to 
result from the use of five facilities, not owned by the Coast Guard, 
for temporary installation of radio direction finding equipment. Use of 
this temporary equipment is an interim measure designed to improve the 
Coast Guard's ability to locate the source of emergency distress radio 
signals until the long term improvements to the National Distress 
System (NDS) are implemented. The five facilities are located within 
the First Coast Guard District in coastal areas of the States of 
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. This FEA evaluates the 
environmental and socioeconomic impacts of utilizing the five 
facilities for installation of the radio direction finding equipment. 
Due to the minimal environmental impacts anticipated, a draft of this 
Environmental Assessment was not circulated for comment. The FEA 
evaluates the Preferred Alternative to install the temporary radio 
direction finding equipment; the No Action Alternative in which the 
equipment would never be deployed; and what could be considered the 
``delayed action'' alternative in which no interim measures would be 
taken until the permanent improvements to the NDS are in place. The 
FONSI determined that the Preferred Alternative action will have no 
significant effects on the human environment.

ADDRESSES: Written requests for copies of the Final Environmental 
Assessment and FONSI, or requests for information, should be directed 
to: Mr. Luke Dlhopolsky, U.S. Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit 
Providence, 300 Metro Center Boulevard, Warwick, Rhode Island 02886 or 
by calling (401) 736-1743.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, the FEA 
or FONSI, or for general information on the U.S. Coast Guard's National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, please contact Mr. Luke 
Dlhopolsky, U.S. Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit Providence, 300 
Metro Center Boulevard, Warwick, Rhode Island 02886 or by calling (401) 
736-1743.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Temporary RDF equipment will be installed on 
a number of waterfront sites throughout the First Coast Guard District 
Area of Responsibility (AOR). This AOR includes all six New England 
States, eastern New York State, and northern New Jersey (north of the 
Shrewsbury River). Most of the RDF equipment will be installed on 
facilities that are Coast Guard owned. However, to ensure effective 
coverage of the coastal areas, the Coast Guard determined that some 
equipment must be installed at locations where there is no Coast Guard 
owned facility. The Coast Guard identified suitable sites where the RDF 
equipment could be installed and will enter into lease agreements with 
the property owners. These sites, owned by other government agencies or 
private parties, are located in Buzzards Bay (Bourne) and New Bedford, 
Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; and Mamaroneck and Great River, 
New York.
    Under the Coast Guard's Procedures for Implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the actions to install the RDF 
equipment at Coast Guard owned facilities are Categorically Excluded 
from further environmental analysis and documentation due to minimal 
expected environmental impact. However, there is no established 
Categorical Exclusion that addresses acquisition of property for such 
uses. As a result, these NEPA implementing procedures require that an 
environmental assessment be prepared. The FEA and FONSI are available 
for public inspection at the following locations: USCG Civil 
Engineering Unit Providence, 300 Metro Center Boulevard, Warwick, Rhode 
Island 02886 (401) 736-1743

[[Page 23753]]

    First Coast Guard District Operations Division, 408 Atlantic 
Avenue, Boston Massachusetts 02110 (617) 223-8458 Commandant (G-SEC), 
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 2nd Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20593

    Dated: March 9, 2001.
G.N. Naccara,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 01-11715 Filed 5-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P