Notices. Notice of public meeting
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/register/2007/04/04/07-1638·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 022807B] Pre-assessment Workshop and Public Meeting for West Coast Canary Rockfish, Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: NOAA Fisheries will hold a workshop to discuss the data and models that will be used in the upcoming stock assessments for canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish and arrowtooth flounder.
DATES: The Pre-assessment Workshop for West Coast Canary Rockfish, Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder will be held Tuesday, April 24 through Wednesday, April 25, 2007. The workshop will meet each day from 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., or until business for the day is completed. ADDRESSES: The Pre-Assessment Workshop for West Coast Canary Rockfish, Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder will be held at Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, 205 S.E. Spokane Street, Portland, Oregon 97202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey Miller, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC); telephone:
(206)437-5670; or Dr. Jim Hastie, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC); telephone: (206)860-3412. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This workshop is intended to initiate dialog between members of the fishing community, stock assessment authors, data managers, and interested members of the public prior to the finalization of the stock assessment model. The specific objectives of the workshop are to:
(1)Discuss the data used in the canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish and arrowtooth flounder stock assessments including details on collections methods, current observed trends, and how the data will be incorporated into the assessment models;
(2)discuss the rationale for making assumptions in the models, especially when data are missing or insufficient;
(3)identify anomalies in the data and provide possible explanations; and
(4)identify data gaps and future research possibilities. All participants are encouraged to pre-register for the workshop by contacting Ms. Stacey Miller, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) by phone at (206)437-5670 or by email at *Stacey.Miller@noaa.gov* . Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda may come before the workshop participants for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal workshop action during this meeting. Workshop action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the workshop participants' intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Stacey Miller at
(206)437-5670 at least five days prior to the meeting date. Dated: March 30, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7-6201 Filed 4-3-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Estuarine Research Reserve System AGENCY: Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Public Comment Period for the Revised Management Plan for the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing a thirty day public comment period on the revised Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan which will begin on the day this announcement is published. Comments should be sent within the comment period in hard copy or e-mail to Matthew Chasse at *Matt.Chasse@noaa.gov* or NOAA's Estuarine Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve was designated in February 1986 pursuant to Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1461. The reserve has been operating under a management plan approved in 1998. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must revise its management plan every five years. The submission of this plan fulfills this requirement and sets a course for successful implementation of the goals and objectives of the reserve. A boundary expansion, new facility and land acquisition plans, and updated programmatic objectives are notable revisions to the 1998 approved management plan. Since the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve was designated, it has been managed by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Since that time, state responsibility for the management of the reserve has been transferred to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), State Lands Division. A revised MOU between NOAA and the State of Alabama was approved to reflect these changes. Under ADCNR, the revised management plan outlines the administrative structure; the education, stewardship, and research goals of the reserve; and the plans for future land acquisition and facility development to support reserve operations. Three hundred and thirty three
(333)acres of state-owned coastal and submerged lands adjacent to the reserve are incorporated through the boundary amendment in the management plan revision. The expansion provides a broader and more representative diversity of wetland and water habitats into the reserve boundary. The new boundary and will provide areas for reserve related research and education programs. The tidal freshwater riverine, emergent and forested wetland communities protected through this expansion further enhance the Weeks Bay reserve as an appropriate and ecologically representative site for long-term research and education. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Chasse at
(301)563-1198 or Laurie McGilvray at
(301)563-1158 of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Estuarine Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910. For copies of the Weeks Bay Management Plan revision, visit *http://www.sarpc.org.* Dated: March 28, 2007. David M. Kennedy, Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E7-6195 Filed 4-3-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-08-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)for Stationing and Training of Increased Aviation Assets Within U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD. ACTION: Notice of Intent. SUMMARY: The Army intends to prepare an EIS to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the stationing and training of increased numbers and types of aviation assets within Alaska. The proposed increase and reorganization will allow the Army to transition to a force that is capable of providing a broad range of integrated aviation training experience to the forces of USARAK and more aviation capabilities when the unit deploys to support operational missions abroad. Existing aviation units would potentially be reorganized and stationed at Fort Wainwright, Fort Richardson or other military installations to support the training of aviation assets on U.S. Army training lands in Alaska. The reorganized unit would be capable of providing first line air transport, air reconnaissance, and close air support. The new aviation unit would be built around the existing USARAK aviation fleet of 30 medium and heavy lift transport helicopters, and USARAK's 640 aviation personnel. To this the Army proposes to add helicopters capable of providing medical evacuation, air reconnaissance, close air support, and aviation attack capabilities. The proposed aviation unit, an Aviation Task Force or Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), would potentially consist of up to 62 medium and heavy lift helicopters, 30 combat scout helicopter, 24 attack helicopters, and between 1,200 to 2,850 personnel. This proposed stationing and training of increased aviation assets involves construction of new facilities, execution of day-to-day support operations, and routine joint military training at nearby training lands and ranges. The action may have significant environmental impacts resulting from training and construction required as part of the proposed reorganization. Significant impacts resulting from this action may include impacts to air space, noise, and cultural resources. The EIS will analyze the impacts of the proposed action and a full range of reasonable alternatives upon Alaska's natural and man-made environments. DATES: Written comments identifying potential impacts to be analyzed in the EIS must be received not later than May 4, 2007. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to Ms. Carrie McEnteer, Directorate of Public Works, Attention: IMPA-FWA-PWE (C. McEnteer), 1060 Gaffney Road #4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-4500; fax:
(907)353-9867; e-mail: *carrie.mcenteer@us.army.mil.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Hall, Public Affairs Office, 724 Postal Service Loop Road, # 6000, Bldg. 600, Room B349, Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6000; telephone:
(907)384-2546, e-mail: *robert.hall33@us.army.mil* , or at Fort Wainwright, AK; telephone:
(907)353-6701. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To better support current and future national defense requirements, USARAK has restructured its two major military combat component units into modular force structures. These two components, the Stryker Brigade Combat Team
(BCT)and Airborne BCT, have been reorganized to fit the Army's Modularity model as directed by the Army Campaign Plan. The new force structure offers a more flexible, sustainable, and rapidly deployable force, better to meet current and future defense requirements. The goal is for each BCT to be able to operate either independently or to integrate readily into a larger mission-tailored force capable of accomplishing a designated mission. An essential element of USARAK combat capabilities is the development of modern war-fighting skills. Chief among these skills is the ability to integrate USARAK efforts with the vital support offered by modern Army aviation assets. These skills can only be mastered through frequent training with an aviation unit that is equipped with the full spectrum of aviation assets that are typically deployed to support a BCT during wartime. Such avaition units would provide infantry and light armored combat units first line air transport, air reconnaissance, and close air support. While USARAK has historically supported unit training activities within Alaska with rotary-winged aircraft (helicopters), the types and numbers of current assets are not sufficient to provide the full range of integrated tactical training required by the modern BCT. To resolve this shortcoming, USARAK is proposing to reorganize its existing aviation assets (approximately 640 personnel and 30 medium and heavy lift helicopters) to become a front line aviaiton unit with an increased capacity that could range in size from an Aviation Task Force (approximately 1,200 personnel, 40-50 medium and heavy lift helicopters, and 30 combat scout helicopters) to a CAB (approximately 2,850 personnel, 60 medium and heavy lift helicopters, 30 combat scout helicopters, and 24 attack aviaiton helicopters). The new aviation unit would provide key aviation assets for operational deployment abroad, and would serve to enhance the training capability of USARAK's two BCTs by providing a local opportunity to conduct integrated training with multiple types of Army aviation assets. In addition to consideration of a No Action Alternative (use of existing aviation assets and infrastructure to support USARAK BCT training with no increase to current integrated land-air training capability), three additional alternatives are proposed as possible scenarios for the reorganization of existing USARAK aviation assets. The alternatives vary by aviation unit size, aviation asset composition, and amount of facility construction. Alternatives include:
(1)Expansion of Existing Aviation Units into an Aviation Task Force with Full Construction and Increased Training—convert existing USARAK aviation assets into an Aviation Task Force (approximately 1,200 personnel, station additional helicopters, build sufficient new infrastructure to support indoor storage of 100% of the Aviation Task Force's aviation inventory and conduct increased aviation training on existing Alaska military ranges;
(2)Expansion of Existing Aviation Assets into a CAB with Partial Construction and Increased Training—convert existing USARAK aviation assets into a CAB, station additional helicopters, build sufficient new infrastructure to support indoor storage of 20% of the CABs aviation inventory and conduct increased aviation training on existing Alaska military ranges; and
(3)Expansion of Existing Aviation Assets into a CAB with Full Construction and Increased Training—convert existing USARAK aviation assets into a CAB, station additional helicopters, build sufficient new infrastructure to support indoor storage of 100% of the CABs aviation inventory and conduct increased aviation training on existing Alaska military ranges. Additional potential alternative sites within Alaska will be evaluated based upon the purpose and need and criteria associated with the proposed action. *Scoping and Public Comment:* Tribes, Federal, state, and local agencies and the public are invited to participate in the scoping process for the preparation of this EIS. Scoping meetings will be held in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Delta Junction, Alaska. The scoping process will help identify possible alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of concern to be analyzed in the EIS. Notification of the times and locations for the scoping meetings will be published in local newspapers. Dated: March 26, 2007. Addison D. Davis, IV, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health). [FR Doc. 07-1638 Filed 4-3-07; 8:45 am]
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