[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44673-44674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20313]
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 166 / Friday, August 28, 2009 /
Notices
[[Page 44673]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[USCG-2001-10486]
Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged
in U.S. Waters; Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Draft
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for the rulemaking
entitled ``Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water''
(Docket No. USCG-2001-10486), published elsewhere in today's issue of
the Federal Register. This DPEIS provides an assessment of the
potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed
establishment of ballast water discharge standards. The standards would
be used to approve alternative ballast water management methods that
are effective in preventing or reducing the introduction of
nonindigenous species via discharged ballast water into United States
waters. We request your comments on this DPEIS.
DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to our
online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before November 27,
2009 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2001-10486 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-366-9329.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
call or e-mail Mr. John Morris, Project Manager, Environmental
Standards Division, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, telephone 202-372-
1433, e-mail: [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing
or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the
Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS). All comments
received will be posted, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov
and will include any personal information you have provided.
Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the
docket number for this notice (USCG-2001-10486) and provide a reason
for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and
material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only
one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a telephone number in the body
of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions
regarding your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become
highlighted in blue. Insert ``USCG-2001-10486'' in the Keyword box,
click ``Search'', and then click on the balloon shape in the Actions
column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit
them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\; by 11 inches,
suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail
and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a
stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all
comments and material received during the comment period.
Viewing the comments and DPEIS: To view the comments and the DPEIS,
go to http://www.regulations.gov, enter the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG-2001-10486) in the Keyword box, and click ``Search''.
If you do not have access to the Internet, you may view the docket by
visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground
floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement
with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management
Facility.
Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a
Privacy Act system of records notice regarding our public dockets in
the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Background and Purpose
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has evaluated the impacts to
the environment from a range of alternative ballast water discharge
standards (BWDS). BWDS would be used to approve ballast water
management systems (BWMS) that are at least as effective as ballast
water exchange in preventing or reducing the introduction of
nonindigenous species (NIS) via discharged ballast water.
Ballast water is taken on by a vessel to increase the water draft,
change the trim, regulate the stability, or maintain stress loads
within acceptable operational limits. The term NIS refers to organisms
found outside of their native or historical range. In cases where they
invade ecosystems, NIS may alter aquatic and marine ecosystems and
biodiversity, impact commercial and recreational fisheries, cause
infrastructure damage, contribute to potential risks to human health,
and generally create detrimental economic impacts. Ballast water
discharge (BWD) is a major pathway for NIS introduction from vessels
operating in or entering United States waters.
On September 26, 2003, the USCG announced its proposed action to
establish BWDS that would be effective in preventing the introduction
and spread of NIS via discharged ballast water. (68 FR 55559). This
Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) addresses the
effects on the human and natural environment of five alternatives for
the proposed regulatory action to establish BWDS. This DPEIS is issued
in conjunction with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, published
elsewhere in today's Federal Register. The DPEIS will be used to make
an informed decision about BWDS and to understand the nationwide
environmental and socioeconomic implications of the decision.
[[Page 44674]]
Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS)
We request your comments on the alternatives analyzed in the DPEIS,
methodologies used in the DPEIS, and possible sources of data or
information not included in the DPEIS. Your comments will be considered
in preparing the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
(FPEIS).
The USCG is the lead federal agency for this action under the
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990
(NANPCA) as reauthorized and amended in the National Invasive Species
Act of 1996 (NISA).
Dated: August 17, 2009.
F.J. Sturm,
Acting Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast
Guard.
[FR Doc. E9-20313 Filed 8-27-09; 8:45 am]
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