[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 184 (Friday, September 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58121-58122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20696]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket Number USCG-2021-0738]


Final Record of Decision for the Offshore Patrol Cutter 
Acquisition Program's Final Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA 
Regulations, the Coast Guard has prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) 
for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Program's acquisition of up to 21 
OPCs and operation of up to 25 OPCs and by this notice, is announcing 
the availability of the ROD. The Coast Guard's decision to implement 
Alternative 1, described in the OPC's Final Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS/POEIS), 
will enable the Coast Guard to fulfill mission requirements that are 
supported by OPCs while implementing a full range of mitigation 
measures.

DATES: Captain Andrew Pecora, USCG, OPC Program Manager signed the 
Record of Decision on 09 September 2022.

ADDRESSES: The Final ROD, the complete text of the Final PEIS/POEIS, 
and any supporting documents related to this decision are available in 
the docket which can be found by searching the docket number USCG-2021-
0738 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov or at https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Engineering-Logistics-CG-4-/Program-Offices/Environmental-Management/Environmental-Planning-and-Historic-Preservation/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the ROD, 
contact Andrew Haley, U.S. Coast Guard; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, Sections 4321 et seq. 
of Title 42 United States Code, and Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (Sections 1500-1508 of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations 
[CFR]), the Coast Guard announces its decision to implement the Coast 
Guard's preferred Alternative, Alternative 1, including the full range 
of mitigation measures, as described in the OPC's Final PEIS/POEIS. 
This decision will enable the Coast Guard to carry out primary missions 
supported by OPCs. A detailed description of Alternative 1 is provided 
in Chapter 2 (Proposed Action and Alternatives) of the OPC Final PEIS/
POEIS.
    In the Final PEIS/POEIS, the Coast Guard identified the Proposed 
Action as its preferred alternative in meeting the purpose and need to 
provide the Coast Guard with a reliable and operationally available 
presence to accomplish assigned missions in offshore waters exceeding 
the effective operating range of Fast Response Cutters. The Proposed 
Action includes the acquisition of up to 21 OPCs and operation of up to 
25 OPCs with a design service life of 30 years to replace 28 aging MECs 
which would be, or have already been, decommissioned.
    Following publication of a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a 
PEIS/POEIS on November 18, 2020 (85 FR 73491), the Coast Guard prepared 
a Draft PEIS/POEIS in accordance with NEPA, as implemented by the CEQ 
Regulations (40 CFR 1500 et seq.); DHS Directive Number 023-01, Rev. 01 
and Instruction

[[Page 58122]]

023-01-001, Rev. 01; and Coast Guard Commandant Instruction 5090.1. On 
September 20, 2021, the Coast Guard published a Notice of Availability 
(NOA) and a request for comments on the Draft PEIS/POEIS (86 FR 52162). 
The Coast Guard considered and addressed in the Final PEIS/POEIS 
comments received on the Draft PEIS/POEIS during the comment period. 
Public comments did not result in the addition of substantive revisions 
to the Draft PEIS/POEIS. Responses to comments are in Appendix I of the 
Final PEIS/POEIS.
    On June 14, 2022, a NOA of the Final PEIS/POEIS was published in 
the Federal Register (87 FR 35986) initiating a 30 day opportunity to 
object. The Coast Guard received one comment and did not receive any 
eligible objections. The Final ROD documents the rationale for 
approving the Final PEIS/POEIS and is consistent with the Reviewing 
Officer's instructions. This notice is issued under the authority in 40 
CFR 1505.2(a).
    Responsible Official: The Responsible Official for approving the 
Final ROD is:

    Dated: September 9, 2022.
Andrew T. Pecora,
Captain, USCG, OPC Program Manager.
[FR Doc. 2022-20696 Filed 9-22-22; 8:45 am]
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