Notice of the Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact for a Low-Energy Marine Seismic Survey by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the Louisville Ridge in the Southwest Pacific Ocean

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Notice of the Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact for a Low-Energy Marine Seismic Survey by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the Louisville Ridge in the Southwest Pacific Ocean

AGENCY:

National Science Foundation.

ACTION:

Notice of availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact for proposed activities in the Southwest Pacific Ocean.

SUMMARY:

The National Science Foundation gives notice of the availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact for proposed activities in the Southwest Pacific Ocean.

The Division of Ocean Sciences in the Directorate for Geoscience (GEO/OCE) has prepared an Environmental Assessment of a marine geophysical survey by the Research Vessel Roger Revelle, in the vicinity of Louisville Ridge in the Pacific Ocean, January-February 2006. The proposed action is expected to result in substantial benefits to NSE-funded research in ocean science. The draft Environmental Assessment was available for public review for a 30-day period.

DATES:

Comments on the FONSI must be submitted on or before December 9, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the Environmental Assessment (EA) are available upon request from: Dr. Alexander Shor, National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Sciences, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 725, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-8583. Written comments should be submitted to this same address, or via email to

ashor@msf.gov

. The FONSI and EA are also available on the agency's Web site at

http://www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/pubs/scripps_louisville&_ridge_EA.pdf

and

http://www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/pubs/scripps_louisville&_ridge_FONSI.pdf

.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The National Science Foundation prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for a marine geophysical survey in the Pacific Ocean and solicited public comments (

Federal Register

): July 7, 2005, Vol. 70, No. 129, Page 39346). The National Science Foundation has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) based on this EA, in accordance with CEQ regulations § 1500-1508 and 45 CFR 640. It was determined that the proposed activity would not result in a significant impact on the quality of the human environment within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. Therefore, a FONSI was issued, and no environmental impact statement is required.

copies of the FONSI and the Environmental Assessment titled, Environmental Assessment of a Planned Low-Energy Marine Seismic Survey by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the Louisville Ridge in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, January-Februay 2006, are available upon request from: Dr. Alexander Shor, National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Services, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 725, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-8583 or at the agency's Web site at

http://www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/pubs/scripps_louisville&_ridge_EA.pdf

and

http://www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/pubs/scripps_louisville&_ridge_FONSI.pdf

.

The National Science Foundation invites interested members of the public to provide written comments on this FONSI.

Dated: November 3, 2005.

Dr. Alexander Shor,

Division of Ocean Sciences, National Science Foundation.

[FR Doc. 05-22302 Filed 11-08-05; 8:45 am]

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