Notice2025-03532
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Nationwide Operation of Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Primary source
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Published
March 7, 2025
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security Department
Abstract
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to prepare a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to consider the potential environmental impacts associated with the research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C- UAS), and nationwide C-UAS operational and training activities (Proposed Action). DHS is seeking public input regarding important environmental issues that should be considered in the PEA. The PEA will be used to assess at a national scale the environmental impacts that may occur from the Proposed Action and establish standard Best Management Practices (BMPs) by which DHS can reduce such impacts. DHS invites federal agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to any potential environmental impact associated with the Proposed Action to formally cooperate with DHS in the preparation of the PEA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 44 (Friday, March 7, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 44 (Friday, March 7, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11545-11546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03532]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[Docket No.: DHS-2025-0009]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental
Assessment for the Nationwide Operation of Counter-Unmanned Aircraft
Systems
AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments and interagency
coordination.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to prepare a
programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to consider the potential
environmental impacts associated with the research, development,
testing and evaluation (RDT&E) of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-
UAS), and nationwide C-UAS operational and training activities
(Proposed Action). DHS is seeking public input regarding important
environmental issues that should be considered in the PEA. The PEA will
be used to assess at a national scale the environmental impacts that
may occur from the Proposed Action and establish standard Best
Management Practices (BMPs) by which DHS can reduce such impacts. DHS
invites federal agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special
expertise with respect to any potential environmental impact associated
with the Proposed Action to formally cooperate with DHS in the
preparation of the PEA.
DATES: Comments are due by April 7, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by either of the following
methods:
<bullet> <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> web portal: Navigate to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket No. DHS-2025-0009 to submit
public comments. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments. All public comments received are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act and will be posted in their entirety at this site and
available for public viewing. Do not include any information you would
not like to be made publicly available.
<bullet> By email: Emailed comments should be sent to: Jennifer
Hass, Director, Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d9aabca9f4bca9b1a999b1a8f7bdb1aaf7beb6af"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="daa9bfaaf7bfaab2aa9ab2abf4beb2a9f4bdb5ac">[email protected]</span></a>.
All comments received may be made publicly available without
change, including any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hass, Director, Environmental
Planning and Historic Preservation Program, Department of Homeland
Security at (202) 580-5763 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#afdccadf82cadfc7dfefc7de81cbc7dc81c8c0d9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="403325306d253028300028316e2428336e272f36">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Action: DHS proposes to perform RDT&E of C-UAS and conduct
operational and training activities to support existing and emerging
DHS mission requirements nationwide. C-UAS are a system or device
capable of tracking, disabling, disrupting, or seizing control of an
unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system (UAS). UAS have become a
security concern in recent years due to the ease with which they can
aid in intelligence gathering and be used for malicious activities. DHS
has statutory authority under the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of
2018 to counter credible threats from UAS to the safety or security of
certain facilities or assets, which are designated based on their
importance to the security missions of DHS and Components.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to support RDT&E of C-UAS
technologies and to deploy C-UAS in operational settings to detect,
identify, monitor, track, and mitigate (DIMT-M) (passively and
actively) threats posed by UAS, including across the radio frequency
spectrum. The Proposed Action is needed to enhance DHS's ability to use
C-UAS technologies, monitor emerging threats, protect DHS's missions,
and defend the Nation from UAS threats and malicious activity
effectively and reliably. The use of C-UAS would support existing and
emerging mission requirements of the various Components within DHS and
facilitate their services and strategies essential to the Nation's
security, safety, and emergency response.
Within DHS, the use and application of C-UAS are actively being
researched and tested to better understand C-UAS capabilities to
support DIMT-M activities. DHS conducts C-UAS activities nationwide,
with some recurring in certain locations based on testing and
demonstration needs.: Additionally, authorized Components may use C-UAS
technologies for operational use, trainings, and demonstrations
nationwide, including along the southwest and northern borders.
[[Page 11546]]
Under the Proposed Action, DHS and its Components would continue
ongoing RDT&E activities, but on a nationwide scale. The Proposed
Action also includes the nationwide use and operation of C-UAS, outside
of a testing environment, to conduct training and operational
activities, such as law enforcement and security. The Proposed Action
includes all elements related to the training, operation, maintenance,
and use of C-UAS, including mitigation. This would allow DHS to
continue its current testing of C-UAS while also enabling DHS and its
Components to use C-UAS in an operational setting to support mission
requirements.
Potential impacts for this Proposed Action would be associated with
the testing, operation, and use of C-UAS, including supporting systems,
and mobilization to a needed location, if applicable. All C-UAS
currently in use by DHS are either ground- or vehicle-mounted. C-UAS
maintenance would occur in existing DHS facilities using standard tools
and materials, and in accordance with standard operating procedures for
equipment maintenance.
DHS has decided to prepare a PEA for this Proposed Action to assist
agency planning, decision making, and establish standard best
management practices. This notice starts the scoping process for the
PEA and solicits information regarding important environmental issues
and alternatives that should be considered in the PEA. Additionally,
DHS will use the scoping process to identify and eliminate from
detailed analysis issues that are not significant or that have been
analyzed by prior environmental review. DHS also invites agencies with
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues of this Proposed Action to formally cooperate with
DHS in preparation of the PEA.
The PEA analyses will also support compliance with other
environmental statutes (e.g., National Historic Preservation Act,
Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, etc.).
Request for Comments: Federal agencies; Tribal, state, and local
governments; the public; and other interested parties are requested to
comment on the important issues to be considered in the PEA. Comments
must be provided by April 7, 2025. For information on how to submit,
see the ADDRESSES section above. A mailing address to submit hardcopy
comments can be provided upon request.
(Authority: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), DHS Management Directive 023-01, rev. 01
(Implementation of NEPA), and DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01,
rev. 01 (Implementation of the NEPA).)
Jennifer Hass,
Director, Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Program,
Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer, Department of Homeland
Security.
[FR Doc. 2025-03532 Filed 3-6-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9112-FF-P
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