80_FR_29116 80 FR 29019 - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill; Draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessments

80 FR 29019 - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill; Draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessments

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 97 (May 20, 2015)

Page Range29019-29021
FR Document2015-11945

In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Framework Agreement for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the Federal and State natural resource trustee agencies (Trustees) have prepared a Draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessments (Draft Phase IV ERP/EA) describing and proposing a suite of early restoration projects intended to continue the process of restoring natural resources and services injured or lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred on or about April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico. The Draft Phase IV ERP/EA proposes 10 early restoration projects that are consistent with the early restoration program alternatives selected in the Final Phase III Early Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Phase III ERP/PEIS). The Draft Phase IV ERP/EA also includes a notice of change and supporting analysis for one Phase III Early Restoration Project, ``Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and Boat Ramps--Eastpoint Fishing Pier Improvements.'' The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability of the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA and to seek public comments on the 10 proposed early restoration projects and supporting analysis.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29019-29021]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11945]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[FWS-R4-FHC-2015-N088: FVHC98210408710-XXX-FF04G01000]


Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill; Draft Phase IV Early Restoration 
Plan and Environmental Assessments

AGENCY: Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Framework Agreement 
for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater 
Horizon Oil Spill, the Federal and State natural resource trustee 
agencies (Trustees) have prepared a Draft Phase IV Early Restoration 
Plan and Environmental Assessments (Draft Phase IV ERP/EA) describing 
and proposing a suite of early restoration projects intended to 
continue the process of restoring natural resources and services 
injured or lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which 
occurred on or about April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico. The Draft 
Phase IV ERP/EA proposes 10 early restoration projects that are 
consistent with the early restoration program alternatives selected in 
the Final Phase III Early Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (Phase III ERP/PEIS). The Draft Phase IV ERP/EA also 
includes a notice of change and supporting analysis for one Phase III 
Early Restoration Project, ``Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and 
Boat Ramps--Eastpoint Fishing Pier Improvements.'' The purpose of this 
notice is to inform the public of the availability of the Draft Phase 
IV ERP/EA and to seek public comments on the 10 proposed early 
restoration projects and supporting analysis.

DATES: Comments Due Date: We will consider public comments received on 
or before June 19, 2015.
    Public Meetings: The Trustees have scheduled a series of public 
meetings to facilitate public review and comment on the Draft Phase IV 
ERP/EA. Both written and verbal comments will be taken at each public 
meeting. The Trustees will hold an open house for each meeting followed 
by a formal meeting. Each public meeting will include a presentation of 
the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA. The public meeting schedule is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date                      Time               Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, June 2, 2015.........  6:00 p.m. Open     Crowne Plaza
                                 House.             Pensacola Grand
                                6:30 p.m. Public    Hotel, 200 East
                                 Meeting.           Pensacola Street,
                                                    Pensacola, FL.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015.......  6:00 p.m. Open     Renaissance Mobile
                                 House.             Riverview Plaza
                                6:30 p.m. Public    Hotel, 64 South
                                 Meeting.           Water Street,
                                                    Mobile, AL.
Thursday, June 4, 2015........  6:00 p.m. Open     University of
                                 House.             Southern
                                6:30 p.m. Public    Mississippi, FEC
                                 Meeting.           Auditorium, 730 East
                                                    Beach Boulevard,
                                                    Long Beach, MS.
Monday, June 8, 2015..........  6:00 p.m. Open     Belle Chasse
                                 House.             Auditorium, 8398
                                6:30 p.m. Public    Louisiana 23, Belle
                                 Meeting.           Chasse, LA 70037.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015......  6:00 p.m. Open     Texas A&M University
                                 House.             at Galveston,
                                6:30 p.m. Public    Seawolf Parkway on
                                 Meeting.           Pelican Island,
                                                    Auditorium,
                                                    Galveston, TX.
Thursday, June 11, 2015.......  6:00 p.m. Open     Harte Research
                                 House.             Institute for Gulf
                                6:30 p.m. Public    of Mexico Studies,
                                 Meeting.           Texas A&M University
                                                    at Corpus Christi,
                                                    6300 Ocean Drive,
                                                    Corpus Christi, TX.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 29020]]


ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining Documents: You may download the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA at: 
http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov or http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon. Alternatively, you may request a CD of the Draft 
Phase IV ERP/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You may also 
view the document at any of the public facilities listed at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.
    Submitting Comments: You may submit comments on the Draft Phase IV 
ERP/EA by one of following methods:
     Via the Web: http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.
     Via U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 
49567, Atlanta, GA 30345.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nanciann Regalado, at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    On or about April 20, 2010, the mobile offshore drilling unit 
Deepwater Horizon, which was being used to drill a well for BP 
Exploration and Production, Inc. (BP), in the Macondo prospect 
(Mississippi Canyon 252--MC252), experienced a significant explosion, 
fire, and subsequent sinking in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in an 
unprecedented volume of oil and other discharges from the rig and from 
the wellhead on the seabed. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is the 
largest oil spill in U.S. history, discharging millions of barrels of 
oil over a period of 87 days. In addition, well over 1 million gallons 
of dispersants were applied to the waters of the spill area in an 
attempt to disperse the spilled oil. An undetermined amount of natural 
gas was also released into the environment as a result of the spill.
    The Trustees are conducting the natural resource damage assessment 
for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill under the Oil Pollution Act 1990 
(OPA; 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). Pursuant to OPA, Federal and State 
agencies act as trustees on behalf of the public to assess natural 
resource injuries and losses, and to determine the actions required to 
compensate the public for those injuries and losses. OPA further 
instructs the designated trustees to develop and implement a plan for 
the restoration, rehabilitation, replacement, or acquisition of the 
equivalent of the injured natural resources under their trusteeship, 
including the loss of use and services from those resources from the 
time of injury until the time of restoration to baseline (the resource 
quality and conditions that would exist if the spill had not occurred) 
is complete. Pursuant to the process articulated in the Framework for 
Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater 
Horizon Oil Spill (Framework Agreement), the Trustees previously 
selected, and BP agreed to fund, a total of 54 early restoration 
projects, expected to cost a total of approximately $700 million, 
through the Phase I Early Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment 
(Phase I ERP/EA), Phase II Early Restoration Plan/Environmental Review 
(Phase II ERP/ER), and the Programmatic and Phase III Early Restoration 
Plan and Early Restoration Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
(Phase III ERP/PEIS). These plans are available at: http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration/early-restoration/.
    The Trustees are:
     U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), as represented by 
the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau 
of Land Management;
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on 
behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce;
     U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA);
     U.S. Department of Defense (DOD); \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Although a trustee under OPA by virtue of the proximity of 
its facilities to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, DOD is not a 
member of the Trustee Council and does not currently participate in 
Trustee decision making.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA);
     State of Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration 
Authority, Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, Department of Environmental 
Quality, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Department of 
Natural Resources;
     State of Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality;
     State of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural 
Resources and Geological Survey of Alabama;
     State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection 
and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and
     For the State of Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Department, Texas General Land Office, and Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality.

Background

    On April 20, 2011, BP agreed to provide up to $1 billion toward 
early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico to address injuries to 
natural resources caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The 
Framework Agreement represents a preliminary step toward the 
restoration of injured natural resources and is intended to expedite 
the start of restoration in the Gulf in advance of the completion of 
the injury assessment process. The Framework Agreement provides a 
mechanism through which the Trustees and BP can work together ``to 
commence implementation of early restoration projects that will provide 
meaningful benefits to accelerate restoration in the Gulf as quickly as 
practicable'' prior to the resolution of the Trustees' natural resource 
damages claim. Early restoration is not intended to and does not fully 
address all injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 
Restoration beyond early restoration projects will be required to fully 
compensate the public for natural resource losses, including 
recreational use losses, from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
    The Trustees actively solicited public input on restoration project 
ideas through a variety of mechanisms, including public meetings, 
electronic communication, and creation of a Trustee-wide public Web 
site and database to share information and receive public project 
submissions. Their key objective in pursuing early restoration is to 
secure tangible recovery of natural resources and natural resource 
services for the public's benefit while the longer term process of 
fully assessing injury and damages is under way. The Trustees released 
the Phase I ERP/EA in April 2012 and the Phase II ERP/ER in December 
2012 after public review of drafts of those documents. After public 
review, the Trustees released the Phase III ERP/PEIS on June 26, 2014. 
Subsequently, the Trustees approved the Phase III ERP/PEIS in a Record 
of Decision on October 31, 2014.
    The Trustees are proposing 10 additional early restoration projects 
in Phase IV to address injuries from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 
The 10 projects proposed in this Draft Phase IV ERP/EA are consistent 
with the Programmatic ERP and PEIS included in the Final Phase III ERP/
PEIS previously developed by the Trustees. The Trustees are proposing 
these projects at this time while continuing to work with BP to develop 
additional early restoration projects in accordance with the Framework 
Agreement. The Draft Phase IV ERP/EA is not intended to and does not 
fully address all injuries caused by the spill or provide the extent of 
restoration needed to make the public and the environment whole.

[[Page 29021]]

Overview of the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA

    The Draft Phase IV ERP/EA is being released in accordance with the 
Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) 
regulations found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 15 CFR 
990, the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
and the Framework for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting 
from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
    The Trustees are considering 10 projects in the Draft Phase IV ERP/
EA. The total estimated cost for proposed Phase IV projects is 
approximately $134 million. Details on the proposed projects are 
provided in the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA. The Draft Phase IV ERP/EA also 
includes a notice of change and supporting analysis for one Phase III 
Early Restoration Project, ``Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and 
Boat Ramps--Eastpoint Fishing Pier Improvements.''
    The proposed restoration projects are intended to continue the 
process of using early restoration funding to restore natural 
resources, ecological services, and recreational use services injured 
or lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Trustees 
considered hundreds of projects leading to the identification of these 
10 projects and considered both ecological and recreational use 
restoration projects to restore injuries caused by the Deepwater 
Horizon oil spill, addressing both the physical and biological 
environment, as well as the relationship people have with the 
environment.
    Early restoration actions are not intended to provide the full 
extent of restoration needed to make the public and the environment 
whole. The Trustees anticipate that additional early restoration 
projects will be proposed in the future as the early restoration 
process continues.

Next Steps

    As described above, public meetings are scheduled to facilitate the 
public review and comment process. After the public comment period 
ends, the Trustees will consider and address the comments received 
before issuing a Final Phase IV Early Restoration Plan and 
Environmental Assessments (Final Phase IV ERP/EA). After issuing a 
Final Phase IV ERP/EA, the Trustees will file negotiated stipulations 
for approved projects with the court. Approved projects will then 
proceed to implementation, pending compliance with all applicable State 
and Federal laws.

Invitation to Comment

    The Trustees seek public review and comment on the 10 proposed 
early restoration project and supporting analysis included in the Draft 
Phase IV ERP/EA. Before including your address, phone number, email 
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you 
should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal 
identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time.

Administrative Record

    The documents comprising the Administrative Record can be viewed 
electronically at the following location: http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon.

Authority

    The authority of this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and the implementing Natural Resource Damage 
Assessment regulations found at 15 CFR 990.

Cynthia K. Dohner,
DOI Authorized Official.
[FR Doc. 2015-11945 Filed 5-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P



                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 97 / Wednesday, May 20, 2015 / Notices                                                        29019

                                                  throughout the species’ respective                          Permit Application Number: TE                              National Environmental Policy Act
                                                  ranges.                                                     63357B–0                                                   (NEPA), and the Framework Agreement
                                                                                                              Applicant: Timothy Estep, Worcester,                       for Early Restoration Addressing
                                                  Permit Application Number: TE
                                                                                                               Massachusetts                                             Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater
                                                  65002A–1
                                                                                                                                                                         Horizon Oil Spill, the Federal and State
                                                  Applicant: Robert Oney, Apogee                                The applicant requests authorization                     natural resource trustee agencies
                                                    Environmental, Winchester, Kentucky                       to sell in interstate commerce artificially                (Trustees) have prepared a Draft Phase
                                                    The applicant requests renewal and                        propagated green pitcher plants                            IV Early Restoration Plan and
                                                  amendment of his current permit to take                     (Sarracenia oreophila), Alabama                            Environmental Assessments (Draft
                                                  (enter hibernacula, capture with mist                       canebrake pitcher plants (Sarracenia                       Phase IV ERP/EA) describing and
                                                  nets or harp traps, handle, identify,                       rubra ssp. alabamensis), mountain                          proposing a suite of early restoration
                                                  band, radio-tag) Indiana bats (Myotis                       sweet pitcher-plants (Sarracenia rubra                     projects intended to continue the
                                                  sodalis), gray bats (Myotis grisescens),                    ssp. jonesii), and hairy rattleweeds                       process of restoring natural resources
                                                  and northern long-eared bats (Myotis                        (Baptisia arachnifera) throughout the                      and services injured or lost as a result
                                                  septentrionalis) for the purpose of                         United States.                                             of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,
                                                  conducting presence/absence surveys                         Permit Application Number: TE                              which occurred on or about April 20,
                                                  throughout the species’ respective                          056217–4                                                   2010, in the Gulf of Mexico. The Draft
                                                  ranges.                                                                                                                Phase IV ERP/EA proposes 10 early
                                                                                                              Applicant: Jeanette Wyneken, Florida
                                                  Permit Application Number: TE                                                                                          restoration projects that are consistent
                                                                                                               Atlantic University, Boca Raton,
                                                  007748–3                                                                                                               with the early restoration program
                                                                                                               Florida
                                                                                                                                                                         alternatives selected in the Final Phase
                                                  Applicant: Jason Nolde, USDA Forest                           The applicant requests renewal of her                    III Early Restoration Plan/Programmatic
                                                     Service, Pineville, Louisiana                            current permit to take (survey, collect                    Environmental Impact Statement (Phase
                                                     The applicant requests renewal of the                    hatchlings, hold in captivity, examine,                    III ERP/PEIS). The Draft Phase IV ERP/
                                                  current permit to take (capture, band,                      and release) leatherback (Dermochelys                      EA also includes a notice of change and
                                                  translocate, install artificial nest cavities               coriacea), green (Chelonia mydas), and                     supporting analysis for one Phase III
                                                  and restrictors, monitor nest cavities)                     loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles                   Early Restoration Project,
                                                  red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides                          for the purposes of inventory,                             ‘‘Enhancement of Franklin County Parks
                                                  borealis), primarily for population                         monitoring, and research activities.                       and Boat Ramps—Eastpoint Fishing Pier
                                                  monitoring and management in                                  Dated: May 11, 2015.                                     Improvements.’’ The purpose of this
                                                  Louisiana and, secondarily, to assist in                    Leopoldo Miranda,                                          notice is to inform the public of the
                                                  recovery activities throughout the                                                                                     availability of the Draft Phase IV ERP/
                                                                                                              Assistant Regional Director—Ecological
                                                  species’ range in Kentucky, Mississippi,                    Services, Southeast Region.                                EA and to seek public comments on the
                                                  South Carolina, Florida, Georgia,                                                                                      10 proposed early restoration projects
                                                                                                              [FR Doc. 2015–12188 Filed 5–19–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee,                                                                                   and supporting analysis.
                                                                                                              BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
                                                  and Alabama.
                                                                                                                                                                         DATES:  Comments Due Date: We will
                                                  Permit Application Number: TE                                                                                          consider public comments received on
                                                  63355B–0                                                    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                                 or before June 19, 2015.
                                                  Applicant: David Heil, T.H.E. Engineers,                    [FWS–R4–FHC–2015–N088:                                       Public Meetings: The Trustees have
                                                     Lexington, Kentucky                                      FVHC98210408710–XXX–FF04G01000]                            scheduled a series of public meetings to
                                                     The applicant requests authorization                                                                                facilitate public review and comment on
                                                  to take (capture with mist nets or harp                     Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill; Draft                         the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA. Both written
                                                  traps, handle, identify, band, and radio-                   Phase IV Early Restoration Plan and                        and verbal comments will be taken at
                                                  tag) Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis), gray                    Environmental Assessments                                  each public meeting. The Trustees will
                                                  bats (Myotis grisescens), northern long-                    AGENCY: Interior.                                          hold an open house for each meeting
                                                  eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis), and                    ACTION:Notice of availability; request                     followed by a formal meeting. Each
                                                  Virginia big-eared bats (Corynorhinus                       for comments.                                              public meeting will include a
                                                  townsendii ingens) for the purpose of                                                                                  presentation of the Draft Phase IV ERP/
                                                  conducting presence/absence surveys in                      SUMMARY:  In accordance with the Oil                       EA. The public meeting schedule is as
                                                  Kentucky.                                                   Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), the                           follows:

                                                                   Date                                               Time                                                           Location

                                                  Tuesday, June 2, 2015 .............     6:00   p.m.   Open House .....................................   Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand Hotel, 200 East Pensacola
                                                                                          6:30   p.m.   Public Meeting .................................     Street, Pensacola, FL.
                                                  Wednesday, June 3, 2015 ........        6:00   p.m.   Open House .....................................   Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, 64 South Water
                                                                                          6:30   p.m.   Public Meeting .................................     Street, Mobile, AL.
                                                  Thursday, June 4, 2015 ............     6:00   p.m.   Open House .....................................   University of Southern Mississippi, FEC Auditorium, 730 East
                                                                                          6:30   p.m.   Public Meeting .................................     Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, MS.
                                                  Monday, June 8, 2015 ..............     6:00   p.m.   Open House .....................................   Belle Chasse Auditorium, 8398 Louisiana 23, Belle Chasse,
                                                                                          6:30   p.m.   Public Meeting .................................     LA 70037.
                                                  Wednesday, June 10, 2015 ......         6:00   p.m.   Open House .....................................   Texas A&M University at Galveston, Seawolf Parkway on
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                          6:30   p.m.   Public Meeting .................................     Pelican Island, Auditorium, Galveston, TX.
                                                  Thursday, June 11, 2015 ..........      6:00   p.m.   Open House .....................................   Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas
                                                                                          6:30   p.m.   Public Meeting .................................     A&M University at Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Cor-
                                                                                                                                                             pus Christi, TX.




                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    23:50 May 19, 2015   Jkt 235001     PO 00000    Frm 00091     Fmt 4703     Sfmt 4703    E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM   20MYN1


                                                  29020                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 97 / Wednesday, May 20, 2015 / Notices

                                                  ADDRESSES:                                              quality and conditions that would exist                Agreement represents a preliminary step
                                                     Obtaining Documents: You may                         if the spill had not occurred) is                      toward the restoration of injured natural
                                                  download the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA at:                  complete. Pursuant to the process                      resources and is intended to expedite
                                                  http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov                articulated in the Framework for Early                 the start of restoration in the Gulf in
                                                  or http://www.doi.gov/                                  Restoration Addressing Injuries                        advance of the completion of the injury
                                                  deepwaterhorizon. Alternatively, you                    Resulting from the Deepwater Horizon                   assessment process. The Framework
                                                  may request a CD of the Draft Phase IV                  Oil Spill (Framework Agreement), the                   Agreement provides a mechanism
                                                  ERP/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                     Trustees previously selected, and BP                   through which the Trustees and BP can
                                                  CONTACT). You may also view the                         agreed to fund, a total of 54 early                    work together ‘‘to commence
                                                  document at any of the public facilities                restoration projects, expected to cost a               implementation of early restoration
                                                  listed at http://                                       total of approximately $700 million,                   projects that will provide meaningful
                                                  www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.                      through the Phase I Early Restoration                  benefits to accelerate restoration in the
                                                     Submitting Comments: You may                         Plan/Environmental Assessment (Phase                   Gulf as quickly as practicable’’ prior to
                                                  submit comments on the Draft Phase IV                   I ERP/EA), Phase II Early Restoration                  the resolution of the Trustees’ natural
                                                  ERP/EA by one of following methods:                     Plan/Environmental Review (Phase II                    resource damages claim. Early
                                                     • Via the Web: http://                               ERP/ER), and the Programmatic and                      restoration is not intended to and does
                                                  www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.                      Phase III Early Restoration Plan and
                                                                                                                                                                 not fully address all injuries caused by
                                                     • Via U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and                       Early Restoration Programmatic
                                                  Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 49567,                                                                              the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
                                                                                                          Environmental Impact Statement (Phase
                                                  Atlanta, GA 30345.                                                                                             Restoration beyond early restoration
                                                                                                          III ERP/PEIS). These plans are available
                                                                                                          at: http://                                            projects will be required to fully
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                          www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/                     compensate the public for natural
                                                  Nanciann Regalado, at nanciann_
                                                                                                          restoration/early-restoration/.                        resource losses, including recreational
                                                  regalado@fws.gov.
                                                                                                             The Trustees are:                                   use losses, from the Deepwater Horizon
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                             • U.S. Department of the Interior                   oil spill.
                                                  Introduction                                            (DOI), as represented by the National                    The Trustees actively solicited public
                                                    On or about April 20, 2010, the                       Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife                   input on restoration project ideas
                                                  mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater                 Service, and Bureau of Land                            through a variety of mechanisms,
                                                  Horizon, which was being used to drill                  Management;                                            including public meetings, electronic
                                                  a well for BP Exploration and                              • National Oceanic and Atmospheric                  communication, and creation of a
                                                  Production, Inc. (BP), in the Macondo                   Administration (NOAA), on behalf of                    Trustee-wide public Web site and
                                                  prospect (Mississippi Canyon 252—                       the U.S. Department of Commerce;                       database to share information and
                                                                                                             • U.S. Department of Agriculture
                                                  MC252), experienced a significant                                                                              receive public project submissions.
                                                                                                          (USDA);
                                                  explosion, fire, and subsequent sinking                    • U.S. Department of Defense                        Their key objective in pursuing early
                                                  in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in an                  (DOD); 1                                               restoration is to secure tangible recovery
                                                  unprecedented volume of oil and other                      • U.S. Environmental Protection                     of natural resources and natural
                                                  discharges from the rig and from the                    Agency (USEPA);                                        resource services for the public’s benefit
                                                  wellhead on the seabed. The Deepwater                      • State of Louisiana Coastal                        while the longer term process of fully
                                                  Horizon oil spill is the largest oil spill              Protection and Restoration Authority,                  assessing injury and damages is under
                                                  in U.S. history, discharging millions of                Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office,                        way. The Trustees released the Phase I
                                                  barrels of oil over a period of 87 days.                Department of Environmental Quality,                   ERP/EA in April 2012 and the Phase II
                                                  In addition, well over 1 million gallons                Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,                  ERP/ER in December 2012 after public
                                                  of dispersants were applied to the                      and Department of Natural Resources;                   review of drafts of those documents.
                                                  waters of the spill area in an attempt to                  • State of Mississippi Department of                After public review, the Trustees
                                                  disperse the spilled oil. An                            Environmental Quality;                                 released the Phase III ERP/PEIS on June
                                                  undetermined amount of natural gas                         • State of Alabama Department of                    26, 2014. Subsequently, the Trustees
                                                  was also released into the environment                  Conservation and Natural Resources and                 approved the Phase III ERP/PEIS in a
                                                  as a result of the spill.                               Geological Survey of Alabama;                          Record of Decision on October 31, 2014.
                                                    The Trustees are conducting the                          • State of Florida Department of
                                                  natural resource damage assessment for                                                                           The Trustees are proposing 10
                                                                                                          Environmental Protection and Fish and
                                                  the Deepwater Horizon oil spill under                   Wildlife Conservation Commission; and                  additional early restoration projects in
                                                  the Oil Pollution Act 1990 (OPA; 33                        • For the State of Texas: Texas Parks               Phase IV to address injuries from the
                                                  U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). Pursuant to OPA,                  and Wildlife Department, Texas General                 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The 10
                                                  Federal and State agencies act as                       Land Office, and Texas Commission on                   projects proposed in this Draft Phase IV
                                                  trustees on behalf of the public to assess              Environmental Quality.                                 ERP/EA are consistent with the
                                                  natural resource injuries and losses, and                                                                      Programmatic ERP and PEIS included in
                                                                                                          Background                                             the Final Phase III ERP/PEIS previously
                                                  to determine the actions required to
                                                  compensate the public for those injuries                  On April 20, 2011, BP agreed to                      developed by the Trustees. The Trustees
                                                  and losses. OPA further instructs the                   provide up to $1 billion toward early                  are proposing these projects at this time
                                                  designated trustees to develop and                      restoration projects in the Gulf of                    while continuing to work with BP to
                                                                                                          Mexico to address injuries to natural                  develop additional early restoration
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  implement a plan for the restoration,
                                                  rehabilitation, replacement, or                         resources caused by the Deepwater                      projects in accordance with the
                                                  acquisition of the equivalent of the                    Horizon oil spill. The Framework                       Framework Agreement. The Draft Phase
                                                  injured natural resources under their                                                                          IV ERP/EA is not intended to and does
                                                  trusteeship, including the loss of use                    1 Although a trustee under OPA by virtue of the
                                                                                                                                                                 not fully address all injuries caused by
                                                                                                          proximity of its facilities to the Deepwater Horizon   the spill or provide the extent of
                                                  and services from those resources from                  oil spill, DOD is not a member of the Trustee
                                                  the time of injury until the time of                    Council and does not currently participate in          restoration needed to make the public
                                                  restoration to baseline (the resource                   Trustee decision making.                               and the environment whole.


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   23:50 May 19, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00092   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM   20MYN1


                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 97 / Wednesday, May 20, 2015 / Notices                                            29021

                                                  Overview of the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA                   Invitation to Comment                                 available for public inspection at the
                                                     The Draft Phase IV ERP/EA is being                     The Trustees seek public review and                 above-listed address.
                                                  released in accordance with the Oil                     comment on the 10 proposed early                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  Pollution Act (OPA), the Natural                        restoration project and supporting                    Panchita Paulete, Planning and
                                                  Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA)                      analysis included in the Draft Phase IV               Environmental Coordinator, telephone
                                                  regulations found in the Code of Federal                ERP/EA. Before including your address,                541–683–6976; address 3106 Pierce
                                                  Regulations (CFR) at 15 CFR 990, the                    phone number, email address, or other                 Parkway, Suite E; Springfield, OR
                                                  National Environmental Policy Act (42                   personal identifying information in your              97477; email BLM_OR_EU_Mail@
                                                  U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and the Framework                 comment, you should be aware that                     blm.gov. Persons who use a
                                                  for Early Restoration Addressing                        your entire comment, including your                   telecommunications device for the deaf
                                                  Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater                   personal identifying information, may                 (TDD) may call the Federal Information
                                                  Horizon Oil Spill.                                      be made publicly available at any time.               Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
                                                     The Trustees are considering 10                                                                            to contact the above individual during
                                                                                                          Administrative Record                                 normal business hours. The FIRS is
                                                  projects in the Draft Phase IV ERP/EA.
                                                  The total estimated cost for proposed                     The documents comprising the                        available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
                                                  Phase IV projects is approximately $134                 Administrative Record can be viewed                   to leave a message or question with the
                                                  million. Details on the proposed                        electronically at the following location:             above individual. You will receive a
                                                  projects are provided in the Draft Phase                http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon.                  reply during normal business hours.
                                                  IV ERP/EA. The Draft Phase IV ERP/EA                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                          Authority
                                                  also includes a notice of change and                                                                          Interaction with the public regarding
                                                  supporting analysis for one Phase III                     The authority of this action is the Oil             this RMP began in 2011. The BLM
                                                  Early Restoration Project,                              Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et              worked with three cooperating agencies:
                                                  ‘‘Enhancement of Franklin County Parks                  seq.) and the implementing Natural                    the US Army Corps of Engineers, the
                                                  and Boat Ramps—Eastpoint Fishing Pier                   Resource Damage Assessment                            City of Eugene Parks and Open Space
                                                  Improvements.’’                                         regulations found at 15 CFR 990.                      Division, and The Confederated Tribes
                                                     The proposed restoration projects are                Cynthia K. Dohner,
                                                                                                                                                                of the Grand Ronde. The RMP
                                                  intended to continue the process of                                                                           establishes direction for approximately
                                                                                                          DOI Authorized Official.
                                                  using early restoration funding to                                                                            1,340 acres of BLM-administered lands
                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2015–11945 Filed 5–19–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  restore natural resources, ecological                                                                         in and near the city of Eugene in Lane
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 4310–55–P                                County, Oregon; the planning area did
                                                  services, and recreational use services
                                                  injured or lost as a result of the                                                                            not previously have an RMP. The
                                                  Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The                                                                              planning area is made up of acquired
                                                                                                          DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                  Trustees considered hundreds of                                                                               lands and survey hiatuses. The
                                                  projects leading to the identification of               Bureau of Land Management                             Approved RMP describes the actions
                                                  these 10 projects and considered both                                                                         that will meet desired resource
                                                  ecological and recreational use                                                                               conditions for threatened and
                                                                                                          [LLORE00000.L63500000.DR0000.
                                                  restoration projects to restore injuries                LXSS021H0000.15XL1116AF HAG 15–0077]                  endangered species and habitat
                                                  caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil                                                                           management, while providing other
                                                  spill, addressing both the physical and                 Notice of Availability of the Record of               benefits. The Preferred Alternative,
                                                  biological environment, as well as the                  Decision for the West Eugene                          described in the October 2011 Draft
                                                  relationship people have with the                       Wetlands in Oregon and Approved                       RMP/Draft Environmental Impact
                                                  environment.                                            Resource Management Plan                              Statement (EIS), was modified to
                                                     Early restoration actions are not                                                                          increase acreage within the Prairie
                                                  intended to provide the full extent of                  AGENCY:   Bureau of Land Management,                  Restoration Area land use allocation for
                                                  restoration needed to make the public                   Interior.                                             threatened and endangered species
                                                  and the environment whole. The                          ACTION: Notice of availability.                       management, to provide increased
                                                  Trustees anticipate that additional early                                                                     opportunities for recreation, and to
                                                  restoration projects will be proposed in                SUMMARY:   The Bureau of Land                         provide for coordinated management in
                                                  the future as the early restoration                     Management (BLM) announces the                        traditional use plant collection and was
                                                  process continues.                                      availability of the Record of Decision                carried forward as the Proposed RMP in
                                                                                                          (ROD) for the Approved Resource                       the Final EIS (November 2014). No
                                                  Next Steps                                              Management Plan (RMP) for the West                    protests were received on the Proposed
                                                    As described above, public meetings                   Eugene Wetlands planning area located                 RMP/Final EIS.
                                                  are scheduled to facilitate the public                  in western Oregon. The Oregon/                           The Governor of Oregon was provided
                                                  review and comment process. After the                   Washington State Director signed the                  a formal, 60-day review period to
                                                  public comment period ends, the                         ROD on April 17, 2015, which                          determine if the Proposed RMP/Final
                                                  Trustees will consider and address the                  constitutes the final decision of the BLM             EIS was consistent with existing state or
                                                  comments received before issuing a                      and makes the Approved RMP effective                  local plans, programs, and policies. No
                                                  Final Phase IV Early Restoration Plan                   immediately.                                          inconsistencies were identified.
                                                  and Environmental Assessments (Final                    ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/                            There are two implementation
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  Phase IV ERP/EA). After issuing a Final                 Approved RMP are available upon                       decisions in the Approved RMP which
                                                  Phase IV ERP/EA, the Trustees will file                 request from the Eugene District                      are appealable under 43 CFR part 4: (a)
                                                  negotiated stipulations for approved                    Manager, Bureau of Land Management,                   designation of travel management
                                                  projects with the court. Approved                       3106 Pierce Parkway, Suite E,                         networks, including identifying the
                                                  projects will then proceed to                           Springfield, OR 97477, or via the                     specific roads and trails that are
                                                  implementation, pending compliance                      internet at: http://www.blm.gov/or/                   available for public use and the
                                                  with all applicable State and Federal                   districts/eugene/plans/eugenermp.php.                 limitations on use of roads and trails
                                                  laws.                                                   Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are                    and (b) continued application of the


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   23:50 May 19, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00093   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM   20MYN1



Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:29:39
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:29:39
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability; request for comments.
DatesComments Due Date: We will consider public comments received on or before June 19, 2015.
ContactNanciann Regalado, at [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 29019 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR