81 FR 57582 - Draft Update to the Comprehensive Plan

GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 163 (August 23, 2016)

In accordance with the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act (RESTORE Act or Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t) and note), the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) requests comments on the proposed draft of its Comprehensive Plan Update (Plan update). The Plan update is intended to provide strategic guidance for future Council restoration activities, and to position the Council to most effectively use future funds for Gulf ecosystem restoration.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57582-57583]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19986]


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GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL

[Docket No. 108232016-1111-05]


Draft Update to the Comprehensive Plan

AGENCY: Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Resources and Ecosystems 
Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the 
Gulf States Act (RESTORE Act or Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t) and note), the 
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) requests comments on 
the proposed draft of its Comprehensive Plan Update (Plan update). The 
Plan update is intended to provide strategic guidance for future 
Council restoration activities, and to position the Council to most 
effectively use future funds for Gulf ecosystem restoration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Please send questions by email to 
[email protected], or contact Will D. Spoon at (504) 239-
9814. Additional information can also be found on the Web site at 
www.RestoreTheGulf.gov.

DATES: The deadline for public and Tribal comments on this Plan update 
is October 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft Plan update may be submitted through 
one of these methods:
     Electronic Web site Submission: Through the following Web 
site:www.RestoreTheGulf.gov.
     Email: By email to: [email protected].
     Mail/Commercial Delivery: By surface mail to: Gulf Coast 
Ecosystem Restoration Council, Attention: Draft Comprehensive Plan 
Update Comments, Hale Boggs Federal Building, 500 Poydras Street, Suite 
1117, New Orleans, LA 70130.
    In general, the Council will make such comments available for 
public inspection and copying on its Web site, www.RestoreTheGulf.gov 
without change, including any business or personal information 
provided, such as names, addresses, email addresses, or telephone 
numbers. All comments received, including attachments and other 
supporting materials, will be part of the public record and subject to 
public disclosure. You should only submit information that you wish to 
make publicly available.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY: Copies of the draft Plan update are 
available at the following office during regular business hours: Gulf 
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, Hale Boggs Federal Building, 500 
Poydras Street, Suite 1117, New Orleans, LA 70130. Electronic versions 
of the draft Plan update can be viewed and downloaded at 
www.RestoreTheGulf.gov.
    Background and Summary: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill led to 2012 
passage of the RESTORE Act, which directs 80 percent of associated 
civil and administrative Clean Water Act penalties to ecosystem 
restoration, economic recovery, and tourism promotion in the Gulf Coast 
region. To administer a portion of these funds, the RESTORE Act 
established the Council, comprised of principals from the five Gulf 
Coast States and six federal agencies. One of the Council's primary 
responsibilities is to develop and update a Comprehensive Plan to 
restore the ecosystem and the economy of the Gulf Coast region.
    The Council approved an Initial Comprehensive Plan in August 2013. 
Since that time, there have been important developments that warrant a 
Plan update; the resolution of civil claims against BP has provided 
clarity regarding the amount and timing of funds available to the 
Council. Additionally, the Council is now also in a position to develop 
a Ten-Year Funding Strategy, as required by the RESTORE Act. The 
Council has also gained valuable knowledge during the process of 
developing and approving (on December 9, 2015) the first set of 
foundational restoration activities in its Initial Funded Priorities 
List (FPL).
    The process of developing the FPL was a tremendous success for the 
Council. The Council benefited greatly from public input during this 
process. To learn as much as it could from this first round of funding 
decisions, the Council also conducted a retrospective review of the FPL 
process and published a Lessons Learned and Path Forward Summary 
Report, which helped identify and reinforce important lessons 
applicable to future Council activities.
    This draft Plan update does not identify specific restoration 
activities; that is the purpose of future FPLs and State Expenditure 
Plans (SEPs), described in more detail in the draft Plan update. 
Rather, the Plan update is intended to improve Council decisions by:
     Ensuring consistency with the Priority Criteria referenced 
in the Act;
     Reinforcing the Council's goals, objectives and 
commitments;
     Setting forth a Ten-Year Funding Strategy, including a 
Council vision for ecosystem restoration;
     Increasing collaboration among Council members and partner 
restoration programs;
     Refining the process for ensuring that the Council's 
decisions are informed by the best available science; and
     Improving the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency 
of Council actions.
    Public input on the Council's previous activities has helped shape 
this draft Plan update. The Council is committed to continuously 
improving and adapting in response to new information and feedback, and 
looks forward to hearing the views of all stakeholders on this draft 
Plan update.

[[Page 57583]]

Public and Tribal Meetings on the Draft Plan Update

    In addition to the comment opportunities discussed above, the 
Council will also hold a number of public and Tribal meetings across 
the Gulf to hear from the public and Tribes regarding this draft Plan 
update. The locations, dates, and times for the public meetings can be 
found at www.RestoreTheGulf.gov.
    Legal Authority: The statutory program authority for the draft Plan 
update is found at 33 U.S.C. 1321(t).

Will D. Spoon,
Program Analyst, Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.
[FR Doc. 2016-19986 Filed 8-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-58-P