83 FR 50679 - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Florida Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental Assessment: Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water Quality; and Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 195 (October 9, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 195 (October 9, 2018)
| Page Range | 50679-50681 | |
| FR Document | 2018-21601 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 50679-50681] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-21601] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [FWS-R4-ES-2018-N116; FVHC98220410150-XXX-FF04G01000] Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Florida Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental Assessment: Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water Quality; and Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities AGENCY: Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments, public meeting and webinar. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS), and the resulting Consent Decree, the Federal natural resource trustee agencies for the Florida Trustee Implementation Group (FL TIG) have prepared a Draft Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental Assessment (Draft RP1/EA). The Draft RP1/EA describes restoration alternatives considered by the FL TIG and proposes 24 preferred alternatives 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 purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability of the Draft RP1/EA and to seek public comments on the document. DATES: Submitting Comments: The FL TIG will consider public comments received on or before October 26, 2018. Public Meeting and Webinar: The FL TIG will conduct one public meeting and one webinar to facilitate public review and comment on the Draft RP1/EA. The public meeting and webinar will include presentation of the Draft RP1/EA. Comments will be taken through submission in person at the public meeting, online, or through U.S. mail (see Submitting Comments in ADDRESSES). Comments will be accepted during the public webinar. The public meeting and webinar are scheduled as follows: Webinar ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date Time Link ------------------------------------------------------------------------ October 10, 2018.............. 1:30-4:00 p.m. ET Webinar link will be provided at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/florida florida. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [[Page 50680]] ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may download the Draft RP1/EA from either of the following websites:http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon Alternatively, you may request a CD of the Draft RP1/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Submitting Comments: You may submit comments on the Draft RP1/EA by one of the 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. In order to be considered, mailed comments must be postmarked on or before the comment deadline given in DATES. During the public meeting. (See DATES for more information.) During the public webinar. (See DATES for more information.) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nanciann Regalado, via email at [email protected] or via phone at 404-679-4161. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act (OPA; 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.); the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS); and the resulting Consent Decree, the Federal natural resource trustee agencies for the Florida Trustee Implementation Group (FL TIG) have prepared a Draft Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental Assessment (Draft RP1/EA). The Draft RP1/EA describes restoration alternatives considered by the FL TIG and proposes 24 preferred alternatives 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 in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. The four restoration types addressed in the Draft RP 1/EA are Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water Quality; and Providing and Enhancing Recreational Opportunities. The FL TIG evaluated these alternatives under criteria set forth in the OPA Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) regulations at 15 CFR part 990, and also evaluated the environmental consequences of the restoration alternatives in accordance with NEPA. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability of the Draft RP1/EA and to seek public comments on the document. Background On or about April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) mobile drilling unit exploded, resulting in loss of life and a massive release of oil and natural gas from the British Petroleum Exploration and Production, Inc. (BP) Macondo well. Initial efforts to cap the well were unsuccessful, resulting in 87 days of continuous discharge into the northern Gulf of Mexico, totaling approximately 3.19 million barrels (134 million gallons) of oil. Oil spread from the deep ocean to the surface and nearshore environment from Texas to Florida, coming into contact and injuring a diverse set of natural resources. Extensive response actions, including cleanup activities and actions to prevent the oil from reaching sensitive resources, were undertaken; however, many of these response actions had collateral impacts on the environment and natural resource services. The Trustees conducted the NRDA for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill under the OPA. Pursuant to the 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 (i.e., the resource quality and conditions that would exist if the spill had not occurred) is complete. The Deepwater Horizon 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. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); 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 (FDEP) and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC); and State of Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas General Land Office, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The Trustees reached and finalized a settlement of their natural resource damage claims with BP in an April 4, 2016, Consent Decree approved by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Pursuant to that Consent Decree, restoration projects in the Florida Restoration Area are now selected and implemented by the FL TIG. The FL TIG is composed of two State Trustees and four Federal Trustees: FDEP, FWC, DOI, NOAA, EPA, and USDA. On November 4, 2016, the FL TIG posted a public notice at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov requesting new or revised natural resource restoration project ideas by December 5, 2016, for the FL Restoration Area. The notice stated that the FL TIG was seeking project ideas for the following Restoration Types: (1) Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; (2) Nutrient Reduction; (3) Water Quality; and (4) Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities. On September 29, 2017, the FL TIG announced that it had initiated drafting of its first post-settlement draft restoration plan, and that the first plan would include restoration projects for Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water Quality; and Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities. Overview of the FL TIG Draft RP1/EA The Draft RP1/EA is being released in accordance with OPA, NRDA regulations, NEPA, the Consent Decree, and the Final PDARP/PEIS. The 24 preferred restoration alternatives include Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands at Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL) and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge; Nutrient Reduction projects in Pensacola Bay, Perdido River and Lower Suwannee River Watersheds; projects that restore Water Quality in Pensacola Bay Watershed, Carpenter Creek, Pensacola Beach, Rattlesnake Bluff Road, Alligator Lake, St. Andrew Bay, City of Port St. Joe, City of Carrabelle, Lower Suwanee National [[Page 50681]] Wildlife Refuge and Charlotte Harbor; and projects that Provide and Enhance Recreation Opportunities in Perdido River, Carpenter Creek, Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL), Joe's Bayou, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the following State parks: Topsail Hill, Camp Helen, St. Andrews State Park, and T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula. In compliance with NEPA, an environmental assessment is integrated into the plan. The FL TIG also analyzes eight additional alternatives, as well as no action. One or more alternatives may be selected for implementation by the FL TIG in the Final RP1/EA or in future restoration plans. The proposed alternatives are intended to continue the process of using DWH restoration funding to restore natural resources injured or lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Additional restoration planning for the FL Restoration Area will continue. Next Steps As described above, one public open house/meeting and one public webinar are scheduled to facilitate the public review and comment process on the Draft RP1/EA. After the public comment period ends, the FL TIG will consider and address the comments received before issuing the Final RP1/EA. Public Availability of Comments 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. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Administrative Record The documents comprising the Administrative Record for the Draft RP1/EA can be viewed electronically at https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord. Authority The authority for this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and its implementing Natural Resource Damage Assessment regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Kevin D. Reynolds, Assistant Regional Director--Gulf Restoration, FWS; Department of the Interior Natural Resource Trustee Official for the Florida Trustee Implementation Group. [FR Doc. 2018-21601 Filed 10-5-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2018 / Notices 50679
Estimate Estimate
Number of Frequency of Total
Type of submission average time annual burden
respondents submissions responses (hours) (hours)
IHBG Competitive Program
IHBG Competitive Grant Application (Includes Narrative,
SF–424, HUD–2880, HUD–2993, HUD–53246, HUD–
53247) .............................................................................. 500 1 500 80 40,000
Annual Performance Report (HUD–52737) ......................... 200 1 200 32 6,400
Subtotal ................................................................................ 700 ........................ 700 ........................ 46,400
IHBG Program
IHP/APR (HUD–52737) ....................................................... 366 2 732 62 45,384
Formula Correction (HUD–4117) ......................................... 300 1 300 0.5 150
Formula Challenge (HUD–4119) ......................................... 15 1 15 150 2,250
Depository Agreement (Banker) (HUD–52736–A) .............. 366 1 366 0.25 91.5
Depository Agreement (Broker) (HUD–52736–B) ............... 366 1 366 0.25 91.5
Subtotal ......................................................................... 366 ........................ 1,779 ........................ 47,967
Grand Total ............................................................ 1,066 ........................ 2,479 ........................ 94,367
B. Solicitation of Public Comment Dated: September 26, 2018. natural resource trustee agencies for the
Colette Pollard, Florida Trustee Implementation Group
This notice is soliciting comments Department Reports Management Officer, (FL TIG) have prepared a Draft
from members of the public and affected Office of the Chief Information Officer. Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental
parties concerning the collection of [FR Doc. 2018–21860 Filed 10–5–18; 8:45 am] Assessment (Draft RP1/EA). The Draft
information described in Section A on BILLING CODE 4210–67–P RP1/EA describes restoration
the following: alternatives considered by the FL TIG
(1) Whether the proposed collection and proposes 24 preferred alternatives
of information is necessary for the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR intended to continue the process of
proper performance of the functions of restoring natural resources and services
the agency, including whether the [FWS–R4–ES–2018–N116; injured or lost as a result of the
FVHC98220410150–XXX–FF04G01000]
information will have practical utility; Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Florida occurred on or about April 20, 2010, in
estimate of the burden of the proposed Trustee Implementation Group Draft the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this
collection of information; Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental notice is to inform the public of the
Assessment: Habitat Projects on availability of the Draft RP1/EA and to
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, seek public comments on the document.
utility, and clarity of the information to Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient
be collected; and Reduction; Water Quality; and Provide DATES: Submitting Comments: The FL
and Enhance Recreational TIG will consider public comments
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of Opportunities received on or before October 26, 2018.
the collection of information on those
AGENCY: Department of the Interior. Public Meeting and Webinar: The FL
who are to respond; including through
ACTION:Notice of availability; request TIG will conduct one public meeting
the use of appropriate automated
for comments, public meeting and and one webinar to facilitate public
collection techniques or other forms of
webinar. review and comment on the Draft RP1/
information technology, e.g., permitting
EA. The public meeting and webinar
electronic submission of responses.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Oil will include presentation of the Draft
HUD encourages interested parties to Pollution Act (OPA), the National RP1/EA. Comments will be taken
submit comment in response to these Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the through submission in person at the
questions. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final public meeting, online, or through U.S.
C. Authority Programmatic Damage Assessment and mail (see Submitting Comments in
Restoration Plan and Final ADDRESSES). Comments will be accepted
Section 3507 of the Paperwork Programmatic Environmental Impact during the public webinar. The public
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS), and the meeting and webinar are scheduled as
Chapter 35 as amended. resulting Consent Decree, the Federal follows:
WEBINAR
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Date Time Link
October 10, 2018 ............................ 1:30–4:00 p.m. ET ......................... Webinar link will be provided at http://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/florida.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2018 / Notices 50681
Wildlife Refuge and Charlotte Harbor; personal identifying information—may ACTION:Notice of availability; request
and projects that Provide and Enhance be made publicly available at any time. for comments.
Recreation Opportunities in Perdido While you can ask us in your comment
River, Carpenter Creek, Gulf Islands to withhold your personal identifying SUMMARY: In accordance with the Oil
National Seashore (FL), Joe’s Bayou, St. information from public review, we Pollution Act, the National
Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the cannot guarantee that we will be able to Environmental Policy Act, Deepwater
following State parks: Topsail Hill, do so. Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic
Camp Helen, St. Andrews State Park, Damage Assessment and Restoration
Administrative Record
and T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph
The documents comprising the Plan and Final Programmatic
Peninsula.
In compliance with NEPA, an Administrative Record for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and
environmental assessment is integrated RP1/EA can be viewed electronically at the resulting Consent Decree, we, the
into the plan. The FL TIG also analyzes https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/ Federal natural resource trustee
eight additional alternatives, as well as adminrecord. agencies for the Open Ocean Trustee
no action. One or more alternatives may Implementation Group, have prepared a
Authority Draft Restoration Plan 1 and
be selected for implementation by the
FL TIG in the Final RP1/EA or in future The authority for this action is the Oil Environmental Assessment (Draft RP1/
restoration plans. Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et EA). The Draft RP1/EA proposes three
The proposed alternatives are seq.) and its implementing Natural preferred alternatives for the Bird and
intended to continue the process of Resource Damage Assessment Sturgeon restoration types, and is
using DWH restoration funding to regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, intended to continue the process of
restore natural resources injured or lost and the National Environmental Policy restoring natural resources and services
as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321
injured or lost as a result of the
spill. Additional restoration planning et seq.).
Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which
for the FL Restoration Area will Kevin D. Reynolds, occurred on or about April 20, 2010, in
continue. Assistant Regional Director—Gulf the Gulf of Mexico.
Next Steps Restoration, FWS; Department of the Interior
Natural Resource Trustee Official for the DATES: Submitting Comments: We will
As described above, one public open Florida Trustee Implementation Group. consider public comments received on
house/meeting and one public webinar [FR Doc. 2018–21601 Filed 10–5–18; 8:45 am] or before November 9, 2018.
are scheduled to facilitate the public BILLING CODE 4333–15–P Public Webinars: We will conduct two
review and comment process on the
webinars to present and facilitate the
Draft RP1/EA. After the public comment
public review and comment process for
period ends, the FL TIG will consider DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR the Draft RP1/EA. Comments will not be
and address the comments received
before issuing the Final RP1/EA. [FWS–R4–ES–2018–N110; taken through the public webinars.
FVHC98220410150–XXX–FF04G01000] Comments will be taken only through
Public Availability of Comments submission online or via U.S. mail (see
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Draft ADDRESSES). The public webinars are
Before including your address, phone
Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental
number, email address, or other scheduled as follows:
Assessment; Open Ocean Trustee
personal identifying information in your
Implementation Group
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your AGENCY: Department of the Interior.
Date Time Webinar link location
October 16, 2018 ............................ 12 p.m. central time ....................... http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/open-ocean.
October 17, 2018 ............................ 6 p.m. central time ......................... http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/open-ocean.
ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You postmarked on or before the comment MC252), experienced a significant
may download the Draft RP1/EA from deadline given in DATES. explosion, fire, and subsequent sinking
either of the following websites: For more information, see Public in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in an
• http:// Availability of Comments under unprecedented volume of oil and other
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. discharges from the rig and from the
• http://www.doi.gov/ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: wellhead on the seabed. The Deepwater
deepwaterhorizon Nanciann Regalado, via email at Horizon oil spill is the largest offshore
Alternatively, you may request a CD nanciann_regalado@fws.gov, via oil spill in U.S. history, discharging
of the Draft RP1/EA (see FOR FURTHER telephone at 404–679–4161, or via the millions of barrels of oil over a period
INFORMATION CONTACT). Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. of 87 days. In addition, well over 1
Submitting Comments: You may SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: million gallons of dispersants were
submit comments on the Draft RP1/EA applied to the waters of the spill area in
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
by one of the following methods: Introduction an attempt to disperse the spilled oil.
• Via the Web: http:// On or about April 20, 2010, the An undetermined amount of natural gas
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov. mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater was also released into the environment
• Via U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Horizon, which was being used to drill as a result of the spill.
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 49567, a well for BP Exploration and The Trustees conducted the natural
Atlanta, GA 30345. In order to be Production, Inc. (BP), in the Macondo resource damage assessment (NRDA) for
considered, mailed comments must be prospect (Mississippi Canyon 252– the Deepwater Horizon oil spill under
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:13 Oct 05, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM 09OCN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_50874/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2018-10-06 00:58:38
Document Modified: 2018-10-06 00:58:38
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability; request for comments, public meeting and webinar. | |
| Dates | Submitting Comments: The FL TIG will consider public comments received on or before October 26, 2018. | |
| Contact | Nanciann Regalado, via email at [email protected] or via phone at 404-679-4161. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 50679 |
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