New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council; Proposed Funding for Natural Resource Restoration Projects, 67669-67672 [05-22237]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 215 / Tuesday, November 8, 2005 / Notices
Research (Primary and Alternate).
Applicants are chosen based upon
their particular expertise and experience
in relation to the seat for which they are
applying; community and professional
affiliations; philosophy regarding the
protection and management of marine
resources; and possibly the length of
residence in the area affected by the
Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen
as members should expect to serve
either a two or three-year term, pursuant
to the Advisory Council’s Charter.
DATES: Applications are due by
December 31, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Application kits may be
obtained from Rowena Forest, Advisory
Council Coordinator, Gulf of the
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary,
P.O. Box 159, Olema, CA 94950, (415)
663–0314 extension 105,
rowenaforest@noaa.gov, and over the
Internet at: https://farallones.noaa.gov/
manage/sac.html. Completed
applications should be sent to the above
mailing address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rowena Forest, Advisory Council
Coordinator, Gulf of the Farallones
National Marine Sanctuary, P.O. Box
159, Olema, CA 94950, (415) 663–0314
x105, rowenaforest@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
of the Farallones National Marine
Sanctuary (GFNMS) was established in
1981 to protect the near shore waters of
the California Coast north and west of
San Francisco, and the offshore Farallon
Islands. The Sanctuary includes nursery
and spawning grounds for commercially
important species, over 33 species of
marine mammals, and 15 species of
breeding seabirds. The Farallon Islands
themselves contain the largest
concentration of breeding seabirds in
the contiguous United States. Key
habitats include coastal beaches, rocky
shores, mud and tidal flats, salt marsh,
estuaries, and pelagic waters.
Additionally, the area within the
Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary (MBNMS) north of the San
Mateo/Santa Cruz county boundary is
administered by the GFNMS. The legal
boundaries of each sanctuary remain as
is. The GFNMS is responsible for
developing and managing most
sanctuary programs within this area,
with the exception that the MBNMS is
responsible for the Water Quality
Protection Program.
The GFNMS Advisory Council was
originally chartered in 2001, with seven
voting members. It has recently been
expanded to 12 voting members. The
primary focus of the Council is to advise
the Sanctuary Manager regarding the
implementation of the sanctuary
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management plan, in conjunction with
the contiguous Monterey Bay and
Cordell Bank National Marine
Sanctuaries.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431, et seq.
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog
Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program)
Dated: November 1, 2005.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, National Marine Sanctuary Program,
National Ocean Service, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 05–22172 Filed 11–7–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–NK–M
67669
mail to: New Bedford Harbor Trustee
Council, c/o National Marine Fisheries
Service, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930, Attn.: Jack Terrill.
Comments also may be sent via
facsimile (fax) to 978–281–9301.
The public hearing will be held at the
Days Inn, 500 Hathaway Road, New
Bedford, MA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack
Terrill, Coordinator, 978–281–9136, fax
978–281–9301, or e-mail
Jack.Terrill@NOAA.GOV.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[Docket No. 051102288-5288-01; I.D.
102805B]
New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council;
Proposed Funding for Natural
Resource Restoration Projects
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: On behalf of the New Bedford
Harbor Trustee Council (Council),
NMFS, serving as the Administrative
Trustee, publishes this notice to see
comment on its proposed funding of six
restoration projects for possible
implementation through funding from
the AVX Natural Resource Damages
Trust Account (Trust Account). The
Council, through an earlier published
Federal Register notice requested grant
applications for projects to restore
natural resources that were injured by
the release of hazardous substances and
materials, including polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), in the New Bedford
Harbor Environment (Harbor
Environment). Nineteen grant
applications for natural resource
restoration projects were submitted for
consideration by the Council. The
Council is now seeking public comment
on the preferred projects to assist in
making a final decision on projects
eligible for funding.
DATES: The Council will accept
comments on the proposed restoration
projects through 30 days after date of
publication in the Federal Register and
will hold a public hearing regarding the
preliminary selection.
The public hearing will be held on
November 16, 2005, at 7 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Please send your comments
by email to: NBHTC@noaa.gov or by
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New Bedford Harbor is located in
southeastern Massachusetts at the
mouth of the Acushnet River on
Buzzards Bay. The Harbor and River are
contaminated with high levels of
hazardous substances and materials,
including PCBs, and as a consequence
are on the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund
National Priorities List. This site is also
listed by the Massachusetts Department
of Environmental Protection as a
priority Tier 1 disposal site.
The Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA or ‘‘Superfund,’’ 42 U.S.C.
9601 et seq.) designates as possible
natural resource trustees Federal, state,
or tribal authorities who represent the
public interest in natural resources. The
trustees are responsible for recovering
funds through litigation or settlement
for damages for natural resource
injuries. CERCLA requires that any
recovered monies be used to ‘‘restore,
replace, or acquire the equivalent of’’
the natural resources that have been
injured by a release of a hazardous
substance.
For the New Bedford Harbor
Superfund Site, there are three natural
resource trustees on the Council
representing the public interest in the
affected natural resources. They are the
Department of Commerce (DOC), the
Department of the Interior, and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The
Secretary of Commerce has delegated
DOC trustee responsibility to NOAA;
within NOAA, NMFS has responsibility
for natural resource restoration at this
site. The Secretary of the Interior has
delegated trustee responsibility to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
Governor of Massachusetts has
delegated trustee responsibility to the
Secretary of Environmental Affairs.
To initiate restoration of the New
Bedford Harbor Environment the
Council previously issued two
‘‘Request(s) for Restoration Ideas’’ in
October 1995 (60 FR 52164, October 5,
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1995) (Round I) and August 1999 (64 FR
44505, August 16, 1999) (Round II). For
each round, restoration ideas were
received from the local communities,
members of the public, academia and
state and federal agencies. The 56
restoration ideas submitted under
Round I were the basis for the
alternatives listed in the Council’s
‘‘Restoration Plan for the New Bedford
Harbor Environment’’ (Restoration Plan)
that was developed to guide the
Council’s restoration efforts. An
environmental impact statement (EIS)
was prepared in conjunction with the
Restoration Plan to fulfill requirements
of the National Environmental Policy
Act. A record of decision, issued on
September 22, 1998 for both the
Restoration Plan and the EIS, provided
for implementation of 11 Round I
preferred restoration projects through
funding provided by the Trust Account.
Thirty-five restoration ideas were
submitted to the Council under Round
II. Following procedures established in
the Restoration Plan/EIS, an
environmental assessment was prepared
to evaluate the ideas. A public comment
period/hearing was held and after
consideration of the comments received,
the Trustee Council decided to pursue
implementation of 17 restoration ideas.
Rather than requesting restoration
ideas, Round III solicited grant
applications for natural resource
restoration projects. This process has
the advantage of allowing for faster
implementation of projects by having
applicants conduct the restoration
projects after receiving direct funding
through NOAA-issued grants. Further
this process allows Trustee Council staff
to continue implementation of Round I
and Round II projects while still
providing oversight to Round III
projects.
The Round III solicitation appeared in
the Federal Register (70 FR 5191,
February 1, 2005), on the World Wide
Web on GRANTS.GOV where a Federal
Funding Opportunity (FFO) was
published, and on the Trustee Council’s
webpage at www.restorenbh.gov. A total
of 19 applications were received, but of
these, four were rejected for not being
related to the New Bedford Harbor
restoration activities. Following
procedures specified in the FFO,
technical reviewers independently rated
each application using five evaluation
criteria which totalled 100 points. The
applications were then ranked by the
total score received. In addition to the
technical review, a legal review was
conducted to ensure the resulting
projects were consistent with the
requirements of CERCLA. The results of
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the technical review was provided as a
recommendation to the Trustee Council.
The FFO also established in Section
V.B. Review and Selection, that the
‘‘Council will review the
recommendation, accept or modify the
recommendations, and make a
preliminary determination of the
projects it expects to undertake.’’
Following this, the Council will initiate
a 30-day comment period during which
a public hearing would be held.
The Council is now seeking public
review of the preferred projects and the
proposed level of funding for each
project. The public is also invited to
attend a public hearing (see DATES and
ADDRESSES) to provide oral comment
based upon its review of the Trustees’
preliminary recommendations.
At the conclusion of the comment
period, the Council will consider the
comments from the public and its
advisors before making final decisions
on the projects eligible for funding
through the Trust Account.
Prior to final approval for funding, all
selected projects require environmental
review under applicable law and the
submission of detailed scopes of work
for Council review and approval. The
release of funds may be conditioned on
the results of project activity such as
feasibility studies or assessments. In
addition, implementation of the projects
may be conditioned or delayed, and the
funds therefore held in reserve, until
more information becomes available or
specific conditions are met. Funds held
in reserve will continue to be held in
the interest bearing Trust Account,
administered by the Court Registry
Investment System of the United States
District Courts.
II. The Preferred Project Ideas
Recommended by the Trustee Council
Below is a description of the preferred
projects proposed by the Council for
potential implementation and funding.
A draft environmental assessment has
been prepared which provides further
information on the preferred projects
and a discussion of those ideas which
are not considered preferred projects.
The draft environmental assessment is
available at the Council office (see
ADDRESSES) or by accessing the Council
website https://www.restorenbh.gov.
1. Acushnet River: ‘‘Headwaters to Bay’’
Land Conservation Project.
The project was composed of four
separate subprojects which follow:
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a. Acushnet River North (Requested
amount: $833,500; Council suggested
amount: to be determined based upon
the option chosen)
The project is located in East
Freetown and Acushnet, MA at the
headwaters of the Acushnet River. The
alternative is to provide funding for the
purchase of 88 acres (35.6 hectares) of
undisturbed forest and wetlands west of
Squam Brook and open the property to
the public for passive recreational use.
The parcel would also be protected
through the attachment of a permanent
conservation restriction to the deed. An
additional 90 acres (36.4 hectares) east
of Squam Brook would be protected
through the purchase of a conservation
restriction (CR) on the land. This action
would prevent any future development
of the land and preserve the existing
agricultural use (cranberry production)
in accordance with Best Management
Practices. The eastern portion of the site
would remain in private ownership
with public access limited by the
owners.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
approved the project for possible
implementation pending public
comment on its decision and the
project. The Trustee Council is
considering two options for the project:
(1) Purchase and/or CR of the entire
property or (2) purchase and/or CR of
the western portion of the property
only. The western portion is
characterized by upland forest and
wetlands leading down to an irrigation
reservoir and Squam Brook. This second
option would not purchase a CR on the
eastern portion where there are active
cranberry bog operations. The Council
favors outright purchase, the second
option, to provide greater protection to
the headwaters since there is
development pressure in this area. The
Council is not as interested in the
eastern portion unless the potential
exists for restoring the natural condition
of the wetlands.
b. Acushnet Saw Mill (Requested
amount: $1,651,500; Council suggested
amount: to be determined based upon
the option chosen)
This project is located in Acushnet,
MA on the Acushnet River at a point
where the freshwater portion ends and
the tidal estuary begins. Funds would be
provided for the fee simple purchase
and conservation restriction of 21 acres
(8.5 hectares) (consisting of field, forest,
riverfront, freshwater pond and marsh)
at the Acushnet Sawmill site from its
present owners. The site is the location
of the first dam on the Acushnet River
that is being examined by the Trustee
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Council and the Massachusetts Division
of Marine Fisheries for modifications to
restore anadromous fish passage under
Round I. There are presently three
buildings located on site as well as other
structures associated with a once active
sawmill and lumberyard. The applicant
envisions restoring this site to a natural
state through the removal of all the
buildings and pavement covering
approximately 4 acres (1.6 hectares).
While this may be a long-term objective
of the applicant, the only action to be
taken at this time is the fee simple
acquisition and conservation restriction.
This action would prevent further
development of the site.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
approved of the project for possible
implementation pending public
comments on its decision and the
project. The Trustee Council is
considering two options for the project:
(1) Purchase and/or CR of the entire
property or (2) purchase and/or CR of
the undeveloped portion of the property
composed primarily of the eastern
portion of the property. The concern
over the developed portion is the
amount of effort needed to restore the
property to natural conditions and the
various unknowns associated with the
commercial use (e.g. sawmill
operations) of the site. The Council has
not made a decision on either option
and invites public comment.
c. Marsh Island South (Requested
amount: $447,500; Council suggested
amount: up to $397,500)
The project is located in Fairhaven,
MA in the Inner Harbor just south of the
Route 195 crossing. Funds would be
provided for the fee simple purchase
and conservation restriction of a 7.68–
acre (3.1–hectare) site on the southern
portion of a peninsula known as Marsh
Island in Fairhaven. (The remaining
northern portion of Marsh Island was
purchased using Trustee Council funds
authorized in Round II. The Trustee
Council is investigating the feasibility of
restoring the salt marsh that was present
before fill was placed on the island.)
Prior to the purchase, funds would be
provided for a title examination, fair
market real estate appraisal,
environmental site assessment and
survey (if needed).
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
approved the project for possible
implementation subject to consideration
of public comment. The Council is
concerned about the two existing radio
towers on site and will explore with the
applicant options for their eventual
removal. The Council does not believe
the $50,000 for ‘‘Restoration Planning
and Design’’ is required since the
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Council is already funding efforts on
Marsh Island revolving around salt
marsh restoration.
d. Viveiros Farm (Requested amount:
$1,270,000; Council suggested amount:
up to $1,270,000)
The project is located on the eastern
side of Sconticut Neck, Fairhaven, MA.
The overall project goal is to protect 127
acres (51.4 hectares) (comprised of
farmland, salt marsh, freshwater
wetlands and coastal beach) from future
development through a combination of
land protection methods. Funding
would be used for a fee simple purchase
on 40 acres (16.2 hectares) and a
conservation restriction would be
placed on 16 acres (6.5 hectares). The
remaining 71 acres (28.3 hectares)
would be acquired using an Agricultural
Protection Restriction (APR) through the
Massachusetts Department of
Agricultural Resources (MDAR). The
amount requested from the Trustee
Council would be cost shared with
$2,050,000 coming from a North
Atlantic Wetland Conservation Act oil
spill grant, a MDAR grant and other
municipal and private sources.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
approved the project for possible
implementation subject to consideration
of public comment. The Trustee Council
would like clarification on how its
funding would be used and for which
components of the project. The Council
is uncertain whether Council funding
would be used to supplement MDAR
funding for the APR. The Council is not
interested in funding the APR and does
not want agricultural use of the Council
funded portion of the land.
2. Apponagansett Bay Resource
Restoration Feasibility Study (Requested
amount: $175,000; Council suggested
amount: $175,000)
The project is located in Dartmouth,
MA where the Padanaram Causeway
crosses Apponagansett Bay. The project
would investigate the feasibility of
restoring a more natural tidal exchange
between inner Apponagansett Bay, outer
Apponagansett Bay and Buzzards Bay
by installing additional openings in the
Padanaram causeway. A feasibility
study would be conducted to determine
whether modifying the Padanaram
causeway will increase tidal flushing
with the inner Bay with the goal of
restoring upstream degraded resources,
including salt marsh and shellfish beds.
The feasibility study would consist of
two phases. The first phase would
consist of data collection and
developing and running a
hydrodynamic model. The results of the
first phase will describe the
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67671
modifications to the causeway (such as
installing additional culverts in the
causeway) necessary to improve the
resources of Apponagansett Bay and
quantify the effects of such actions. The
results of the first phase of the
feasibility study would be presented to
the Trustee Council. Should the results
demonstrate that the project is worth the
Council’s continued support, the second
phase of the feasibility study would be
implemented. The second phase
consists of the development of
conceptual restoration plans that could
be used to produce construction cost
estimates and discuss regulatory
approvals. Once this study is complete,
the effects of additional openings in the
causeway and the costs of implementing
these changes will be known and a
preferred restoration alternative will be
developed. Funds for the further design,
permitting and construction for such a
project could be requested in a future
Trustee Council funding round.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
chosen to include the study as a
preferred study for possible funding and
implementation after consideration of
public comment. Funding would be
provided for the initial feasibility
investigation (data gathering and
hydrodynamic modeling) and if the
results are favorable, and the Trustee
Council approves, funding would then
be provided for the second phase to
produce the conceptual plan.
3. Restoration and Management of Tern
Populations (Requested amount:
$833,336.15; Council suggested amount:
$833,336.15)
The project is located on three islands
in Buzzards Bay: Bird Island, Marion,
Massachusetts; Ram Island,
Mattapoisett, Massachusetts; and
Penikese Island, Gosnold,
Massachusetts. Roseate and common
terns were injured while feeding on
PCB- contaminated fish in the New
Bedford Harbor Environment. The
project goal is to rebuild and restore the
population of roseate terns (a federally
listed endangered species) and common
terns through management or
enhancement of nesting locations. The
management aspect of this project
involves moving other species, such as
gulls, off the nesting areas and the daily
monitoring of the terns that locate at the
three islands. The project would also
increase nesting habitat on Ram Island
by removing an invasive plant
Phragmites australis and filling an
eroded section of the island.
This idea would extend the work
being conducted under restoration
funding from Rounds I and II for an
additional period of three years. Round
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I provided funding ($266,400) to
implement biological management and
monitoring of tern colonies at Bird
Island and Ram Island to restore
populations of common terns and
roseate terns. At Penikese Island, the
project focused on reclaiming the island
as a nesting site by managing gulls.
Preliminary engineering work to
stabilize Bird island and toxicological
analyses of tern eggs were also funded.
Round II funding ($853,600) continued
the Round I management efforts at the
three islands for an additional six years.
Further work was done to assess what
needed to be done to improve tern
nesting habitat at Bird Island. Samples
of unhatched tern eggs were collected
for chemical analysis. Overall tern
numbers on the islands have increased
59 percent since Trustee Council
funding commenced.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
chosen to include the project as a
preferred project for possible funding
and implementation after consideration
of public comment.
4. River Road Restoration Project
(Requested amount: $954,453; Council
suggested amount: $195,000 for wetland
restoration components and signage)
The project is located at 246 River
Road, New Bedford, MA and is
composed of 2.5 acres (1.0 hectares) of
city-owned land along the Acushnet
River. The project would return a former
industrial site to open space including
restoring a 23,000–square foot (2,137–
square meter) salt marsh on filled
tideland and creating walking trails,
interpretative signs, canoe/kayak
launch, picnic area, play area, lawn and
parking area. The Acushnet River along
this location has been the subject of EPA
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
recent cleanup activity involving the
removal of bottom sediments and
replanting along the shoreline.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
approved only the wetland restoration
component of the project for possible
implementation after consideration of
public comment. The wetland
restoration component will provide a
direct benefit to injured natural
resources.
5. Round Hill Salt Marsh Restoration
Project (Requested amount: $164,000;
Council suggested amount: $164,000)
The project is located at Round Hill
Point, Dartmouth, MA. The project
would conduct an investigation
exploring the feasibility of restoring up
to 24 acres (9.7 hectares) of coastal salt
marsh through the removal of
significant amounts of fill material and
re-grading to historic marsh elevations
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at the Round Hill Salt Marsh Restoration
Site. A phased approach would be taken
with Phase I involving a feasibility
study and Phase II involving the
conceptual design of the proposed
project.
Under Phase I, a contractor would be
hired to complete a full feasibility study
including development of historical
background/site history, base mapping
(vegetation, topographic and
bathymetric maps as necessary),
hydrologic and alternatives analyses
and cut and fill calculations. Upon
completion of Phase I, the feasibility
study would be presented to the
Trustees for their consideration and
approval. If approved by the Trustee
Council and project partners, the second
Phase (Phase II) would proceed with
conceptual design.
Conceptual design would include
development of conceptual alternatives
and estimates of project costs.
Completion of conceptual designs and
cost estimates will be used to further
develop the project with partners and
regulatory authorities and aid in
identifying a potential preferred
alternative. Upon successful completion
through Phase II with a conceptual
design, the project team would re-apply
for additional Trustee Council funding
through future funding opportunities to
complete final design, permitting and
construction.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
chosen to include the project as a
preferred study for possible funding and
implementation after consideration of
public comment. Funding would be
provided for the initial feasibility study.
If the results are favorable and the
Trustee Council approves, funding
would then be provided for the second
phase to produce the conceptual design
and alternatives analysis.
6. West Island Beach (Requested
amount: $162,000; Council suggested
amount: $162,000)
The project site is located at the
entrance to West Island Beach in
Fairhaven, MA. The project is intended
to increase full tidal exchange to a
tidally-restricted 8–acre (3.2–hectare)
salt marsh by replacing an undersized
culvert with a properly-sized culvert
beneath the West Island Beach access
road (Fir Street). Requested funds will
be used to hire contractors to correctly
size and design a culvert that will
maximize tidal exchange with the West
Island Beach marsh (without adversely
affecting nearby properties), obtain all
necessary permits and approvals,
develop construction drawings,
specifications and bid documents,
construct the project, and install an
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interpretive sign that recognizes the
contribution of the New Bedford Harbor
Trustee Council and the project
partners.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily
approved the idea for possible funding
and implementation after consideration
of public comment. The Council would
be interested in pursuing an expansion
of the project through the relocation of
the beach parking lot and by removing
the fill that was used to create the
parking lot and will discuss this
alternative with the Town of Fairhaven.
Such a project change would require the
approval of the Town.
Classification
This notice does not contain a
collection-of-information requirement
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
A draft environmental assessment has
been prepared which provides further
information on the preferred projects
and a discussion of those ideas which
are not considered preferred projects.
The draft environmental assessment is
available at the Council office (see
ADDRESSES) or by accessing the
Council’s website at https://
www.restorenbh.gov.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. and 9601
et seq.
Dated: November 1, 2005.
Garry F. Mayer,
Acting Director, Office of Habitat
Conservation, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 05–22237 Filed 11–7–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Performance Review Board (PRB)
United States Patent and
Trademark Office.
ACTION: Notice; Update membership list
of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office Performance Review
Board.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In conformance with the Civil
Service Reform Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C.
4314(c)(4), the United States Patent and
Trademark Office announces the
appointment of persons to serve as
members of its Performance Review
Board.
Director, Office of Human
Resources, United States Patent and
Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313–1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Matthews at (571) 272–6200.
ADDRESSES:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67669-67672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22237]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 051102288-5288-01; I.D. 102805B]
New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council; Proposed Funding for Natural
Resource Restoration Projects
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On behalf of the New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council (Council),
NMFS, serving as the Administrative Trustee, publishes this notice to
see comment on its proposed funding of six restoration projects for
possible implementation through funding from the AVX Natural Resource
Damages Trust Account (Trust Account). The Council, through an earlier
published Federal Register notice requested grant applications for
projects to restore natural resources that were injured by the release
of hazardous substances and materials, including polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), in the New Bedford Harbor Environment (Harbor
Environment). Nineteen grant applications for natural resource
restoration projects were submitted for consideration by the Council.
The Council is now seeking public comment on the preferred projects to
assist in making a final decision on projects eligible for funding.
DATES: The Council will accept comments on the proposed restoration
projects through 30 days after date of publication in the Federal
Register and will hold a public hearing regarding the preliminary
selection.
The public hearing will be held on November 16, 2005, at 7 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Please send your comments by email to: NBHTC@noaa.gov or by
mail to: New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council, c/o National Marine
Fisheries Service, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn.: Jack
Terrill. Comments also may be sent via facsimile (fax) to 978-281-9301.
The public hearing will be held at the Days Inn, 500 Hathaway Road,
New Bedford, MA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Terrill, Coordinator, 978-281-
9136, fax 978-281-9301, or e-mail Jack.Terrill@NOAA.GOV.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
New Bedford Harbor is located in southeastern Massachusetts at the
mouth of the Acushnet River on Buzzards Bay. The Harbor and River are
contaminated with high levels of hazardous substances and materials,
including PCBs, and as a consequence are on the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund National Priorities List. This site
is also listed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection as a priority Tier 1 disposal site.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA or ``Superfund,'' 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.)
designates as possible natural resource trustees Federal, state, or
tribal authorities who represent the public interest in natural
resources. The trustees are responsible for recovering funds through
litigation or settlement for damages for natural resource injuries.
CERCLA requires that any recovered monies be used to ``restore,
replace, or acquire the equivalent of'' the natural resources that have
been injured by a release of a hazardous substance.
For the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site, there are three natural
resource trustees on the Council representing the public interest in
the affected natural resources. They are the Department of Commerce
(DOC), the Department of the Interior, and the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. The Secretary of Commerce has delegated DOC trustee
responsibility to NOAA; within NOAA, NMFS has responsibility for
natural resource restoration at this site. The Secretary of the
Interior has delegated trustee responsibility to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. The Governor of Massachusetts has delegated trustee
responsibility to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs.
To initiate restoration of the New Bedford Harbor Environment the
Council previously issued two ``Request(s) for Restoration Ideas'' in
October 1995 (60 FR 52164, October 5,
[[Page 67670]]
1995) (Round I) and August 1999 (64 FR 44505, August 16, 1999) (Round
II). For each round, restoration ideas were received from the local
communities, members of the public, academia and state and federal
agencies. The 56 restoration ideas submitted under Round I were the
basis for the alternatives listed in the Council's ``Restoration Plan
for the New Bedford Harbor Environment'' (Restoration Plan) that was
developed to guide the Council's restoration efforts. An environmental
impact statement (EIS) was prepared in conjunction with the Restoration
Plan to fulfill requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
A record of decision, issued on September 22, 1998 for both the
Restoration Plan and the EIS, provided for implementation of 11 Round I
preferred restoration projects through funding provided by the Trust
Account.
Thirty-five restoration ideas were submitted to the Council under
Round II. Following procedures established in the Restoration Plan/EIS,
an environmental assessment was prepared to evaluate the ideas. A
public comment period/hearing was held and after consideration of the
comments received, the Trustee Council decided to pursue implementation
of 17 restoration ideas.
Rather than requesting restoration ideas, Round III solicited grant
applications for natural resource restoration projects. This process
has the advantage of allowing for faster implementation of projects by
having applicants conduct the restoration projects after receiving
direct funding through NOAA-issued grants. Further this process allows
Trustee Council staff to continue implementation of Round I and Round
II projects while still providing oversight to Round III projects.
The Round III solicitation appeared in the Federal Register (70 FR
5191, February 1, 2005), on the World Wide Web on GRANTS.GOV where a
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) was published, and on the Trustee
Council's webpage at www.restorenbh.gov. A total of 19 applications
were received, but of these, four were rejected for not being related
to the New Bedford Harbor restoration activities. Following procedures
specified in the FFO, technical reviewers independently rated each
application using five evaluation criteria which totalled 100 points.
The applications were then ranked by the total score received. In
addition to the technical review, a legal review was conducted to
ensure the resulting projects were consistent with the requirements of
CERCLA. The results of the technical review was provided as a
recommendation to the Trustee Council.
The FFO also established in Section V.B. Review and Selection, that
the ``Council will review the recommendation, accept or modify the
recommendations, and make a preliminary determination of the projects
it expects to undertake.'' Following this, the Council will initiate a
30-day comment period during which a public hearing would be held.
The Council is now seeking public review of the preferred projects
and the proposed level of funding for each project. The public is also
invited to attend a public hearing (see DATES and ADDRESSES) to provide
oral comment based upon its review of the Trustees' preliminary
recommendations.
At the conclusion of the comment period, the Council will consider
the comments from the public and its advisors before making final
decisions on the projects eligible for funding through the Trust
Account.
Prior to final approval for funding, all selected projects require
environmental review under applicable law and the submission of
detailed scopes of work for Council review and approval. The release of
funds may be conditioned on the results of project activity such as
feasibility studies or assessments. In addition, implementation of the
projects may be conditioned or delayed, and the funds therefore held in
reserve, until more information becomes available or specific
conditions are met. Funds held in reserve will continue to be held in
the interest bearing Trust Account, administered by the Court Registry
Investment System of the United States District Courts.
II. The Preferred Project Ideas Recommended by the Trustee Council
Below is a description of the preferred projects proposed by the
Council for potential implementation and funding. A draft environmental
assessment has been prepared which provides further information on the
preferred projects and a discussion of those ideas which are not
considered preferred projects. The draft environmental assessment is
available at the Council office (see ADDRESSES) or by accessing the
Council website https://www.restorenbh.gov.
1. Acushnet River: ``Headwaters to Bay'' Land Conservation Project.
The project was composed of four separate subprojects which follow:
a. Acushnet River North (Requested amount: $833,500; Council suggested
amount: to be determined based upon the option chosen)
The project is located in East Freetown and Acushnet, MA at the
headwaters of the Acushnet River. The alternative is to provide funding
for the purchase of 88 acres (35.6 hectares) of undisturbed forest and
wetlands west of Squam Brook and open the property to the public for
passive recreational use. The parcel would also be protected through
the attachment of a permanent conservation restriction to the deed. An
additional 90 acres (36.4 hectares) east of Squam Brook would be
protected through the purchase of a conservation restriction (CR) on
the land. This action would prevent any future development of the land
and preserve the existing agricultural use (cranberry production) in
accordance with Best Management Practices. The eastern portion of the
site would remain in private ownership with public access limited by
the owners.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily approved the project for
possible implementation pending public comment on its decision and the
project. The Trustee Council is considering two options for the
project: (1) Purchase and/or CR of the entire property or (2) purchase
and/or CR of the western portion of the property only. The western
portion is characterized by upland forest and wetlands leading down to
an irrigation reservoir and Squam Brook. This second option would not
purchase a CR on the eastern portion where there are active cranberry
bog operations. The Council favors outright purchase, the second
option, to provide greater protection to the headwaters since there is
development pressure in this area. The Council is not as interested in
the eastern portion unless the potential exists for restoring the
natural condition of the wetlands.
b. Acushnet Saw Mill (Requested amount: $1,651,500; Council suggested
amount: to be determined based upon the option chosen)
This project is located in Acushnet, MA on the Acushnet River at a
point where the freshwater portion ends and the tidal estuary begins.
Funds would be provided for the fee simple purchase and conservation
restriction of 21 acres (8.5 hectares) (consisting of field, forest,
riverfront, freshwater pond and marsh) at the Acushnet Sawmill site
from its present owners. The site is the location of the first dam on
the Acushnet River that is being examined by the Trustee
[[Page 67671]]
Council and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries for
modifications to restore anadromous fish passage under Round I. There
are presently three buildings located on site as well as other
structures associated with a once active sawmill and lumberyard. The
applicant envisions restoring this site to a natural state through the
removal of all the buildings and pavement covering approximately 4
acres (1.6 hectares). While this may be a long-term objective of the
applicant, the only action to be taken at this time is the fee simple
acquisition and conservation restriction. This action would prevent
further development of the site.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily approved of the project for
possible implementation pending public comments on its decision and the
project. The Trustee Council is considering two options for the
project: (1) Purchase and/or CR of the entire property or (2) purchase
and/or CR of the undeveloped portion of the property composed primarily
of the eastern portion of the property. The concern over the developed
portion is the amount of effort needed to restore the property to
natural conditions and the various unknowns associated with the
commercial use (e.g. sawmill operations) of the site. The Council has
not made a decision on either option and invites public comment.
c. Marsh Island South (Requested amount: $447,500; Council suggested
amount: up to $397,500)
The project is located in Fairhaven, MA in the Inner Harbor just
south of the Route 195 crossing. Funds would be provided for the fee
simple purchase and conservation restriction of a 7.68-acre (3.1-
hectare) site on the southern portion of a peninsula known as Marsh
Island in Fairhaven. (The remaining northern portion of Marsh Island
was purchased using Trustee Council funds authorized in Round II. The
Trustee Council is investigating the feasibility of restoring the salt
marsh that was present before fill was placed on the island.) Prior to
the purchase, funds would be provided for a title examination, fair
market real estate appraisal, environmental site assessment and survey
(if needed).
The Trustee Council has preliminarily approved the project for
possible implementation subject to consideration of public comment. The
Council is concerned about the two existing radio towers on site and
will explore with the applicant options for their eventual removal. The
Council does not believe the $50,000 for ``Restoration Planning and
Design'' is required since the Council is already funding efforts on
Marsh Island revolving around salt marsh restoration.
d. Viveiros Farm (Requested amount: $1,270,000; Council suggested
amount: up to $1,270,000)
The project is located on the eastern side of Sconticut Neck,
Fairhaven, MA. The overall project goal is to protect 127 acres (51.4
hectares) (comprised of farmland, salt marsh, freshwater wetlands and
coastal beach) from future development through a combination of land
protection methods. Funding would be used for a fee simple purchase on
40 acres (16.2 hectares) and a conservation restriction would be placed
on 16 acres (6.5 hectares). The remaining 71 acres (28.3 hectares)
would be acquired using an Agricultural Protection Restriction (APR)
through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).
The amount requested from the Trustee Council would be cost shared with
$2,050,000 coming from a North Atlantic Wetland Conservation Act oil
spill grant, a MDAR grant and other municipal and private sources.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily approved the project for
possible implementation subject to consideration of public comment. The
Trustee Council would like clarification on how its funding would be
used and for which components of the project. The Council is uncertain
whether Council funding would be used to supplement MDAR funding for
the APR. The Council is not interested in funding the APR and does not
want agricultural use of the Council funded portion of the land.
2. Apponagansett Bay Resource Restoration Feasibility Study (Requested
amount: $175,000; Council suggested amount: $175,000)
The project is located in Dartmouth, MA where the Padanaram
Causeway crosses Apponagansett Bay. The project would investigate the
feasibility of restoring a more natural tidal exchange between inner
Apponagansett Bay, outer Apponagansett Bay and Buzzards Bay by
installing additional openings in the Padanaram causeway. A feasibility
study would be conducted to determine whether modifying the Padanaram
causeway will increase tidal flushing with the inner Bay with the goal
of restoring upstream degraded resources, including salt marsh and
shellfish beds.
The feasibility study would consist of two phases. The first phase
would consist of data collection and developing and running a
hydrodynamic model. The results of the first phase will describe the
modifications to the causeway (such as installing additional culverts
in the causeway) necessary to improve the resources of Apponagansett
Bay and quantify the effects of such actions. The results of the first
phase of the feasibility study would be presented to the Trustee
Council. Should the results demonstrate that the project is worth the
Council's continued support, the second phase of the feasibility study
would be implemented. The second phase consists of the development of
conceptual restoration plans that could be used to produce construction
cost estimates and discuss regulatory approvals. Once this study is
complete, the effects of additional openings in the causeway and the
costs of implementing these changes will be known and a preferred
restoration alternative will be developed. Funds for the further
design, permitting and construction for such a project could be
requested in a future Trustee Council funding round.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily chosen to include the study
as a preferred study for possible funding and implementation after
consideration of public comment. Funding would be provided for the
initial feasibility investigation (data gathering and hydrodynamic
modeling) and if the results are favorable, and the Trustee Council
approves, funding would then be provided for the second phase to
produce the conceptual plan.
3. Restoration and Management of Tern Populations (Requested amount:
$833,336.15; Council suggested amount: $833,336.15)
The project is located on three islands in Buzzards Bay: Bird
Island, Marion, Massachusetts; Ram Island, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts;
and Penikese Island, Gosnold, Massachusetts. Roseate and common terns
were injured while feeding on PCB- contaminated fish in the New Bedford
Harbor Environment. The project goal is to rebuild and restore the
population of roseate terns (a federally listed endangered species) and
common terns through management or enhancement of nesting locations.
The management aspect of this project involves moving other species,
such as gulls, off the nesting areas and the daily monitoring of the
terns that locate at the three islands. The project would also increase
nesting habitat on Ram Island by removing an invasive plant Phragmites
australis and filling an eroded section of the island.
This idea would extend the work being conducted under restoration
funding from Rounds I and II for an additional period of three years.
Round
[[Page 67672]]
I provided funding ($266,400) to implement biological management and
monitoring of tern colonies at Bird Island and Ram Island to restore
populations of common terns and roseate terns. At Penikese Island, the
project focused on reclaiming the island as a nesting site by managing
gulls. Preliminary engineering work to stabilize Bird island and
toxicological analyses of tern eggs were also funded. Round II funding
($853,600) continued the Round I management efforts at the three
islands for an additional six years. Further work was done to assess
what needed to be done to improve tern nesting habitat at Bird Island.
Samples of unhatched tern eggs were collected for chemical analysis.
Overall tern numbers on the islands have increased 59 percent since
Trustee Council funding commenced.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily chosen to include the project
as a preferred project for possible funding and implementation after
consideration of public comment.
4. River Road Restoration Project (Requested amount: $954,453; Council
suggested amount: $195,000 for wetland restoration components and
signage)
The project is located at 246 River Road, New Bedford, MA and is
composed of 2.5 acres (1.0 hectares) of city-owned land along the
Acushnet River. The project would return a former industrial site to
open space including restoring a 23,000-square foot (2,137-square
meter) salt marsh on filled tideland and creating walking trails,
interpretative signs, canoe/kayak launch, picnic area, play area, lawn
and parking area. The Acushnet River along this location has been the
subject of EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recent cleanup
activity involving the removal of bottom sediments and replanting along
the shoreline.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily approved only the wetland
restoration component of the project for possible implementation after
consideration of public comment. The wetland restoration component will
provide a direct benefit to injured natural resources.
5. Round Hill Salt Marsh Restoration Project (Requested amount:
$164,000; Council suggested amount: $164,000)
The project is located at Round Hill Point, Dartmouth, MA. The
project would conduct an investigation exploring the feasibility of
restoring up to 24 acres (9.7 hectares) of coastal salt marsh through
the removal of significant amounts of fill material and re-grading to
historic marsh elevations at the Round Hill Salt Marsh Restoration
Site. A phased approach would be taken with Phase I involving a
feasibility study and Phase II involving the conceptual design of the
proposed project.
Under Phase I, a contractor would be hired to complete a full
feasibility study including development of historical background/site
history, base mapping (vegetation, topographic and bathymetric maps as
necessary), hydrologic and alternatives analyses and cut and fill
calculations. Upon completion of Phase I, the feasibility study would
be presented to the Trustees for their consideration and approval. If
approved by the Trustee Council and project partners, the second Phase
(Phase II) would proceed with conceptual design.
Conceptual design would include development of conceptual
alternatives and estimates of project costs. Completion of conceptual
designs and cost estimates will be used to further develop the project
with partners and regulatory authorities and aid in identifying a
potential preferred alternative. Upon successful completion through
Phase II with a conceptual design, the project team would re-apply for
additional Trustee Council funding through future funding opportunities
to complete final design, permitting and construction.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily chosen to include the project
as a preferred study for possible funding and implementation after
consideration of public comment. Funding would be provided for the
initial feasibility study. If the results are favorable and the Trustee
Council approves, funding would then be provided for the second phase
to produce the conceptual design and alternatives analysis.
6. West Island Beach (Requested amount: $162,000; Council suggested
amount: $162,000)
The project site is located at the entrance to West Island Beach in
Fairhaven, MA. The project is intended to increase full tidal exchange
to a tidally-restricted 8-acre (3.2-hectare) salt marsh by replacing an
undersized culvert with a properly-sized culvert beneath the West
Island Beach access road (Fir Street). Requested funds will be used to
hire contractors to correctly size and design a culvert that will
maximize tidal exchange with the West Island Beach marsh (without
adversely affecting nearby properties), obtain all necessary permits
and approvals, develop construction drawings, specifications and bid
documents, construct the project, and install an interpretive sign that
recognizes the contribution of the New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council
and the project partners.
The Trustee Council has preliminarily approved the idea for
possible funding and implementation after consideration of public
comment. The Council would be interested in pursuing an expansion of
the project through the relocation of the beach parking lot and by
removing the fill that was used to create the parking lot and will
discuss this alternative with the Town of Fairhaven. Such a project
change would require the approval of the Town.
Classification
This notice does not contain a collection-of-information
requirement subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. A draft
environmental assessment has been prepared which provides further
information on the preferred projects and a discussion of those ideas
which are not considered preferred projects. The draft environmental
assessment is available at the Council office (see ADDRESSES) or by
accessing the Council's website at https://www.restorenbh.gov.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. and 9601 et seq.
Dated: November 1, 2005.
Garry F. Mayer,
Acting Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-22237 Filed 11-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S