Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for Natural Resource Injuries and Service Losses Associated With the 2010 Oil Spill From the Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on Adak Island, Alaska, 16656-16657 [2013-06140]

Download as PDF pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 16656 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 52 / Monday, March 18, 2013 / Notices estimated 45,846 barrels of oil (1,925,532 gallons) were discharged into federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico as a result of this incident, most of which sank to the ocean floor. Of this volume, an estimated 2,355 barrels (98,910 gallons) were recovered by divers. In total, an estimated 43,491 barrels (1,826,622 gallons) of oil remained unrecovered at the time submerged oil cleanup operations were discontinued in January 2006. Government agencies responded to the incident to supervise and assist in clean-up and begin assessing the impact of the spill on natural resources. Under the federal Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), of the Department of Commerce, is responsible for restoring natural resources injured by the T/B DBL 152 oil spill with funding from either the responsible party (RP) or, where an RP does not exist or exceeds its limit of liability, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) administered by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). NOAA, acting as Trustee on the public’s behalf, has conducted a natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) to determine the nature and extent of natural resource losses resulting from this incident and the restoration actions needed to restore these losses. The NRDA was conducted using the OPA NRDA regulations found at 15 CFR part 990. On the basis of data provided by the NRDA, NOAA prepared this Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment (Draft DARP/EA) to consider restoration alternatives. The purpose of presenting this Draft DARP/EA for comment is to inform the public about the NRDA and restoration planning efforts that were conducted following the oil spill. Further, the Trustees seek comments on the proposed restoration alternative presented in this Draft DARP/EA, and will consider written comments received during the public comment period before developing the Final Restoration Plan (Final Plan). An injury assessment conducted by NOAA determined that the primary injury resulting from this incident was to offshore benthic habitat. This conclusion is described in greater detail in the Draft DARP/EA. NOAA considered various restoration alternatives to compensate the public for spill-related injuries and to restore similar types of natural resource services as those that were provided by the resources injured by the spill. The preferred restoration alternative identified by NOAA is an estuarine shoreline protection and salt marsh VerDate Mar<14>2013 15:16 Mar 15, 2013 Jkt 229001 restoration project at the Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The project area is located in Galveston Bay, Texas. The project is designed to protect shoreline with a protective structure consisting of rip-rap habitat. The project will be designed so that salt marsh habitat will be created behind the breakwater. USCG has determined that the RP has exceeded its limit of liability under OPA. Therefore, the Final DARP/EA will be submitted to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) as part of a claim for funds to implement the selected restoration project. The OSLTF is administered by the USCG and is maintained through fees paid by industry. Administrative Record: Pursuant to the OPA NRDA regulations, the Trustees have developed an Administrative Record to support their restoration planning decisions and inform the public of the basis of their decisions. Additional information and documents, including public comments received on this Draft DARP/EA, the Final Restoration Plan, and other related restoration planning documents, will also become part of the Administrative Record. The documents comprising the public record (Administrative Record) can be viewed at https:// www.darrp.noaa.gov/southeast/dbl152/ admin.html. Dated: February 22, 2013. David G. Westerholm, Director, Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2013–06137 Filed 3–15–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for Natural Resource Injuries and Service Losses Associated With the 2010 Oil Spill From the Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on Adak Island, Alaska National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for natural resource injuries and service losses associated with the 2010 oil spill from the Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on Adak Island, AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 located in the central Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Pursuant to the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq. and related sections of Alaska law, including AS 46.03.760 and AS 46.03.780, notice is hereby given that a document entitled, ‘‘Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the January 11, 2010 Adak Petroleum Diesel Spill’’ (Draft DARP/EA) is being made available for public review. DARP/EA: This Draft DARP/EA has been approved by the State and Federal Natural Resource Trustee agencies (the Trustees) including: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), acting on behalf of the Department of Commerce; United States Fish & Wildlife Service, acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior (USFWS/DOI); and the State of Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Law. The Trustees act on behalf of the public under OPA and State law to protect and restore natural resources injured or lost as a result of unpermitted oil discharges. Public Review and Comment: The publication of this notice opens the period for public comment on the draft DARP/EA. All comments must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date in this Federal Register. Comments may be sent electronically or in written form. Written comments may be sent to: Ian Zelo, NOAA Oil Spill Coordinator, Assessment and Restoration Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115. Electronic comments may be sent directly to: ian.j.zelo@noaa.gov. Please provide a subject line, indicating that your comments relate to restoration planning for the Adak 2010 oil spill. Any comments received will become part of the administrative record and will be available to the public. Please be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Draft Final DARP/EA is available for downloading at https:// www.darrp.noaa.gov (by clicking on the document title in the Adak DARP/EA announcement on that page). Copies of the DARP/EA are also available for review at: (1) UAA Consortium Library ARLIS, Library Building, Suite 111, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, Reference Desk, (907) 27–ARLIS; and 2) Z.J. Loussac Public Library, 3600 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 52 / Monday, March 18, 2013 / Notices Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503, Reference Desk, (907) 343–2975. The document will also be posted at: Adak City Hall, 100 Mechanic’s Way, Adak, Alaska 99546. Requests for further information can be obtained through Ian Zelo at the contact information provided above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Adak January 11, 2010 oil spill involved releases of up to 142,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel facility into Helmet Creek and related waterways. Diesel contamination was observed in streams and wetlands that provide habitat for pink salmon, Dolly Verden, juvenile fish, and marine birds. The Trustees assessed natural resource injuries and resource services losses in the spill area, while outlining potential restoration alternatives and considering the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of these alternatives on the human environment. The Trustees are working with Adak Petroleum to resolve its liability through the restoration and rehabilitation of natural resources injured by the oil discharge. Proposed Restoration: The Draft DARP/EA identifies the restoration projects that the Trustees propose to restore resources and services to compensate the public for assessed losses. The Trustees’ restoration objectives are: (1) Improve Helmet Creek, restore juvenile and adult fish passage, (2) Improve water quality, and (3) Allow for improved habitat for salmonid species. The Trustees considered various alternative projects to address these restoration goals, which are outlined in this DARP/EA. However, after reviewing these alternatives, the Trustees agreed that the proposed restoration alternative best met their objectives. The proposed preferred alternative includes the following projects: (1) Remove two trash racks from culverts in Helmet Creek. (2) Restore grade of creek for fish passage. (3) Improve low flow passage inside the Creek’s culvert and above the tank farm. (4) Remove debris from the creek and floodplain. (5) Revegetate banks to minimize disturbance and provide bank stability. Adak Petroleum, as the Responsible Party for this spill, will be funding and implementing restoration at the Helmet Creek site, under Trustee supervision. This restoration work will be undertaken in accordance with the terms of a Consent Decree that will resolve the liability of the Responsible VerDate Mar<14>2013 15:16 Mar 15, 2013 Jkt 229001 16657 Party for natural resource damages under OPA and State law. notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. Dated: March 5, 2013. Christopher C. Cartwright, Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management. Special Accommodations [FR Doc. 2013–06140 Filed 3–15–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Tilefish Monitoring Committee will hold a public meeting. DATES: The meeting will be held on April 2, 2013 from 10 a.m. until noon. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option. Details on webinar registration and telephone-only connection details are available at: https://www.mafmc.org. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 526–5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this meeting is for the Monitoring Committee to review and, if necessary, revise the current management measures designed to achieve the recommended Golden Tilefish catch limits for 2014. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been SUMMARY: Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Dated: March 12, 2013. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–06100 Filed 3–15–13; 8:45 am] RIN 0648–XC558 PO 00000 The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Saunders at the Mid-Atlantic Council Office, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC555 Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 32 preassessment and Assessment Workshop webinars for South Atlantic blueline tilefish and gray triggerfish. AGENCY: The SEDAR 32 assessments of the South Atlantic stocks of blueline tilefish and gray triggerfish will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: a Data Workshop; a series of Assessment webinars; and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: A SEDAR 32 pre-assessment webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Additional Assessment Workshop webinars will be held from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on the following dates: May 8, 2013; May 23, 2013 (optional); June 5, 2013; June 19, 2013 (optional); June 26, 2013; July 10, 2013; and July 24, 2013 (optional). Optional webinar dates will be used as required by the Assessment Panel during the assessment process. ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to members of the public. Those interested in participating should contact Julia Byrd at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an invitation providing webinar access information. Please request webinar invitations at least 24 hours in advance of each webinar. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16656-16657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06140]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental 
Assessment for Natural Resource Injuries and Service Losses Associated 
With the 2010 Oil Spill From the Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on 
Adak Island, Alaska

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Damage Assessment and 
Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for natural resource 
injuries and service losses associated with the 2010 oil spill from the 
Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on Adak Island, located in the 
central Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
(OPA), 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq. and related sections of Alaska law, 
including AS 46.03.760 and AS 46.03.780, notice is hereby given that a 
document entitled, ``Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for the January 11, 2010 Adak Petroleum Diesel 
Spill'' (Draft DARP/EA) is being made available for public review.
    DARP/EA: This Draft DARP/EA has been approved by the State and 
Federal Natural Resource Trustee agencies (the Trustees) including: the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), acting on 
behalf of the Department of Commerce; United States Fish & Wildlife 
Service, acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior 
(USFWS/DOI); and the State of Alaska's Department of Environmental 
Conservation, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Natural 
Resources and Department of Law. The Trustees act on behalf of the 
public under OPA and State law to protect and restore natural resources 
injured or lost as a result of unpermitted oil discharges.
    Public Review and Comment: The publication of this notice opens the 
period for public comment on the draft DARP/EA. All comments must be 
submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date in 
this Federal Register. Comments may be sent electronically or in 
written form. Written comments may be sent to: Ian Zelo, NOAA Oil Spill 
Coordinator, Assessment and Restoration Division, 7600 Sand Point Way 
NE., Seattle, WA 98115. Electronic comments may be sent directly to: 
ian.j.zelo@noaa.gov.
    Please provide a subject line, indicating that your comments relate 
to restoration planning for the Adak 2010 oil spill. Any comments 
received will become part of the administrative record and will be 
available to the public. Please be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Draft Final DARP/EA is available 
for downloading at https://www.darrp.noaa.gov (by clicking on the 
document title in the Adak DARP/EA announcement on that page). Copies 
of the DARP/EA are also available for review at: (1) UAA Consortium 
Library ARLIS, Library Building, Suite 111, 3211 Providence Drive, 
Anchorage, AK 99508, Reference Desk, (907) 27-ARLIS; and 2) Z.J. 
Loussac Public Library, 3600

[[Page 16657]]

Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503, Reference Desk, (907) 343-2975. The 
document will also be posted at: Adak City Hall, 100 Mechanic's Way, 
Adak, Alaska 99546. Requests for further information can be obtained 
through Ian Zelo at the contact information provided above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Adak January 11, 2010 oil spill involved 
releases of up to 142,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the Adak 
Petroleum Bulk Fuel facility into Helmet Creek and related waterways. 
Diesel contamination was observed in streams and wetlands that provide 
habitat for pink salmon, Dolly Verden, juvenile fish, and marine birds. 
The Trustees assessed natural resource injuries and resource services 
losses in the spill area, while outlining potential restoration 
alternatives and considering the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
impacts of these alternatives on the human environment. The Trustees 
are working with Adak Petroleum to resolve its liability through the 
restoration and rehabilitation of natural resources injured by the oil 
discharge.
    Proposed Restoration: The Draft DARP/EA identifies the restoration 
projects that the Trustees propose to restore resources and services to 
compensate the public for assessed losses. The Trustees' restoration 
objectives are: (1) Improve Helmet Creek, restore juvenile and adult 
fish passage, (2) Improve water quality, and (3) Allow for improved 
habitat for salmonid species. The Trustees considered various 
alternative projects to address these restoration goals, which are 
outlined in this DARP/EA. However, after reviewing these alternatives, 
the Trustees agreed that the proposed restoration alternative best met 
their objectives. The proposed preferred alternative includes the 
following projects:
    (1) Remove two trash racks from culverts in Helmet Creek.
    (2) Restore grade of creek for fish passage.
    (3) Improve low flow passage inside the Creek's culvert and above 
the tank farm.
    (4) Remove debris from the creek and floodplain.
    (5) Revegetate banks to minimize disturbance and provide bank 
stability.
    Adak Petroleum, as the Responsible Party for this spill, will be 
funding and implementing restoration at the Helmet Creek site, under 
Trustee supervision. This restoration work will be undertaken in 
accordance with the terms of a Consent Decree that will resolve the 
liability of the Responsible Party for natural resource damages under 
OPA and State law.

    Dated: March 5, 2013.
Christopher C. Cartwright,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, Ocean 
Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-06140 Filed 3-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P

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