Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities and Finding of No Significant Impact, 34574-34576 [2018-15348]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
34574
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 140 / Friday, July 20, 2018 / Notices
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 566–2083; fax
number: (202) 566–0409; email address:
fontenelle.samantha@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Supporting documents, which explain
in detail the information that the EPA
will be collecting, are available in the
public docket for this ICR. The docket
can be viewed online at
www.regulations.gov or in person at the
EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC. The telephone number
for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744.
For additional information about EPA’s
public docket, visit https://www.epa.gov/
dockets.
Abstract: In 1993, EPA began
compiling information on fish
advisories provided by the states in its
biannual 305(b) Water Quality Inventory
Reports. In 1994, EPA’s Office of Water
began conducting a voluntary annual
Fish Program Survey to obtain the most
up-to-date information on fish
advisories. This information is collected
under the authority of section 104 of the
Clean Water Act, which provides for the
collection of information to be used to
protect human health and the
environment. The advisory information
collected identifies the waterbody under
advisory, the fish or shellfish species
and size ranges included in the
advisory, the chemical contaminants
and residue levels causing the advisory
to be issued, the waterbody type (river,
lake, estuary, coastal waters), and the
target populations to whom the advisory
is directed. The results of the survey are
shared with states, territories, tribes,
other federal agencies, and the public
through an online database. The
responses to the survey are voluntary
and the information requested is part of
the state/tribal public record associated
with the advisories. No confidential
business information is requested.
Form numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities:
Administrators of Public Health and
Environmental Quality Programs in
state and tribal governments (NAICS
92312/SIC 9431 and NAICS 92411/SIC
9511).
Respondent’s obligation to respond:
Voluntary, (Clean Water Act, Section
104).
Estimated number of respondents:
100 states, territories and tribes.
Frequency of response: Annual.
Total estimated burden: 2,468 hours
(per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $110,517.20 (per
year), which includes no annualized
capital or operation & maintenance
costs.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:06 Jul 19, 2018
Jkt 244001
Changes in the estimates: There is an
increase of 584 hours in the total
estimated respondent burden compared
with the ICR currently approved by
OMB. The increase is due to revised
hourly burden estimates based on input
from three states and the addition of two
new activities to increase
communication, engagement,
information sharing and support
between the EPA and the states,
territories and tribes.
EIS No. 20180163, Draft, USFWS, CA,
Green Diamond Forest Habitat
Conservation Plan, Comment Period
Ends: 09/04/2018, Contact: Dan Cox
916–414–6539.
EIS No. 20180164, Final, USFS, CA,
Exchequer Restoration Project,
Review Period Ends: 08/20/2018,
Contact: Elaine Locke 559–855–5355.
Amended Notice
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Revision to the Federal Register
Notice published 06/01/2018, extend
comment period from 07/16/2018 to 07/
31/2018, EIS No. 20180113, Draft, DHS,
ID, Bog Creek Road Project, Contact:
Paul Enriquez, 949–643–6365.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
Dated: July 17, 2018.
Robert Tomiak,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2018–15516 Filed 7–19–18; 8:45 am]
[FR Doc. 2018–15514 Filed 7–19–18; 8:45 am]
[ER–FR–9040–4]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Environmental Impact Statements;
Notice of Availability
Responsible Agency: Office of Federal
Activities, General Information (202)
564–7156 or https://www2.epa.gov/
nepa/.
Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact
Statements, Filed 07/09/2018
Through 07/13/2018, Pursuant to 40
CFR 1506.9.
Notice
Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act
requires that EPA make public its
comments on EISs issued by other
Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters
on EISs are available at: https://
cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/
action/eis/search.
EIS No. 20180156, Final, USFS, OR,
Lobert Restoration Project, Review
Period Ends: 08/20/2018, Contact:
William Conroy 541–783–4039.
EIS No. 20180158, Final, HHS, OH,
Final Environmental Impact
Statement for Site Acquisition and
Campus Consolidation for NIOSH,
Review Period Ends: 08/20/2018,
Contact: Harry Marsh 770–488–8170.
EIS No. 20180160, Final, BLM, UT,
Alton Coal Tract Lease by
Application, Review Period Ends: 08/
20/2018, Contact: Keith Rigtrup 435–
865–3063.
EIS No. 20180161, Final Supplement,
USFS, MT, Rock Creek Mine Project,
Review Period Ends: 08/23/2018,
Contact: Katelyn Miller 406–293–
6211.
EIS No. 20180162, Final, USACE, CO,
Northern Integrated Supply Project,
Review Period Ends: 09/04/2018,
Contact: John E. Urbanic 303–979–
4120.
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9980–79–OW]
Notice of Availability of the Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee
Implementation Group Final
Restoration Plan/Environmental
Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance
Recreational Opportunities and
Finding of No Significant Impact
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) and the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Federal and State natural
resource trustee agencies for the
Louisiana Trustee Implementation
Group (Louisiana TIG) have prepared
the Final Restoration Plan and
Environmental Assessment #2: Provide
and Enhance Recreational Opportunities
(Final RP/EA #2). The Final RP/EA #2
describes and, in conjunction with the
associated Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI), selects four preferred
project alternatives considered by the
Louisiana TIG to compensate for
recreational use services lost as a result
of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The
Louisiana TIG evaluated alternatives
under criteria set forth in the OPA
natural resource damage assessment
(NRDA) regulations, and evaluated the
environmental consequences of the
restoration alternatives in accordance
with NEPA. The selected projects are
consistent with the restoration
alternatives selected in the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill Final Programmatic
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM
20JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 140 / Friday, July 20, 2018 / Notices
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Damage Assessment and Restoration
Plan/Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (PDARP/PEIS). The
Federal Trustees of the Louisiana TIG
have determined that implementation of
the Final RP/EA #2 is not a major
federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment
within the context of NEPA. They have
concluded a FONSI is appropriate, and,
therefore, an Environmental Impact
Statement will not be prepared. The
purpose of this notice is to inform the
public of the approval and availability
of the Final RP/EA #2 and FONSI.
ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You
may download the Final RP/EA #2 and
FONSI at any of the following sites:
• https://www.gulfspill
restoration.noaa.gov
• https://www.la-dwh.com
Alternatively, you may request a CD
of the Final RP/EA #2 and FONSI (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You
may also view the document at any of
the public facilities listed at https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
• Louisiana—Joann Hicks, 225–342–
5477
• EPA—Tim Landers, 202–566–2231
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
On April 20, 2010, the mobile
offshore drilling unit Deepwater
Horizon, which was being used to drill
a well for BP Exploration and
Production, Inc. (BP), in the Macondo
prospect (Mississippi Canyon 252–
MC252), experienced a significant
explosion, fire, and subsequent sinking
in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in an
unprecedented volume of oil and other
discharges from the rig and from the
wellhead on the seabed. The Deepwater
Horizon oil spill is the largest off shore
oil spill in U.S. history, discharging
millions of barrels of oil over a period
of 87 days.
The Trustees conducted the natural
resource damage assessment for the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill under the
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C.
2701 et seq.). Under 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:06 Jul 19, 2018
Jkt 244001
injury until the time restoration to
baseline (the resource quality and
conditions that would exist if the spill
had not occurred) is complete.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Trustees are:
• U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA);
• 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);
• State of Louisiana Coastal
Protection and Restoration Authority
(CPRA), Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office
(LOSCO), Department of Environmental
Quality (LDEQ), Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries (LDWF), and Department
of Natural Resources (LDNR);
• State of Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality;
• State of Alabama Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources and
Geological Survey of Alabama;
• State of Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission; and
• State of Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, General Land Office, and
Commission on Environmental Quality.
On April 4, 2016, the Trustees
reached and finalized a settlement of
their natural resource damage claims
with BP in a Consent Decree approved
by the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Pursuant to that Consent Decree,
restoration projects in the Louisiana
Restoration Area are now chosen and
managed by the Louisiana TIG. The
Louisiana TIG is composed of the
following Trustees: CPRA, LOSCO,
LDEQ, LDWF, LDNR, EPA, DOI, NOAA,
USDA.
Background
A Notice of Availability of the
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana
Trustee Implementation Group Draft
Restoration Plan and Environmental
Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance
Recreational Opportunities (Draft RP/EA
#2) was published in the Federal
Register on December 20, 2017. The
Louisiana TIG hosted a public meeting
on January 24, 2018, in New Orleans,
and the public comment period for the
Draft RP/EA #2 closed on February 2,
2018. The Draft RP/EA #2 proposed four
restoration projects, evaluated in
accordance with OPA and NEPA. In
response to public comments received
on the Draft RP/EA #2, the Louisiana
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
34575
TIG prepared a Draft Supplemental
Restoration Plan and Environmental
Assessment for the Elmer’s Island
Access Project Modification (Draft
Supplemental RP/EA) to evaluate
proposed changes to the Elmer’s Island
Access project. A Notice of Availability
of the Draft Supplemental RP/EA was
published in the Federal Register on
May 21, 2018. The Louisiana TIG hosted
a public meeting on May 22, 2018, in
New Orleans, and the public comment
period for the Draft Supplemental RP/
EA closed on June 20, 2018. The
Louisiana TIG considered the public
comments received on both the Draft
RP/EA #2, and Draft Supplemental RP/
EA, which informed the Louisiana TIG’s
analyses and selection of the restoration
projects in the Final RP/EA #2. A
summary of the public comments
received and the Trustees’ responses to
those comments are included in Section
7 of the Final RP/EA #2.
Overview of the Final RP/EA #2
The Final RP/EA #2 is being released
in accordance with OPA NRDA
regulations found in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) at 15 CFR 990, and
NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). In the
Final RP/EA #2, the Louisiana TIG
selects the following preferred project
alternatives:
• Elmer’s Island Access, as modified
• Island Road Piers
• Statewide Artificial Reefs
• Lake Charles Science Center and
Educational Complex
The Louisiana TIG has examined the
injuries assessed by the Deepwater
Horizon Trustees and evaluated
restoration alternatives to address the
injuries. In the Final RP/EA #2, the
Louisiana TIG presents to the public its
plan for providing partial compensation
for lost recreational use services in the
Louisiana Restoration Area. The
selected projects are intended to
continue the process of restoring
recreational use services lost as a result
of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The
total estimated cost of the selected
projects is $22 million. Additional
restoration planning for the Louisiana
Restoration Area will continue.
Administrative Record
The documents comprising the
Administrative Record for the Final RP/
EA #2 and FONSI can be viewed
electronically at https://www.doi.gov/
deepwaterhorizon/administrativerecord.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et
seq.), its implementing NRDA
E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM
20JYN1
34576
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 140 / Friday, July 20, 2018 / Notices
regulations found at 15 CFR part 990,
and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Dated: July 3, 2018.
Benita Best-Wong,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant
Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2018–15348 Filed 7–19–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9980–59—Region 8]
Proposed Administrative Settlement
Agreement and Order on Consent,
Black Swan Restoration Reach Good
Samaritan Superfund Site, Boulder
County, Colorado
Environmental Protection
Agency.
ACTION: Notice of proposed agreement;
request for public comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
requirements of section 122 of the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980, as amended (‘‘CERCLA’’),
notice is hereby given of the proposed
administrative settlement under
sections 104, 106, 107, and 122 of
CERCLA, between the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(‘‘EPA’’) and the Fourmile Watershed
Coalition and Four Mile Fire Protection
District (‘‘Settling Party’’). Pursuant to
the terms of the proposed settlement,
the Settling Party will conduct a
Removal Action to abate an actual or
threat of release of hazardous
substances, pollutants or contaminants
at the Black Swan Restoration Reach
Good Samaritan Superfund Site located
in Boulder County, Colorado. In
exchange, the EPA will resolve any
potential liability the Settling Party may
have under CERCLA. The State of
Colorado was consulted on this
settlement regarding applicable state
laws and regulations.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before August 20, 2018. For thirty
(30) days following the date of
publication of this notice, the Agency
will receive written comments relating
to the agreement. The Agency will
consider all comments received and
may modify or withdraw its consent to
the agreement if comments received
disclose facts or considerations that
indicate that the agreement is
inappropriate, improper, or inadequate.
ADDRESSES: The Agency’s response to
any comments, the proposed agreement
and additional background information
relating to the agreement is available for
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:06 Jul 19, 2018
Jkt 244001
public inspection at the EPA Superfund
Record Center, 1595 Wynkoop Denver,
Colorado.
Comments and requests for a copy of
the proposed agreement should be
addressed to Maureen O’Reilly,
Enforcement Specialist, Environmental
Protection Agency—Region 8, Mail
Code 8ENF–RC, 1595 Wynkoop Street,
Denver, Colorado 80202–2466, and
should reference the Black Swan
Restoration Reach Good Samaritan
Superfund Site, Central City, Gilpin
County, Colorado.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Chalfant, Enforcement Attorney,
Legal Enforcement Program,
Environmental Protection Agency—
Region 8, Mail Code 8ENF–L, 1595
Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado
80202–2466, (303) 312–6177.
Dated: June 29, 2018.
Deb Thomas,
Deputy Regional Administrator, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region
VIII.
[FR Doc. 2018–15602 Filed 7–19–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2018–0220; FRL–9980–99–
OEI]
Information Collection Request
Submitted to OMB for Review and
Approval; Comment Request; Mobile
Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program
(Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has submitted an
information collection request (ICR),
Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting
Program (EPA ICR No. 1774.07, OMB
Control No. 2060–0350) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a
proposed extension of the ICR, which is
currently approved through July 31,
2018. Public comments were previously
requested via the Federal Register on
April 27, 2018 during a 60-day comment
period. This notice allows for an
additional 30 days for public comments.
A fuller description of the ICR is given
below, including its estimated burden
and cost to the public. An agency may
not conduct or sponsor and a person is
not required to respond to a collection
of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Additional comments may be
submitted on or before August 20, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2018–0220, online using
www.regulations.gov (our preferred
method), by email to a-and-r-docket@
epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket
Center, Environmental Protection
Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460, and (2) OMB via email to oira_
submission@omb.eop.gov. Address
comments to OMB Desk Officer for EPA.
EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes profanity, threats,
information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christina Thompson, Environmental
Protection Agency, Stratospheric
Protection Division, Office of
Atmospheric Programs, MC 6205T,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460; telephone number: (202) 564–
0983; fax number: (202) 343–2362;
email address: thompson.christina@
epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Supporting documents, which explain
in detail the information that the EPA
will be collecting, are available in the
public docket for this ICR. The docket
can be viewed online at
www.regulations.gov or in person at the
EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC. The telephone number
for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744.
For additional information about EPA’s
public docket, visit https://www.epa.gov/
dockets.
Abstract: EPA’s Significant New
Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program
implements Section 612 of the 1990
Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments
which authorized the Agency to
establish regulatory requirements to
ensure that ozone-depleting substances
(ODS) are replaced by alternatives that
reduce overall risks to human health
and the environment, and to promote an
expedited transition to safe substitutes.
To promote this transition, the CAA
specified that EPA establish an
information clearinghouse of available
alternatives, and coordinate with other
federal agencies and the public on
research, procurement practices, and
information and technology transfers.
Regulations promulgated under SNAP
require that Motor Vehicle Air
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM
20JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34574-34576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15348]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9980-79-OW]
Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan/
Environmental Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance Recreational
Opportunities and Finding of No Significant Impact
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) and the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal and State natural
resource trustee agencies for the Louisiana Trustee Implementation
Group (Louisiana TIG) have prepared the Final Restoration Plan and
Environmental Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance Recreational
Opportunities (Final RP/EA #2). The Final RP/EA #2 describes and, in
conjunction with the associated Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI), selects four preferred project alternatives considered by the
Louisiana TIG to compensate for recreational use services lost as a
result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Louisiana TIG evaluated
alternatives under criteria set forth in the OPA natural resource
damage assessment (NRDA) regulations, and evaluated the environmental
consequences of the restoration alternatives in accordance with NEPA.
The selected projects are consistent with the restoration alternatives
selected in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Final Programmatic
[[Page 34575]]
Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (PDARP/PEIS). The Federal Trustees of the Louisiana
TIG have determined that implementation of the Final RP/EA #2 is not a
major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human
environment within the context of NEPA. They have concluded a FONSI is
appropriate, and, therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement will not
be prepared. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the
approval and availability of the Final RP/EA #2 and FONSI.
ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may download the Final RP/EA #2 and
FONSI at any of the following sites:
https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov
https://www.la-dwh.com
Alternatively, you may request a CD of the Final RP/EA #2 and FONSI
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You may also view the document
at any of the public facilities listed at https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Louisiana--Joann Hicks, 225-342-5477
EPA--Tim Landers, 202-566-2231
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
On April 20, 2010, the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater
Horizon, which was being used to drill a well for BP Exploration and
Production, Inc. (BP), in the Macondo prospect (Mississippi Canyon 252-
MC252), experienced a significant explosion, fire, and subsequent
sinking in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in an unprecedented volume of
oil and other discharges from the rig and from the wellhead on the
seabed. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is the largest off shore oil
spill in U.S. history, discharging millions of barrels of oil over a
period of 87 days.
The Trustees conducted the natural resource damage assessment for
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). Under 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 restoration to baseline (the resource
quality and conditions that would exist if the spill had not occurred)
is complete.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill Trustees are:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
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);
State of Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority (CPRA), Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO), Department of
Environmental Quality (LDEQ), Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
(LDWF), and Department of Natural Resources (LDNR);
State of Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality;
State of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources and Geological Survey of Alabama;
State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection
and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and
State of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, General Land
Office, and Commission on Environmental Quality.
On April 4, 2016, the Trustees reached and finalized a settlement
of their natural resource damage claims with BP in a Consent Decree
approved by the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of Louisiana. Pursuant to that Consent Decree, restoration projects in
the Louisiana Restoration Area are now chosen and managed by the
Louisiana TIG. The Louisiana TIG is composed of the following Trustees:
CPRA, LOSCO, LDEQ, LDWF, LDNR, EPA, DOI, NOAA, USDA.
Background
A Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan and
Environmental Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance Recreational
Opportunities (Draft RP/EA #2) was published in the Federal Register on
December 20, 2017. The Louisiana TIG hosted a public meeting on January
24, 2018, in New Orleans, and the public comment period for the Draft
RP/EA #2 closed on February 2, 2018. The Draft RP/EA #2 proposed four
restoration projects, evaluated in accordance with OPA and NEPA. In
response to public comments received on the Draft RP/EA #2, the
Louisiana TIG prepared a Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and
Environmental Assessment for the Elmer's Island Access Project
Modification (Draft Supplemental RP/EA) to evaluate proposed changes to
the Elmer's Island Access project. A Notice of Availability of the
Draft Supplemental RP/EA was published in the Federal Register on May
21, 2018. The Louisiana TIG hosted a public meeting on May 22, 2018, in
New Orleans, and the public comment period for the Draft Supplemental
RP/EA closed on June 20, 2018. The Louisiana TIG considered the public
comments received on both the Draft RP/EA #2, and Draft Supplemental
RP/EA, which informed the Louisiana TIG's analyses and selection of the
restoration projects in the Final RP/EA #2. A summary of the public
comments received and the Trustees' responses to those comments are
included in Section 7 of the Final RP/EA #2.
Overview of the Final RP/EA #2
The Final RP/EA #2 is being released in accordance with OPA NRDA
regulations found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 15 CFR
990, and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). In the Final RP/EA #2, the
Louisiana TIG selects the following preferred project alternatives:
Elmer's Island Access, as modified
Island Road Piers
Statewide Artificial Reefs
Lake Charles Science Center and Educational Complex
The Louisiana TIG has examined the injuries assessed by the
Deepwater Horizon Trustees and evaluated restoration alternatives to
address the injuries. In the Final RP/EA #2, the Louisiana TIG presents
to the public its plan for providing partial compensation for lost
recreational use services in the Louisiana Restoration Area. The
selected projects are intended to continue the process of restoring
recreational use services lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill. The total estimated cost of the selected projects is $22
million. Additional restoration planning for the Louisiana Restoration
Area will continue.
Administrative Record
The documents comprising the Administrative Record for the Final
RP/EA #2 and FONSI can be viewed electronically at https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/administrativerecord.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), its implementing NRDA
[[Page 34576]]
regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.).
Dated: July 3, 2018.
Benita Best-Wong,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2018-15348 Filed 7-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
