Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Florida Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental Assessment: Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water Quality; and Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities, 50679-50681 [2018-21601]
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50679
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2018 / Notices
Number of
respondents
Type of submission
Frequency of
submissions
Estimate
average time
(hours)
Total
responses
Estimate
annual burden
(hours)
IHBG Competitive Program
IHBG Competitive Grant Application (Includes Narrative,
SF–424, HUD–2880, HUD–2993, HUD–53246, HUD–
53247) ..............................................................................
Annual Performance Report (HUD–52737) .........................
500
200
1
1
500
200
80
32
40,000
6,400
Subtotal ................................................................................
700
........................
700
........................
46,400
IHBG Program
IHP/APR (HUD–52737) .......................................................
Formula Correction (HUD–4117) .........................................
Formula Challenge (HUD–4119) .........................................
Depository Agreement (Banker) (HUD–52736–A) ..............
Depository Agreement (Broker) (HUD–52736–B) ...............
366
300
15
366
366
2
1
1
1
1
732
300
15
366
366
62
0.5
150
0.25
0.25
45,384
150
2,250
91.5
91.5
Subtotal .........................................................................
366
........................
1,779
........................
47,967
Grand Total ............................................................
1,066
........................
2,479
........................
94,367
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in Section A on
the following:
(1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond; including through
the use of appropriate automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
C. Authority
Section 3507 of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35 as amended.
Dated: September 26, 2018.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–21860 Filed 10–5–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[FWS–R4–ES–2018–N116;
FVHC98220410150–XXX–FF04G01000]
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Florida
Trustee Implementation Group Draft
Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental
Assessment: Habitat Projects on
Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient
Reduction; Water Quality; and Provide
and Enhance Recreational
Opportunities
Department of the Interior.
Notice of availability; request
for comments, public meeting and
webinar.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the Oil
Pollution Act (OPA), the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final
Programmatic Damage Assessment and
Restoration Plan and Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS), and the
resulting Consent Decree, the Federal
SUMMARY:
natural resource trustee agencies for the
Florida Trustee Implementation Group
(FL TIG) have prepared a Draft
Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental
Assessment (Draft RP1/EA). The Draft
RP1/EA describes restoration
alternatives considered by the FL TIG
and proposes 24 preferred alternatives
intended to continue the process of
restoring natural resources and services
injured or lost as a result of the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which
occurred on or about April 20, 2010, in
the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this
notice is to inform the public of the
availability of the Draft RP1/EA and to
seek public comments on the document.
DATES: Submitting Comments: The FL
TIG will consider public comments
received on or before October 26, 2018.
Public Meeting and Webinar: The FL
TIG will conduct one public meeting
and one webinar to facilitate public
review and comment on the Draft RP1/
EA. The public meeting and webinar
will include presentation of the Draft
RP1/EA. Comments will be taken
through submission in person at the
public meeting, online, or through U.S.
mail (see Submitting Comments in
ADDRESSES). Comments will be accepted
during the public webinar. The public
meeting and webinar are scheduled as
follows:
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
WEBINAR
Date
Time
October 10, 2018 ............................
1:30–4:00 p.m. ET .........................
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Webinar
link
will
be
provided
at
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/florida.
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50680
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2018 / Notices
Obtaining Documents: You
may download the Draft RP1/EA from
either of the following websites:
• https://www.gulfspillrestoration.
noaa.gov
• https://www.doi.gov/
deepwaterhorizon
Alternatively, you may request a CD
of the Draft RP1/EA (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
Submitting Comments: You may
submit comments on the Draft RP1/EA
by one of the following methods:
• Via the Web: https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.
• Via U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 49567,
Atlanta, GA 30345. In order to be
considered, mailed comments must be
postmarked on or before the comment
deadline given in DATES.
• During the public meeting. (See
DATES for more information.)
• During the public webinar. (See
DATES for more information.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nanciann Regalado, via email at
nanciann_regalado@fws.gov or via
phone at 404–679–4161.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Introduction
In accordance with the Oil Pollution
Act (OPA; 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.); the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.); the Deepwater Horizon Oil
Spill Final Programmatic Damage
Assessment and Restoration Plan and
Final Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS);
and the resulting Consent Decree, the
Federal natural resource trustee
agencies for the Florida Trustee
Implementation Group (FL TIG) have
prepared a Draft Restoration Plan 1 and
Environmental Assessment (Draft RP1/
EA). The Draft RP1/EA describes
restoration alternatives considered by
the FL TIG and proposes 24 preferred
alternatives intended to continue the
process of restoring natural resources
and services injured or lost as a result
of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,
which occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of
Mexico. The four restoration types
addressed in the Draft RP 1/EA are
Habitat Projects on Federally Managed
Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water
Quality; and Providing and Enhancing
Recreational Opportunities. The FL TIG
evaluated these alternatives under
criteria set forth in the OPA Natural
Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)
regulations at 15 CFR part 990, and also
evaluated the environmental
consequences of the restoration
alternatives in accordance with NEPA.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Oct 05, 2018
Jkt 247001
The purpose of this notice is to inform
the public of the availability of the Draft
RP1/EA and to seek public comments
on the document.
Background
On or about April 20, 2010, the
Deepwater Horizon (DWH) mobile
drilling unit exploded, resulting in loss
of life and a massive release of oil and
natural gas from the British Petroleum
Exploration and Production, Inc. (BP)
Macondo well. Initial efforts to cap the
well were unsuccessful, resulting in 87
days of continuous discharge into the
northern Gulf of Mexico, totaling
approximately 3.19 million barrels (134
million gallons) of oil. Oil spread from
the deep ocean to the surface and
nearshore environment from Texas to
Florida, coming into contact and
injuring a diverse set of natural
resources. Extensive response actions,
including cleanup activities and actions
to prevent the oil from reaching
sensitive resources, were undertaken;
however, many of these response
actions had collateral impacts on the
environment and natural resource
services.
The Trustees conducted the NRDA for
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill under
the OPA. Pursuant to the OPA, Federal
and State agencies act as trustees on
behalf of the public to assess natural
resource injuries and losses and to
determine the actions required to
compensate the public for those injuries
and losses. OPA further instructs the
designated trustees to develop and
implement a plan for the restoration,
rehabilitation, replacement, or
acquisition of the equivalent of the
injured natural resources under their
trusteeship, including the loss of use
and services from those resources from
the time of injury until the time of
restoration to baseline (i.e., the resource
quality and conditions that would exist
if the spill had not occurred) is
complete.
The Deepwater Horizon Trustees are:
• U.S. Department of the Interior
(DOI), as represented by the National
Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and Bureau of Land
Management;
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), on behalf of
the U.S. Department of Commerce;
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA);
• U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA);
• State of Louisiana Coastal
Protection and Restoration Authority,
Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office,
Department of Environmental Quality,
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,
and Department of Natural Resources;
• State of Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality;
• State of Alabama Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources and
Geological Survey of Alabama;
• State of Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP) and
Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC); and
• State of Texas: Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department, Texas General
Land Office, and Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
The Trustees reached and finalized a
settlement of their natural resource
damage claims with BP in an April 4,
2016, Consent Decree approved by the
United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Louisiana. Pursuant
to that Consent Decree, restoration
projects in the Florida Restoration Area
are now selected and implemented by
the FL TIG. The FL TIG is composed of
two State Trustees and four Federal
Trustees: FDEP, FWC, DOI, NOAA,
EPA, and USDA.
On November 4, 2016, the FL TIG
posted a public notice at https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov
requesting new or revised natural
resource restoration project ideas by
December 5, 2016, for the FL
Restoration Area. The notice stated that
the FL TIG was seeking project ideas for
the following Restoration Types: (1)
Habitat Projects on Federally Managed
Lands; (2) Nutrient Reduction; (3) Water
Quality; and (4) Provide and Enhance
Recreational Opportunities.
On September 29, 2017, the FL TIG
announced that it had initiated drafting
of its first post-settlement draft
restoration plan, and that the first plan
would include restoration projects for
Habitat Projects on Federally Managed
Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water
Quality; and Provide and Enhance
Recreational Opportunities.
Overview of the FL TIG Draft RP1/EA
The Draft RP1/EA is being released in
accordance with OPA, NRDA
regulations, NEPA, the Consent Decree,
and the Final PDARP/PEIS. The 24
preferred restoration alternatives
include Habitat Projects on Federally
Managed Lands at Gulf Islands National
Seashore (FL) and St. Vincent National
Wildlife Refuge; Nutrient Reduction
projects in Pensacola Bay, Perdido River
and Lower Suwannee River Watersheds;
projects that restore Water Quality in
Pensacola Bay Watershed, Carpenter
Creek, Pensacola Beach, Rattlesnake
Bluff Road, Alligator Lake, St. Andrew
Bay, City of Port St. Joe, City of
Carrabelle, Lower Suwanee National
E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM
09OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2018 / Notices
Wildlife Refuge and Charlotte Harbor;
and projects that Provide and Enhance
Recreation Opportunities in Perdido
River, Carpenter Creek, Gulf Islands
National Seashore (FL), Joe’s Bayou, St.
Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the
following State parks: Topsail Hill,
Camp Helen, St. Andrews State Park,
and T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph
Peninsula.
In compliance with NEPA, an
environmental assessment is integrated
into the plan. The FL TIG also analyzes
eight additional alternatives, as well as
no action. One or more alternatives may
be selected for implementation by the
FL TIG in the Final RP1/EA or in future
restoration plans.
The proposed alternatives are
intended to continue the process of
using DWH restoration funding to
restore natural resources injured or lost
as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill. Additional restoration planning
for the FL Restoration Area will
continue.
Next Steps
As described above, one public open
house/meeting and one public webinar
are scheduled to facilitate the public
review and comment process on the
Draft RP1/EA. After the public comment
period ends, the FL TIG will consider
and address the comments received
before issuing the Final RP1/EA.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
Administrative Record
The documents comprising the
Administrative Record for the Draft
RP1/EA can be viewed electronically at
https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/
adminrecord.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et
seq.) and its implementing Natural
Resource Damage Assessment
regulations found at 15 CFR part 990,
and the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.).
Kevin D. Reynolds,
Assistant Regional Director—Gulf
Restoration, FWS; Department of the Interior
Natural Resource Trustee Official for the
Florida Trustee Implementation Group.
[FR Doc. 2018–21601 Filed 10–5–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[FWS–R4–ES–2018–N110;
FVHC98220410150–XXX–FF04G01000]
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Draft
Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental
Assessment; Open Ocean Trustee
Implementation Group
AGENCY:
Notice of availability; request
for comments.
ACTION:
In accordance with the Oil
Pollution Act, the National
Environmental Policy Act, Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic
Damage Assessment and Restoration
Plan and Final Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement, and
the resulting Consent Decree, we, the
Federal natural resource trustee
agencies for the Open Ocean Trustee
Implementation Group, have prepared a
Draft Restoration Plan 1 and
Environmental Assessment (Draft RP1/
EA). The Draft RP1/EA proposes three
preferred alternatives for the Bird and
Sturgeon restoration types, and is
intended to continue the process of
restoring natural resources and services
injured or lost as a result of the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which
occurred on or about April 20, 2010, in
the Gulf of Mexico.
SUMMARY:
Submitting Comments: We will
consider public comments received on
or before November 9, 2018.
Public Webinars: We will conduct two
webinars to present and facilitate the
public review and comment process for
the Draft RP1/EA. Comments will not be
taken through the public webinars.
Comments will be taken only through
submission online or via U.S. mail (see
ADDRESSES). The public webinars are
scheduled as follows:
DATES:
Department of the Interior.
Date
Time
Webinar link location
October 16, 2018 ............................
October 17, 2018 ............................
12 p.m. central time .......................
6 p.m. central time .........................
https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/open-ocean.
https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/open-ocean.
Obtaining Documents: You
may download the Draft RP1/EA from
either of the following websites:
• https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov
• https://www.doi.gov/
deepwaterhorizon
Alternatively, you may request a CD
of the Draft RP1/EA (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
Submitting Comments: You may
submit comments on the Draft RP1/EA
by one of the following methods:
• Via the Web: https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.
• Via U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 49567,
Atlanta, GA 30345. In order to be
considered, mailed comments must be
ADDRESSES:
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
50681
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Oct 05, 2018
Jkt 247001
postmarked on or before the comment
deadline given in DATES.
For more information, see Public
Availability of Comments under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nanciann Regalado, via email at
nanciann_regalado@fws.gov, via
telephone at 404–679–4161, or via the
Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
On or about 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–
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 offshore
oil spill in U.S. history, discharging
millions of barrels of oil over a period
of 87 days. In addition, well over 1
million gallons of dispersants were
applied to the waters of the spill area in
an attempt to disperse the spilled oil.
An undetermined amount of natural gas
was also released into the environment
as a result of the spill.
The Trustees conducted the natural
resource damage assessment (NRDA) for
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill under
E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM
09OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50679-50681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21601]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[FWS-R4-ES-2018-N116; FVHC98220410150-XXX-FF04G01000]
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Florida Trustee Implementation Group
Draft Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental Assessment: Habitat Projects
on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water Quality; and
Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities
AGENCY: Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments, public meeting
and webinar.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final
Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS), and the
resulting Consent Decree, the Federal natural resource trustee agencies
for the Florida Trustee Implementation Group (FL TIG) have prepared a
Draft Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental Assessment (Draft RP1/EA).
The Draft RP1/EA describes restoration alternatives considered by the
FL TIG and proposes 24 preferred alternatives intended to continue the
process of restoring natural resources and services injured or lost as
a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred on or about
April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this notice is to
inform the public of the availability of the Draft RP1/EA and to seek
public comments on the document.
DATES: Submitting Comments: The FL TIG will consider public comments
received on or before October 26, 2018.
Public Meeting and Webinar: The FL TIG will conduct one public
meeting and one webinar to facilitate public review and comment on the
Draft RP1/EA. The public meeting and webinar will include presentation
of the Draft RP1/EA. Comments will be taken through submission in
person at the public meeting, online, or through U.S. mail (see
Submitting Comments in ADDRESSES). Comments will be accepted during the
public webinar. The public meeting and webinar are scheduled as
follows:
Webinar
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Time Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 10, 2018.............. 1:30-4:00 p.m. ET Webinar link will be
provided at https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/florida florida.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 50680]]
ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may download the Draft RP1/EA from
either of the following websites:
https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov
https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon
Alternatively, you may request a CD of the Draft RP1/EA (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Submitting Comments: You may submit comments on the Draft RP1/EA by
one of the following methods:
Via the Web: https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.
Via U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box
49567, Atlanta, GA 30345. In order to be considered, mailed comments
must be postmarked on or before the comment deadline given in DATES.
During the public meeting. (See DATES for more
information.)
During the public webinar. (See DATES for more
information.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nanciann Regalado, via email at
[email protected] or via phone at 404-679-4161.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act (OPA; 33 U.S.C. 2701 et
seq.); the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA;
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final
Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS); and the
resulting Consent Decree, the Federal natural resource trustee agencies
for the Florida Trustee Implementation Group (FL TIG) have prepared a
Draft Restoration Plan 1 and Environmental Assessment (Draft RP1/EA).
The Draft RP1/EA describes restoration alternatives considered by the
FL TIG and proposes 24 preferred alternatives intended to continue the
process of restoring natural resources and services injured or lost as
a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred in 2010 in
the Gulf of Mexico. The four restoration types addressed in the Draft
RP 1/EA are Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient
Reduction; Water Quality; and Providing and Enhancing Recreational
Opportunities. The FL TIG evaluated these alternatives under criteria
set forth in the OPA Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)
regulations at 15 CFR part 990, and also evaluated the environmental
consequences of the restoration alternatives in accordance with NEPA.
The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability
of the Draft RP1/EA and to seek public comments on the document.
Background
On or about April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) mobile
drilling unit exploded, resulting in loss of life and a massive release
of oil and natural gas from the British Petroleum Exploration and
Production, Inc. (BP) Macondo well. Initial efforts to cap the well
were unsuccessful, resulting in 87 days of continuous discharge into
the northern Gulf of Mexico, totaling approximately 3.19 million
barrels (134 million gallons) of oil. Oil spread from the deep ocean to
the surface and nearshore environment from Texas to Florida, coming
into contact and injuring a diverse set of natural resources. Extensive
response actions, including cleanup activities and actions to prevent
the oil from reaching sensitive resources, were undertaken; however,
many of these response actions had collateral impacts on the
environment and natural resource services.
The Trustees conducted the NRDA for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
under the OPA. Pursuant to the OPA, Federal and State agencies act as
trustees on behalf of the public to assess natural resource injuries
and losses and to determine the actions required to compensate the
public for those injuries and losses. OPA further instructs the
designated trustees to develop and implement a plan for the
restoration, rehabilitation, replacement, or acquisition of the
equivalent of the injured natural resources under their trusteeship,
including the loss of use and services from those resources from the
time of injury until the time of restoration to baseline (i.e., the
resource quality and conditions that would exist if the spill had not
occurred) is complete.
The Deepwater Horizon Trustees are:
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), as represented by
the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau
of Land Management;
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on
behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce;
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA);
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
State of Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority, Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, Department of Environmental
Quality, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Department of
Natural Resources;
State of Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality;
State of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources and Geological Survey of Alabama;
State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(FDEP) and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC); and
State of Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas
General Land Office, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The Trustees reached and finalized a settlement of their natural
resource damage claims with BP in an April 4, 2016, Consent Decree
approved by the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of Louisiana. Pursuant to that Consent Decree, restoration projects in
the Florida Restoration Area are now selected and implemented by the FL
TIG. The FL TIG is composed of two State Trustees and four Federal
Trustees: FDEP, FWC, DOI, NOAA, EPA, and USDA.
On November 4, 2016, the FL TIG posted a public notice at https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov requesting new or revised natural
resource restoration project ideas by December 5, 2016, for the FL
Restoration Area. The notice stated that the FL TIG was seeking project
ideas for the following Restoration Types: (1) Habitat Projects on
Federally Managed Lands; (2) Nutrient Reduction; (3) Water Quality; and
(4) Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities.
On September 29, 2017, the FL TIG announced that it had initiated
drafting of its first post-settlement draft restoration plan, and that
the first plan would include restoration projects for Habitat Projects
on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction; Water Quality; and
Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities.
Overview of the FL TIG Draft RP1/EA
The Draft RP1/EA is being released in accordance with OPA, NRDA
regulations, NEPA, the Consent Decree, and the Final PDARP/PEIS. The 24
preferred restoration alternatives include Habitat Projects on
Federally Managed Lands at Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL) and St.
Vincent National Wildlife Refuge; Nutrient Reduction projects in
Pensacola Bay, Perdido River and Lower Suwannee River Watersheds;
projects that restore Water Quality in Pensacola Bay Watershed,
Carpenter Creek, Pensacola Beach, Rattlesnake Bluff Road, Alligator
Lake, St. Andrew Bay, City of Port St. Joe, City of Carrabelle, Lower
Suwanee National
[[Page 50681]]
Wildlife Refuge and Charlotte Harbor; and projects that Provide and
Enhance Recreation Opportunities in Perdido River, Carpenter Creek,
Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL), Joe's Bayou, St. Marks National
Wildlife Refuge and the following State parks: Topsail Hill, Camp
Helen, St. Andrews State Park, and T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph
Peninsula.
In compliance with NEPA, an environmental assessment is integrated
into the plan. The FL TIG also analyzes eight additional alternatives,
as well as no action. One or more alternatives may be selected for
implementation by the FL TIG in the Final RP1/EA or in future
restoration plans.
The proposed alternatives are intended to continue the process of
using DWH restoration funding to restore natural resources injured or
lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Additional
restoration planning for the FL Restoration Area will continue.
Next Steps
As described above, one public open house/meeting and one public
webinar are scheduled to facilitate the public review and comment
process on the Draft RP1/EA. After the public comment period ends, the
FL TIG will consider and address the comments received before issuing
the Final RP1/EA.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Administrative Record
The documents comprising the Administrative Record for the Draft
RP1/EA can be viewed electronically at https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and its implementing Natural Resource Damage
Assessment regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, and the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Kevin D. Reynolds,
Assistant Regional Director--Gulf Restoration, FWS; Department of the
Interior Natural Resource Trustee Official for the Florida Trustee
Implementation Group.
[FR Doc. 2018-21601 Filed 10-5-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
