Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #7: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; and Birds, 51475-51477 [2020-18205]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 162 / Thursday, August 20, 2020 / Notices formula CDBG grants and program income, separately from CDBG–CV funds. For purposes of calculating the public services cap, the treatment of program income generated by the CDBG–CV grant and received (i.e., documented in IDIS) by the annual formula CDBG program shall be considered as any other program income received by the annual formula CDBG program. IV.B.3.(b) Provisions in Section III that apply to Coronavirus-Related Activities. The following provisions in Section III apply to the use of fiscal year 2019 and 2020 CDBG funds for activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus; these provisions shall also apply to the use of Section 108 guaranteed loan funds when they are used together with fiscal year 2019 and 2020 CDBG funds for activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Where these paragraphs refer to CDBG–CV funds, they shall apply equally to fiscal years 2019 and 2020 CDBG grants. • III.B.5.(d)(i) Use of Urgent Need National Objective. • III.B.5.(d)(ii) Modification of Location-Based Presumption of LMI Benefit for Job Creation and Retention National Objective Criteria. • III.B.5.(d)(iii) LMI Job Creation and Retention Records. • III.B.5.(e)(i) Elimination of Aggregate Public Benefit Test. • III.B.5.(e)(ii) Modification of Individual Public Benefit Standards. • III.B.5.(f)(i) Extension of Emergency Payments. • III.B.5.(f)(ii) Opportunity Zones and Related Flexibilities for Economic Development. • III.B.5.(f)(iii) Public Services Cap. • III.B.5.(f)(iv) Other Public Services Considerations. • III.B.5.(f)(v) Clarification on Application of Cost Principles. • III.B.6.(d)(iii) Clarifying note on emergency environmental review procedures. • III.B.9. Duplication of Benefits (applies for programs and activities with annual formula CDBG funds when the grantee uses these funds to carry out programs to respond to losses caused by disasters and emergencies). • III.B.10. Citizenship Requirements. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES IV.B.4. Provisions That Do Not Apply to FY 19 and FY 20 Grants Waivers and alternative requirements and other provisions in the following paragraphs of Section III do not apply to fiscal year 2019 CDBG Grants and fiscal year 2020 CDBG grants: • III.A. Allocations of CDBG–CV Funds VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:01 Aug 19, 2020 Jkt 250001 • III.B.1. General Grant Requirements • III.B.2. Responsible Use of CARES Act Funds • III.B.3. Overview of Process to Receive CDBG–CV Grants • III.B.4.(b) CDBG–CV Application Content and Submission • III.B.5.(a) Use of Funds for CARES Act Purposes • III.B.5.(b) Reimbursements • III.B.5.(c) Terms and Conditions Made Applicable by the CARES Act • III.B.5.(d)(iv) Overall Benefit to LMI Persons. • III.B.6.(a) Program Income • III.B.6.(b) Rules Applicable to State CDBG–CV Grants • III.B.6.(c) Rules for Entitlements, Insular Areas, and Nonentitlement Hawaii Counties • III.B.6.(d)(ii) Clarifying note on the process for environmental release of funds when a state carries out activities directly. • III.B.6.(e) Compliance with Labor Laws • III.B.6.(f) Relationship to Section 108 Loan Guarantees • III.B.7. Period of Performance, Timeliness, and Closeout • III.B.8. Reporting Paperwork Reduction Act: The information collection requirements in this notice have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520) and assigned OMB Control Number 2506– 0085. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection displays a currently valid OMB control number. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers for the CDBG–CV grants under the CARES Act are: 14.218 (Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement Grants); 14.225 (Community Development Block Grants/Special Purpose Grants/Insular Areas); and 14.228 (Community Development Block Grants/State’s Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii) (formerly CDBG Grant/Small Cities Program). Environmental Impact: A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to the environment has been made in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 50, which implement section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). The FONSI is available for inspection at HUD’s Funding Opportunities web page at: https://www.hud.gov/grants/. The FONSI is available for public inspection PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51475 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays in the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410–0500. Due to security measures at the HUD Headquarters building, an advance appointment to review the docket file must be scheduled by calling the Regulations Division at 202–708–3055 (this is not a toll-free number). Hearingor speech-impaired individuals may access this number through TTY by calling the Federal Relay Service at 800– 877–8339 (this is a toll-free number). John Gibbs, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. [FR Doc. 2020–18242 Filed 8–19–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [FWS–R4–ES–2020–N106; FVHC98220410150–XXX–FF04H00000] Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #7: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; and Birds Department of the Interior. Notice of availability; request for public comments. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA); the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS) and Record of Decision; and the Consent Decree, the federal and state natural resource trustee agencies for the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (LA TIG) have prepared the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan #7 and Environmental Assessment: Wetlands, Coastal and Nearshore Habitats; and Birds (RP/EA #7). In the Draft RP/EA #7, the LA TIG proposes projects to help restore bird habitat and marshes injured as a result of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the Louisiana Restoration Area under the ‘‘Wetlands, Coastal and Nearshore Habitats’’ and ‘‘Birds’’ restoration types described in the Final PDARP/PEIS. The approximate cost to implement the LA TIG’s proposed project with five preferred alternatives is $234,100,000. We invite public comments on the Draft RP/EA #7. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1 51476 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 162 / Thursday, August 20, 2020 / Notices We will consider public comments on the Draft RP/EA #7 received on or before September 22, 2020. The LA TIG will host a public webinar on September 3, 2020, at 3:00 Central. The public may register for the webinar at https:// attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 6495772168532544525. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with instructions for DATES: • https:// www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/ restoration-areas/louisiana Alternatively, you may request a CD of the Draft RP/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Copies of the Draft RP/EA are also available for review during the public comment period at the locations listed in the following table. Library Address City St. Tammany Parish Library .................................... Terrebonne Parish Library ....................................... New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana Division ...... East Baton Rouge Parish Library ............................ Jefferson Parish Library, East Bank Regional Library. Jefferson Parish Library, West Bank Regional Library. Plaquemines Parish Library ..................................... St. Bernard Parish Library ........................................ St. Martin Parish Library .......................................... Alex P. Allain Library ................................................ Vermilion Parish Library ........................................... Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library ..................... South Lafourche Public Library ................................ Calcasieu Parish Public Library Central Branch ...... Iberia Parish Library ................................................. Mark Shirley, LSU AgCenter .................................... 310 W. 21st Avenue ................................................ 151 Library Drive ..................................................... 219 Loyola Avenue .................................................. 7711 Goodwood Boulevard ..................................... 4747 W. Napoleon Avenue ..................................... Covington ....................... Houma ............................ New Orleans ................... Baton Rouge .................. Metairie ........................... 70433 70360 70112 70806 70001 2751 Manhattan Boulevard ..................................... Harvey ............................ 70058 8442 Highway 23 ..................................................... 1125 E. St. Bernard Highway .................................. 201 Porter Street ..................................................... 206 Iberia Street ...................................................... 405 E. St. Victor Street ........................................... 314 St. Mary Street ................................................. 16241 E. Main Street .............................................. 301 W. Claude Street .............................................. 445 E. Main Street .................................................. 1105 West Port Street ............................................. Belle Chasse .................. Chalmette ....................... St. Martinville .................. Franklin ........................... Abbeville ......................... Thibodaux ....................... Cut Off ............................ Lake Charles .................. New Iberia ...................... Abbeville ......................... 70037 70043 70582 70538 70510 70301 70345 70605 70560 70510 Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the following methods: • Via the Web: https:// www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/ restoration-areas/louisiana. • Via U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 29649, Atlanta, GA 30345. To be considered, mailed comments must be postmarked on or before the comment deadline given in DATES. • During the public webinar: Written comments may be provided by the public during the webinar. Webinar information is provided in DATES. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nanciann Regalado, via email at nanciann_regalado@fws.gov, via telephone at 678–296–6805, or via the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES joining the webinar. Instructions for commenting will be provided during the webinar. Shortly after the webinar is concluded, the presentation material will be posted on the web at https:// www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/ restoration-areas/louisiana. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may download the Draft RP/EA #7 from either of the following websites: • https://www.doi.gov/ deepwaterhorizon 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:01 Aug 19, 2020 Jkt 250001 wellhead on the seabed. The DWH 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 DWH oil spill under the Oil Pollution Act 1990 (OPA; 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). Pursuant to 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. The 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 to baseline (the resource quality and conditions that would exist if the spill had not occurred). This includes the loss of use and services provided by those resources from the time of injury until the completion of restoration. The DWH Trustees are: PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Zip • 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 and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and • State of Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas General Land Office, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. On April 4, 2016, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana entered a Consent Decree resolving civil claims by the Trustees against BP arising from the DWH oil spill: United States v. BPXP et al., Civ. E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 162 / Thursday, August 20, 2020 / Notices No. 10–4536, centralized in MDL 2179, In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig ‘‘Deepwater Horizon’’ in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010 (E.D. La.) (https://www.justice.gov/enrd/deepwaterhorizon). Pursuant to the Consent Decree, restoration projects in the Louisiana Restoration Area are chosen and managed by the LA TIG. The LA TIG is composed of the following Trustees: State of Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, Departments of Environmental Quality, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Natural Resources; DOI; NOAA; EPA; and USDA. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Background The Final PDARP/PEIS provides for TIGs to propose restoration projects using a planning process that involves phasing restoration projects across multiple restoration plans. A TIG may propose funding a planning phase (e.g., initial engineering and design (E&D)) in a restoration plan for a conceptual project (phase 1). This allows the TIG to develop information needed to fully consider a subsequent implementation phase of the project in a future restoration plan (phase 2). In the Draft RP/EA #7, the LA TIG considers alternatives to fund E&D for conceptual projects and also to fund projects for implementation. Overview of the LA TIG Draft RP/EA #7 The Draft RP/EA #7 provides the LA TIG’s analysis of alternatives under the ‘‘Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats’’ restoration type and the ‘‘Birds’’ restoration type. Under the ‘‘Wetlands, Coastal and Nearshore Habitats’’ restoration type, the preferred alternatives include a conceptual project that would undergo E&D if selected, and two alternatives that are analyzed for full implementation if selected. These alternatives are: (1) Bird’s Foot Delta Hydrologic Restoration project (E&D), (2) Terrebonne Basin Ridge and Marsh Creation Project: Bayou Terrebonne Increment (Terrebonne project) (full implementation) and (3) Grande Cheniere Ridge Marsh Creation (full implementation). The Terrebonne project was approved and funded for E&D in the 2017 Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan #1: Restoration of Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; and Birds. The other, Bayou Grand Cheniere Ridge and Marsh Creation project underwent E&D through a separate funding process. Both projects have reached a stage in their E&D where sufficient information VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:01 Aug 19, 2020 Jkt 250001 has been developed for analysis under NEPA and the OPA NRDA regulations. Under the ‘‘Birds’’ restoration type, the LA TIG proposes conceptual projects that would undergo E&D if selected for funding. The preferred ‘‘Birds’’ alternatives are (1) Isle au Pitre Restoration, and (2) Terrebonne Houma Navigation Canal Island Restoration. Next Steps As described above in DATES, the Trustees will host a public webinar to facilitate the public review and comment process. After the public comment period ends, the Trustees will consider and address the comments received before issuing a final RP/EA #7. 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 RP/EA #7 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.), its implementing NRDA regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations found at 40 CFR 1500–1508. Mary Josie Blanchard, Department of the Interior, Director of Gulf of Mexico Restoration. [FR Doc. 2020–18205 Filed 8–19–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AA–10488; 20X.LLAK944000.L14100000.HY0000.P] Alaska Native Claims Selection AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51477 Notice of decision approving lands for conveyance. ACTION: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides constructive notice that it will issue an appealable decision approving conveyance of the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands to Sealaska Corporation, an Alaska Native regional corporation, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). DATES: Any party claiming a property interest in the lands affected by the decision may appeal the decision in accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR part 4 within the time limits set out in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the decision from the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513–7504. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew R. Lux, BLM Alaska State Office, 907–271–3176, or mlux@ blm.gov. The BLM Alaska State Office may also be contacted via Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) through the Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339. The relay service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the BLM. The BLM will reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that the BLM will issue an appealable decision to Sealaska Corporation. The decision approves conveyance of the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq.). The lands are located on Baranof Island within T. 60 S., R. 65 E., Copper River Meridian, Alaska, and contain 12.85 acres. The decision addresses public access easements, if any, to be reserved to the United States pursuant to Sec. 17(b) of ANCSA (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)), in the lands described above. The BLM will also publish notice of the decision once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Daily Sitka Sentinel newspaper. Any party claiming a property interest in the lands affected by the decision may appeal the decision in accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR part 4 within the following time limits: 1. Unknown parties, parties unable to be located after reasonable efforts have been expended to locate, parties who fail or refuse to sign their return receipt, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 162 (Thursday, August 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51475-51477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18205]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[FWS-R4-ES-2020-N106; FVHC98220410150-XXX-FF04H00000]


Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Deepwater Horizon Oil 
Spill Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #7: Wetlands, 
Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; and Birds

AGENCY: Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA); the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); the Final 
Programmatic Damage Assessment Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS) and Record of 
Decision; and the Consent Decree, the federal and state natural 
resource trustee agencies for the Louisiana Trustee Implementation 
Group (LA TIG) have prepared the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group 
Draft Restoration Plan #7 and Environmental Assessment: Wetlands, 
Coastal and Nearshore Habitats; and Birds (RP/EA #7). In the Draft RP/
EA #7, the LA TIG proposes projects to help restore bird habitat and 
marshes injured as a result of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in 
the Louisiana Restoration Area under the ``Wetlands, Coastal and 
Nearshore Habitats'' and ``Birds'' restoration types described in the 
Final PDARP/PEIS. The approximate cost to implement the LA TIG's 
proposed project with five preferred alternatives is $234,100,000. We 
invite public comments on the Draft RP/EA #7.

[[Page 51476]]


DATES: We will consider public comments on the Draft RP/EA #7 received 
on or before September 22, 2020.
    The LA TIG will host a public webinar on September 3, 2020, at 3:00 
Central. The public may register for the webinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6495772168532544525. After 
registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with 
instructions for joining the webinar. Instructions for commenting will 
be provided during the webinar. Shortly after the webinar is concluded, 
the presentation material will be posted on the web at https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/louisiana.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may download the Draft RP/EA #7 
from either of the following websites:
 https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon
 https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/louisiana
    Alternatively, you may request a CD of the Draft RP/EA (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Copies of the Draft RP/EA are also 
available for review during the public comment period at the locations 
listed in the following table.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Library                              Address                        City                 Zip
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Tammany Parish Library...............  310 W. 21st Avenue..........  Covington...................      70433
Terrebonne Parish Library................  151 Library Drive...........  Houma.......................      70360
New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana      219 Loyola Avenue...........  New Orleans.................      70112
 Division.
East Baton Rouge Parish Library..........  7711 Goodwood Boulevard.....  Baton Rouge.................      70806
Jefferson Parish Library, East Bank        4747 W. Napoleon Avenue.....  Metairie....................      70001
 Regional Library.
Jefferson Parish Library, West Bank        2751 Manhattan Boulevard....  Harvey......................      70058
 Regional Library.
Plaquemines Parish Library...............  8442 Highway 23.............  Belle Chasse................      70037
St. Bernard Parish Library...............  1125 E. St. Bernard Highway.  Chalmette...................      70043
St. Martin Parish Library................  201 Porter Street...........  St. Martinville.............      70582
Alex P. Allain Library...................  206 Iberia Street...........  Franklin....................      70538
Vermilion Parish Library.................  405 E. St. Victor Street....  Abbeville...................      70510
Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library.....  314 St. Mary Street.........  Thibodaux...................      70301
South Lafourche Public Library...........  16241 E. Main Street........  Cut Off.....................      70345
Calcasieu Parish Public Library Central    301 W. Claude Street........  Lake Charles................      70605
 Branch.
Iberia Parish Library....................  445 E. Main Street..........  New Iberia..................      70560
Mark Shirley, LSU AgCenter...............  1105 West Port Street.......  Abbeville...................      70510
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Via the Web: https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/louisiana.
     Via U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 
29649, Atlanta, GA 30345. To be considered, mailed comments must be 
postmarked on or before the comment deadline given in DATES.
     During the public webinar: Written comments may be 
provided by the public during the webinar. Webinar information is 
provided in DATES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nanciann Regalado, via email at 
[email protected], via telephone at 678-296-6805, or via the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

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 DWH 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 DWH oil spill under the Oil Pollution Act 1990 (OPA; 33 
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). Pursuant to 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. The 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 to 
baseline (the resource quality and conditions that would exist if the 
spill had not occurred). This includes the loss of use and services 
provided by those resources from the time of injury until the 
completion of restoration.
    The DWH 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 
and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and
     State of Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas 
General Land Office, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
    On April 4, 2016, the United States District Court for the Eastern 
District of Louisiana entered a Consent Decree resolving civil claims 
by the Trustees against BP arising from the DWH oil spill: United 
States v. BPXP et al., Civ.

[[Page 51477]]

No. 10-4536, centralized in MDL 2179, In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig 
``Deepwater Horizon'' in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010 (E.D. 
La.) (https://www.justice.gov/enrd/deepwater-horizon). Pursuant to the 
Consent Decree, restoration projects in the Louisiana Restoration Area 
are chosen and managed by the LA TIG. The LA TIG is composed of the 
following Trustees: State of Louisiana Coastal Protection and 
Restoration Authority, Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, Departments of 
Environmental Quality, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Natural Resources; 
DOI; NOAA; EPA; and USDA.

Background

    The Final PDARP/PEIS provides for TIGs to propose restoration 
projects using a planning process that involves phasing restoration 
projects across multiple restoration plans. A TIG may propose funding a 
planning phase (e.g., initial engineering and design (E&D)) in a 
restoration plan for a conceptual project (phase 1). This allows the 
TIG to develop information needed to fully consider a subsequent 
implementation phase of the project in a future restoration plan (phase 
2). In the Draft RP/EA #7, the LA TIG considers alternatives to fund 
E&D for conceptual projects and also to fund projects for 
implementation.

Overview of the LA TIG Draft RP/EA #7

    The Draft RP/EA #7 provides the LA TIG's analysis of alternatives 
under the ``Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats'' restoration 
type and the ``Birds'' restoration type. Under the ``Wetlands, Coastal 
and Nearshore Habitats'' restoration type, the preferred alternatives 
include a conceptual project that would undergo E&D if selected, and 
two alternatives that are analyzed for full implementation if selected. 
These alternatives are: (1) Bird's Foot Delta Hydrologic Restoration 
project (E&D), (2) Terrebonne Basin Ridge and Marsh Creation Project: 
Bayou Terrebonne Increment (Terrebonne project) (full implementation) 
and (3) Grande Cheniere Ridge Marsh Creation (full implementation).
    The Terrebonne project was approved and funded for E&D in the 2017 
Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan #1: 
Restoration of Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; Habitat 
Projects on Federally Managed Lands; and Birds. The other, Bayou Grand 
Cheniere Ridge and Marsh Creation project underwent E&D through a 
separate funding process. Both projects have reached a stage in their 
E&D where sufficient information has been developed for analysis under 
NEPA and the OPA NRDA regulations.
    Under the ``Birds'' restoration type, the LA TIG proposes 
conceptual projects that would undergo E&D if selected for funding. The 
preferred ``Birds'' alternatives are (1) Isle au Pitre Restoration, and 
(2) Terrebonne Houma Navigation Canal Island Restoration.

Next Steps

    As described above in DATES, the Trustees will host a public 
webinar to facilitate the public review and comment process. After the 
public comment period ends, the Trustees will consider and address the 
comments received before issuing a final RP/EA #7.

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 RP/EA #7 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.), its implementing NRDA regulations found at 15 CFR 
part 990, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations found at 40 CFR 1500-
1508.

Mary Josie Blanchard,
Department of the Interior, Director of Gulf of Mexico Restoration.
[FR Doc. 2020-18205 Filed 8-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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