Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Regionwide Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment 1: Birds, Marine Mammals, Oysters, and Sea Turtles and Finding of No Significant Impact, 53284-53286 [2021-20641]

Download as PDF 53284 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 184 / Monday, September 27, 2021 / Notices current members whose appointments will end in April 2022, and previous members. Self-nomination applications are acceptable. Applications should include all of the following information: (1) Full name, address (home and business, if different), telephone, and email address of nominee; (2) Specification about whether the application is for the GAC or the SAS/ National Scientific Advisory Committee or both; (3) Nominee’s organization(s) or professional affiliation(s) serving as the basis for the nomination; (4) Background statement describing the nominee’s qualifications and experience, especially as related to fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species in the eastern Pacific Ocean or other factors relevant to the implementation of the Convention Establishing the IATTC or the AIDCP. Applications to the SAS should highlight advanced degrees and academic publications; and (5) A written statement from the nominee of intent to participate actively and in good faith in the meetings and activities of either the GAC or the SAS/ National Scientific Advisory Committee, or both. Applicants who submitted material in response to the Federal Register notice published by NMFS on October 30, 2018 (83 FR 54573), or prior, should resubmit their applications pursuant to this notice. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq. Dated: September 21, 2021. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2021–20803 Filed 9–24–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XB339] Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Regionwide Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment 1: Birds, Marine Mammals, Oysters, and Sea Turtles and Finding of No Significant Impact National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 AGENCY: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), the National Environmental Policy Act SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Sep 24, 2021 Jkt 253001 (NEPA), and a Consent Decree with BP Exploration & Production Inc. (BP), the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Federal natural resource trustee agencies for the Regionwide Trustee Implementation Group (Regionwide TIG) prepared the Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment 1: Birds, Marine Mammals, Oysters, and Sea Turtles (RP/EA), and Finding of No Significant Impact. In the RP/EA, the Regionwide TIG selected projects to help restore living coastal and marine resources injured as a result of the DWH oil spill in the Regionwide Restoration Area under the ‘‘Birds’’, Marine Mammals’’, ‘‘Oysters’’, and ‘‘Sea Turtles’’ restoration types described in the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment Restoration Plan/ Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The total cost to implement the Regionwide TIG’s eleven selected projects is approximately $99.6 million. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may access the RP/EA from the Regionwide TIG website at: https:// www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/ restoration-areas/regionwide. Alternatively, you may request a CD of the RP/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Copies are also available for review at the locations listed below (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—Jamie Schubert, NOAA Restoration Center, (310) 427–8711, regionwide.tig@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction On April 20, 2010, the DWH mobile drilling unit exploded, causing a massive release of oil from the BP Exploration and Production Inc. (BP) Macondo well. The explosion and oil spill led to loss of life and extensive natural resource injuries. Oil spread from the deep ocean to surface and nearshore environments across the Gulf of Mexico, from Texas to Florida. Extensive response actions were undertaken to reduce harm to people and the environment. However, many of these response actions had collateral impacts on the environment and on natural resource services. The DWH Federal and state natural resource trustees (DWH Trustees) conducted the natural resource damage assessment for the DWH oil spill under 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 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 (the resource quality and conditions that would exist if the spill had not occurred) is complete. 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 (CPRA), 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. The DWH 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 Regionwide Restoration Area are selected and implemented by the Regionwide TIG. The Regionwide TIG is composed of the DWH Trustees listed above. Background On September 24, 2019, the Regionwide TIG posted a public notice at https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa. gov requesting new or revised natural resource restoration project ideas for the Regionwide Restoration Area. The notice stated that the Regionwide TIG was seeking project ideas for the following Restoration Types: (1) Birds, (2) Marine Mammals, (3) Oysters; and E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1 53285 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 184 / Monday, September 27, 2021 / Notices (4) Sea Turtles. On July 1, 2020 the Regionwide TIG announced that it had initiated drafting of its first post settlement draft restoration plan including restoration projects for Birds, Marine Mammals, Oysters and Sea Turtles. Public comments received during the review period March 22 through May 6, 2021 (86 FR 15199) contributed to the completion of the RP/ EA. Overview of the Regionwide TIG RP/EA The RP/EA is being released in accordance with OPA Natural Resource Damage Assessment regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 15 CFR part 990, NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Consent Decree,1 and the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. In the RP/EA, the Regionwide TIG analyzes 15 alternatives and selects eleven preferred alternatives for the Birds, Marine Mammals, Oysters, and Sea Turtles restoration types. The alternatives selected include the following: Birds • Reducing Marine Debris Impacts on Birds and Sea Turtles (joint project with Sea Turtles Restoration Type)— $3,520,000; • Conservation and Enhancement of Nesting and Foraging Habitat for Birds— $22,500,000; Æ Component 1: Chandeleur Islands, LA, $8,000,000; Æ Component 2: Pilot Town, AL, $6,500,000; Æ Component 3: San Antonio Bay Bird Island, TX $2,500,00; Æ Component 4: Matagorda Bay Bird Island (Chester Island), TX, $2,500,000; Æ Component 5: Round Island, MS, $3,000,000; • Bird Nesting and Foraging Area Stewardship—$8,510,750. Marine Mammals • Voluntary Modifications to Commercial Shrimp Lazy Lines to Reduce Dolphin Entanglements— $3,179,088; • Reducing Impacts to Dolphins from Hook-and-Line Gear and Provisioning through Fishery Surveys, Social Science, and Collaboration—$1,700,000; • Enhance Marine Mammal Stranding Network Diagnostic Capabilities and Consistency across the Gulf of Mexico— $2,300,000. Oysters • Improving Resilience for Oysters by Linking Brood Reefs and Sink Reefs (Large-scale)—$35,819,974 (component cost breakdown is not yet defined); Æ Component 1: East Galveston Bay, TX; Æ Component 2: Biloxi Marsh, LA; Æ Component 3: Heron Bay, MS; Æ Component 4: Mid-lower Mobile Bay, AL; Æ Component 5: Suwanee Sound, FL. Sea Turtles • Pilot Implementation of Automatic Identification System in the GOM Inshore Shrimp Fishery to Inform Efforts to Reduce Sea Turtle Bycatch— $2,231,124; • Restore and Enhance Sea Turtle Nest Productivity—$7,655,000; • Reducing Sea Turtle Bycatch at Recreational Fishing Sites, $3,649,360; • Reducing Marine Debris Impacts on Birds and Sea Turtles (joint project with Birds Restoration Type)—$3,520,000; • Regionwide Enhancements to the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network and Enhanced Rehabilitation— $5,050,000; Æ Component 1: Enhancing Response, Coordination, and Preparedness in the Gulf of Mexico, $2,050,000; Æ Component 2: Texas Rehabilitation Facility, $3,000,000. The Regionwide TIG has examined the injuries assessed by the DWH Trustees and evaluated restoration alternatives to address the injuries. In the RP/EA, the Regionwide TIG presents to the public its plan for providing partial compensation to the public for injured natural resources and ecological services in the Regionwide Restoration Area. The selected 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. The total estimated cost of the projects selected is approximately $99.6 million. Additional restoration planning for the Regionwide Restoration Area will continue. Additional Access to Materials You may request a CD of the RP/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above). Copies of the RP/EA are also available at the following locations: lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 TABLE 1—REPOSITORIES WITH COPIES OF THE RP/EA Repository Address City Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory, Admin Building ........ Thomas B. Norton Public Library ............................... Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division, Coastal Section Office. Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve .... Mobile Public Library, West Regional Library ............ Franklin County Public Library .................................... Okaloosa County Library ............................................ Panama City Beach Public Library ............................. Southwest Branch Library ........................................... Wakulla County Library ............................................... Walton County Library, Coastal Branch ..................... Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court, County Courthouse. Bay County Public Library .......................................... Gulf County Public Library .......................................... Jefferson R.J. Bailar Public Library ............................ Taylor County Public Library ...................................... Dixie County Public Library ........................................ Levy County Public Library ......................................... 101 Bienville Blvd ................................ 221 W 19th Ave ................................... 31115 Five Rivers Blvd ........................ Dauphin Island ................ Gulf Shores ..................... Spanish Fort .................... AL AL AL 36528 36542 36527 11300 U.S. Hwy. 98 ............................. 5555 Grelot Rd .................................... 160 Hickory Dip ................................... 185 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE ................. 125000 Hutchison Blvd ........................ 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy ........................ 4330 Crawfordville Hwy ....................... 437 Greenway Trail ............................. 6865 Caroline St .................................. Fairhope .......................... Mobile .............................. Eastpoint ......................... Ft. Walton ........................ Panama City Beach ........ Pensacola ........................ Crawfordville .................... Santa Rosa Beach .......... Milton ............................... AL AL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL 36532 36606 32328 32548 32407 32507 32327 32459 32570 898 W 11th St ...................................... 110 Library Dr ...................................... 375 S Water St .................................... 403 N Washington St ........................... 16328 SE U.S. Hwy. 19 ....................... 7871 NE 90th St .................................. Panama City .................... Port St. Joe ..................... Monticello ........................ Perry ................................ Cross City ........................ Bronson ........................... FL FL FL FL FL FL 32401 32456 32344 32347 32628 32621 1 Consent Decree among Defendant BP Exploration & Production Inc. (‘‘BPXP’’), the United States of America, and the States of Alabama, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Sep 24, 2021 Jkt 253001 Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas entered in In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig ‘‘Deepwater Horizon’’ in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010, PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 State Zip MDL No. 2179 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1 53286 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 184 / Monday, September 27, 2021 / Notices TABLE 1—REPOSITORIES WITH COPIES OF THE RP/EA—Continued Repository Address City Homosassa Public Library .......................................... Land O’Lakes Branch Library ..................................... Pinellas Public Library ................................................ Temple Terrace Public Library ................................... South Manatee Branch Library ................................... Jacaranda Public Library ............................................ Mid County Regional Library ...................................... Riverdale Branch Library ............................................ 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 .................................................. Vermillion Parish Library ............................................. Lafourche Parish Public Library (formerly Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library). South Lafourche Public Library .................................. Calcasieu Parish Public Library Central Branch ........ Iberia Parish Library .................................................... Mark Shirley, Louisiana State University AgCenter ... Sandy Ha Nguyen, Coastal Communities Consulting Biloxi Public Library, Local History and Genealogy Department. West Biloxi Public Library ........................................... Waveland Public Library ............................................. Vancleave Public Library ............................................ Hancock County Library System ................................ Gulfport Harrison County Library ................................ Pass Christian Public Library ...................................... Orange Grove Branch Library .................................... Kathleen McIlwain Public Library ................................ Pascagoula Public Library .......................................... Ina Thompson Moss Point Library (formerly Moss Point Library). Ocean Springs Municipal Library ................................ Kiln Public Library ....................................................... Margaret Sherry Memorial Library .............................. East Central Public Library ......................................... Jerry Lawrence Memorial Library (formerly D’Iberville Library). Mercy Housing & Human Development ..................... Center for Environmental and Economic Justice ....... STEPS Coalition ......................................................... Gulf Islands National Seashore Visitors Center ......... Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United ................... Jack K. Williams Library, Texas A&M University at Galveston. Port Arthur Public Library ........................................... Mary and Jeff Bell Library Texas A&M ....................... Rosenberg Library ...................................................... 4100 S Grandmarch Ave ..................... 2818 Collier Pkwy ................................ 1330 Cleveland St ............................... 202 Bullard Pkwy ................................. 6081 26th St ........................................ 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd .................. 2050 Forrest Nelson Blvd .................... 2421 Buckingham Rd .......................... 310 W 21st Ave ................................... 151 Library Dr ...................................... 219 Loyola Ave .................................... 7711 Goodwood Blvd .......................... 4747 W Napoleon Ave ......................... 2751 Manhattan Blvd ........................... 8442 Hwy. 23 ....................................... 2600 Palmisano Blvd ........................... 201 Porter St ........................................ 206 Iberia St ........................................ 405 E St. Victor St ............................... 314 St. Mary St .................................... Homosassa ..................... Land O’ Lakes ................. Clearwater ....................... Temple Terrace ............... West Bradenton .............. Venice ............................. Port Charlotte .................. Fort Myers ....................... Covington ........................ Houma ............................. New Orleans ................... Baton Rouge ................... Metairie ............................ Harvey ............................. Belle Chase ..................... Chalmette ........................ Martinville ........................ Franklin ............................ Abbeville .......................... Thibodaux ........................ FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA 34446 34639 33755 33617 34207 34293 33952 33905 70433 70360 70112 70806 70001 70058 70037 70043 70582 70538 70510 70301 16241 E Main St .................................. 301 W Claude St ................................. 445 E Main St ...................................... 1105 W Port St .................................... 925 Behrman Hwy., Suite 15 ............... 580 Howard Ave .................................. Cut Off ............................. Lake Charles ................... New Iberia ....................... Abbeville .......................... Gretna ............................. Biloxi ................................ LA LA LA LA LA MS 70345 70605 70560 70510 70056 39530 2047 Pass Rd ...................................... 333 Coleman Ave ................................ 12604 Hwy. 57 ..................................... 312 Hwy. 90 ......................................... 1708 25th Ave ...................................... 111 Hiern Ave ...................................... 12135 Old Hwy. 49 .............................. 2100 Library Ln .................................... 3214 Pascagoula St ............................. 4119 Bellview ....................................... Biloxi ................................ Waveland ........................ Vancleave ........................ Bay St. Louis ................... Gulfport ............................ Pass Christian ................. Gulfport ............................ Gautier ............................. Pascagoula ...................... Moss Point ...................... MS MS MS MS MS MS MS MS MS MS 39531 39576 39565 39520 39501 39571 39503 39553 39567 39563 525 Dewey Ave .................................... 17065 Hwy. 603 ................................... 2141 Popps Ferry Rd .......................... 21801 Slider Rd ................................... 10391 AutoMall Pkwy .......................... Ocean Springs ................ Kiln .................................. Biloxi ................................ Moss Point ...................... D’Iberville ......................... MS MS MS MS MS 39564 39556 39532 39555 39540 1135 Ford St ........................................ 336 Rodenberg Ave ............................. 11975 Seaway Rd., Ste. A240 ............ 3500 Park Rd ....................................... 6421 Beatline Road ............................. 200 Seawolf Pkwy., Bldg. 3010 ........... Gulfport ............................ Biloxi ................................ Gulfport ............................ Ocean Springs ................ Long Beach ..................... Galveston ........................ MS MS MS MS MS TX 39507 39531 39503 39564 39560 77554 4615 9th Ave ........................................ 6300 Ocean Dr .................................... 2310 Sealy St ...................................... Port Arthur ....................... Corpus Christi ................. Galveston ........................ TX TX TX 77672 78412 77550 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Translation Opportunities Vietnamese translated materials including the Executive Summary and project fact sheets are posted in the ‘‘News’’ section of the Regionwide TIG’s website: https://www.gulfspillrestoration. noaa.gov/restoration-areas/regionwide. Administrative Record The documents comprising the Administrative Record for the RP/EA can be viewed electronically at https:// VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Sep 24, 2021 Jkt 253001 www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/admin record. Authority The authority of this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and its implementing Oil Pollution Act Natural Resource Damage Assessment regulations found at 15 CFR part 990 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 State Zip Dated: September 20, 2021. Carrie Diane Robinson, Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2021–20641 Filed 9–24–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 184 (Monday, September 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53284-53286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20641]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB339]


Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Regionwide Trustee Implementation 
Group Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment 1: Birds, 
Marine Mammals, Oysters, and Sea Turtles and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and a Consent Decree with BP 
Exploration & Production Inc. (BP), the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Federal 
natural resource trustee agencies for the Regionwide Trustee 
Implementation Group (Regionwide TIG) prepared the Final Restoration 
Plan and Environmental Assessment 1: Birds, Marine Mammals, Oysters, 
and Sea Turtles (RP/EA), and Finding of No Significant Impact. In the 
RP/EA, the Regionwide TIG selected projects to help restore living 
coastal and marine resources injured as a result of the DWH oil spill 
in the Regionwide Restoration Area under the ``Birds'', Marine 
Mammals'', ``Oysters'', and ``Sea Turtles'' restoration types described 
in the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment Restoration Plan/
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The total cost to 
implement the Regionwide TIG's eleven selected projects is 
approximately $99.6 million.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may access the RP/EA from the 
Regionwide TIG website at: https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/regionwide. Alternatively, you may request a CD of 
the RP/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Copies are also 
available for review at the locations listed below (see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration--Jamie Schubert, NOAA Restoration Center, (310) 427-
8711, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    On April 20, 2010, the DWH mobile drilling unit exploded, causing a 
massive release of oil from the BP Exploration and Production Inc. (BP) 
Macondo well. The explosion and oil spill led to loss of life and 
extensive natural resource injuries. Oil spread from the deep ocean to 
surface and nearshore environments across the Gulf of Mexico, from 
Texas to Florida. Extensive response actions were undertaken to reduce 
harm to people and the environment. However, many of these response 
actions had collateral impacts on the environment and on natural 
resource services.
    The DWH Federal and state natural resource trustees (DWH Trustees) 
conducted the natural resource damage assessment for the DWH oil spill 
under 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. 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 (the resource 
quality and conditions that would exist if the spill had not occurred) 
is complete.
    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 (CPRA), 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.
    The DWH 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 Regionwide Restoration Area are selected and 
implemented by the Regionwide TIG. The Regionwide TIG is composed of 
the DWH Trustees listed above.

Background

    On September 24, 2019, the Regionwide TIG posted a public notice at 
https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov requesting new or revised 
natural resource restoration project ideas for the Regionwide 
Restoration Area. The notice stated that the Regionwide TIG was seeking 
project ideas for the following Restoration Types: (1) Birds, (2) 
Marine Mammals, (3) Oysters; and

[[Page 53285]]

(4) Sea Turtles. On July 1, 2020 the Regionwide TIG announced that it 
had initiated drafting of its first post settlement draft restoration 
plan including restoration projects for Birds, Marine Mammals, Oysters 
and Sea Turtles. Public comments received during the review period 
March 22 through May 6, 2021 (86 FR 15199) contributed to the 
completion of the RP/EA.

Overview of the Regionwide TIG RP/EA

    The RP/EA is being released in accordance with OPA Natural Resource 
Damage Assessment regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
at 15 CFR part 990, NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Consent 
Decree,\1\ and the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration 
Plan/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. In the RP/EA, the 
Regionwide TIG analyzes 15 alternatives and selects eleven preferred 
alternatives for the Birds, Marine Mammals, Oysters, and Sea Turtles 
restoration types. The alternatives selected include the following:
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    \1\ Consent Decree among Defendant BP Exploration & Production 
Inc. (``BPXP''), the United States of America, and the States of 
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas entered in In 
re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig ``Deepwater Horizon'' in the Gulf of 
Mexico, on April 20, 2010, MDL No. 2179 in the United States 
District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Birds

     Reducing Marine Debris Impacts on Birds and Sea Turtles 
(joint project with Sea Turtles Restoration Type)--$3,520,000;
     Conservation and Enhancement of Nesting and Foraging 
Habitat for Birds--$22,500,000;
    [cir] Component 1: Chandeleur Islands, LA, $8,000,000;
    [cir] Component 2: Pilot Town, AL, $6,500,000;
    [cir] Component 3: San Antonio Bay Bird Island, TX $2,500,00;
    [cir] Component 4: Matagorda Bay Bird Island (Chester Island), TX, 
$2,500,000;
    [cir] Component 5: Round Island, MS, $3,000,000;
     Bird Nesting and Foraging Area Stewardship--$8,510,750.

Marine Mammals

     Voluntary Modifications to Commercial Shrimp Lazy Lines to 
Reduce Dolphin Entanglements--$3,179,088;
     Reducing Impacts to Dolphins from Hook-and-Line Gear and 
Provisioning through Fishery Surveys, Social Science, and 
Collaboration--$1,700,000;
     Enhance Marine Mammal Stranding Network Diagnostic 
Capabilities and Consistency across the Gulf of Mexico--$2,300,000.

Oysters

     Improving Resilience for Oysters by Linking Brood Reefs 
and Sink Reefs (Large-scale)--$35,819,974 (component cost breakdown is 
not yet defined);
    [cir] Component 1: East Galveston Bay, TX;
    [cir] Component 2: Biloxi Marsh, LA;
    [cir] Component 3: Heron Bay, MS;
    [cir] Component 4: Mid-lower Mobile Bay, AL;
    [cir] Component 5: Suwanee Sound, FL.

Sea Turtles

     Pilot Implementation of Automatic Identification System in 
the GOM Inshore Shrimp Fishery to Inform Efforts to Reduce Sea Turtle 
Bycatch--$2,231,124;
     Restore and Enhance Sea Turtle Nest Productivity--
$7,655,000;
     Reducing Sea Turtle Bycatch at Recreational Fishing Sites, 
$3,649,360;
     Reducing Marine Debris Impacts on Birds and Sea Turtles 
(joint project with Birds Restoration Type)--$3,520,000;
     Regionwide Enhancements to the Sea Turtle Stranding and 
Salvage Network and Enhanced Rehabilitation--$5,050,000;
    [cir] Component 1: Enhancing Response, Coordination, and 
Preparedness in the Gulf of Mexico, $2,050,000;
    [cir] Component 2: Texas Rehabilitation Facility, $3,000,000.
    The Regionwide TIG has examined the injuries assessed by the DWH 
Trustees and evaluated restoration alternatives to address the 
injuries. In the RP/EA, the Regionwide TIG presents to the public its 
plan for providing partial compensation to the public for injured 
natural resources and ecological services in the Regionwide Restoration 
Area. The selected 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. The total 
estimated cost of the projects selected is approximately $99.6 million. 
Additional restoration planning for the Regionwide Restoration Area 
will continue.

Additional Access to Materials

    You may request a CD of the RP/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT above). Copies of the RP/EA are also available at the following 
locations:

                                 Table 1--Repositories With Copies of the RP/EA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Repository                      Address                  City                 State           Zip
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory,       101 Bienville Blvd....  Dauphin Island........  AL                    36528
 Admin Building.
Thomas B. Norton Public Library....  221 W 19th Ave........  Gulf Shores...........  AL                    36542
Alabama Department of Conservation   31115 Five Rivers Blvd  Spanish Fort..........  AL                    36527
 and Natural Resources, State Lands
 Division, Coastal Section Office.
Weeks Bay National Estuarine         11300 U.S. Hwy. 98....  Fairhope..............  AL                    36532
 Research Reserve.
Mobile Public Library, West          5555 Grelot Rd........  Mobile................  AL                    36606
 Regional Library.
Franklin County Public Library.....  160 Hickory Dip.......  Eastpoint.............  FL                    32328
Okaloosa County Library............  185 Miracle Strip       Ft. Walton............  FL                    32548
                                      Pkwy. SE.
Panama City Beach Public Library...  125000 Hutchison Blvd.  Panama City Beach.....  FL                    32407
Southwest Branch Library...........  12248 Gulf Beach Hwy..  Pensacola.............  FL                    32507
Wakulla County Library.............  4330 Crawfordville Hwy  Crawfordville.........  FL                    32327
Walton County Library, Coastal       437 Greenway Trail....  Santa Rosa Beach......  FL                    32459
 Branch.
Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court,    6865 Caroline St......  Milton................  FL                    32570
 County Courthouse.
Bay County Public Library..........  898 W 11th St.........  Panama City...........  FL                    32401
Gulf County Public Library.........  110 Library Dr........  Port St. Joe..........  FL                    32456
Jefferson R.J. Bailar Public         375 S Water St........  Monticello............  FL                    32344
 Library.
Taylor County Public Library.......  403 N Washington St...  Perry.................  FL                    32347
Dixie County Public Library........  16328 SE U.S. Hwy. 19.  Cross City............  FL                    32628
Levy County Public Library.........  7871 NE 90th St.......  Bronson...............  FL                    32621

[[Page 53286]]

 
Homosassa Public Library...........  4100 S Grandmarch Ave.  Homosassa.............  FL                    34446
Land O'Lakes Branch Library........  2818 Collier Pkwy.....  Land O' Lakes.........  FL                    34639
Pinellas Public Library............  1330 Cleveland St.....  Clearwater............  FL                    33755
Temple Terrace Public Library......  202 Bullard Pkwy......  Temple Terrace........  FL                    33617
South Manatee Branch Library.......  6081 26th St..........  West Bradenton........  FL                    34207
Jacaranda Public Library...........  4143 Woodmere Park      Venice................  FL                    34293
                                      Blvd.
Mid County Regional Library........  2050 Forrest Nelson     Port Charlotte........  FL                    33952
                                      Blvd.
Riverdale Branch Library...........  2421 Buckingham Rd....  Fort Myers............  FL                    33905
St. Tammany Parish Library.........  310 W 21st Ave........  Covington.............  LA                    70433
Terrebonne Parish Library..........  151 Library Dr........  Houma.................  LA                    70360
New Orleans Public Library,          219 Loyola Ave........  New Orleans...........  LA                    70112
 Louisiana Division.
East Baton Rouge Parish Library....  7711 Goodwood Blvd....  Baton Rouge...........  LA                    70806
Jefferson Parish Library, East Bank  4747 W Napoleon Ave...  Metairie..............  LA                    70001
 Regional Library.
Jefferson Parish Library, West Bank  2751 Manhattan Blvd...  Harvey................  LA                    70058
 Regional Library.
Plaquemines Parish Library.........  8442 Hwy. 23..........  Belle Chase...........  LA                    70037
St. Bernard Parish Library.........  2600 Palmisano Blvd...  Chalmette.............  LA                    70043
St. Martin Parish Library..........  201 Porter St.........  Martinville...........  LA                    70582
Alex P. Allain Library.............  206 Iberia St.........  Franklin..............  LA                    70538
Vermillion Parish Library..........  405 E St. Victor St...  Abbeville.............  LA                    70510
Lafourche Parish Public Library      314 St. Mary St.......  Thibodaux.............  LA                    70301
 (formerly Martha Sowell Utley
 Memorial Library).
South Lafourche Public Library.....  16241 E Main St.......  Cut Off...............  LA                    70345
Calcasieu Parish Public Library      301 W Claude St.......  Lake Charles..........  LA                    70605
 Central Branch.
Iberia Parish Library..............  445 E Main St.........  New Iberia............  LA                    70560
Mark Shirley, Louisiana State        1105 W Port St........  Abbeville.............  LA                    70510
 University AgCenter.
Sandy Ha Nguyen, Coastal             925 Behrman Hwy.,       Gretna................  LA                    70056
 Communities Consulting.              Suite 15.
Biloxi Public Library, Local         580 Howard Ave........  Biloxi................  MS                    39530
 History and Genealogy Department.
West Biloxi Public Library.........  2047 Pass Rd..........  Biloxi................  MS                    39531
Waveland Public Library............  333 Coleman Ave.......  Waveland..............  MS                    39576
Vancleave Public Library...........  12604 Hwy. 57.........  Vancleave.............  MS                    39565
Hancock County Library System......  312 Hwy. 90...........  Bay St. Louis.........  MS                    39520
Gulfport Harrison County Library...  1708 25th Ave.........  Gulfport..............  MS                    39501
Pass Christian Public Library......  111 Hiern Ave.........  Pass Christian........  MS                    39571
Orange Grove Branch Library........  12135 Old Hwy. 49.....  Gulfport..............  MS                    39503
Kathleen McIlwain Public Library...  2100 Library Ln.......  Gautier...............  MS                    39553
Pascagoula Public Library..........  3214 Pascagoula St....  Pascagoula............  MS                    39567
Ina Thompson Moss Point Library      4119 Bellview.........  Moss Point............  MS                    39563
 (formerly Moss Point Library).
Ocean Springs Municipal Library....  525 Dewey Ave.........  Ocean Springs.........  MS                    39564
Kiln Public Library................  17065 Hwy. 603........  Kiln..................  MS                    39556
Margaret Sherry Memorial Library...  2141 Popps Ferry Rd...  Biloxi................  MS                    39532
East Central Public Library........  21801 Slider Rd.......  Moss Point............  MS                    39555
Jerry Lawrence Memorial Library      10391 AutoMall Pkwy...  D'Iberville...........  MS                    39540
 (formerly D'Iberville Library).
Mercy Housing & Human Development..  1135 Ford St..........  Gulfport..............  MS                    39507
Center for Environmental and         336 Rodenberg Ave.....  Biloxi................  MS                    39531
 Economic Justice.
STEPS Coalition....................  11975 Seaway Rd., Ste.  Gulfport..............  MS                    39503
                                      A240.
Gulf Islands National Seashore       3500 Park Rd..........  Ocean Springs.........  MS                    39564
 Visitors Center.
Mississippi Commercial Fisheries     6421 Beatline Road....  Long Beach............  MS                    39560
 United.
Jack K. Williams Library, Texas A&M  200 Seawolf Pkwy.,      Galveston.............  TX                    77554
 University at Galveston.             Bldg. 3010.
Port Arthur Public Library.........  4615 9th Ave..........  Port Arthur...........  TX                    77672
Mary and Jeff Bell Library Texas     6300 Ocean Dr.........  Corpus Christi........  TX                    78412
 A&M.
Rosenberg Library..................  2310 Sealy St.........  Galveston.............  TX                    77550
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Translation Opportunities

    Vietnamese translated materials including the Executive Summary and 
project fact sheets are posted in the ``News'' section of the 
Regionwide TIG's website: https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/regionwide.

Administrative Record

    The documents comprising the Administrative Record for the RP/EA 
can be viewed electronically at https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord.

Authority

    The authority of this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and its implementing Oil Pollution Act Natural 
Resource Damage Assessment regulations found at 15 CFR part 990 and the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

    Dated: September 20, 2021.
Carrie Diane Robinson,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-20641 Filed 9-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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