Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #8: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats, 15385-15387 [2022-05553]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2022 / Notices
3. Adequacy of the proposed actions
to minimize and mitigate the impact of
the taking on covered species.
4. Potential effects that the proposed
permit actions could have on other
aspects of the human environment,
including effects on plants and animals;
water resources; and aesthetic, historic,
cultural, economic, social,
environmental justice, climate change,
or health.
5. The alternatives, information, and
analyses submitted during the public
scoping period.
6. The alternatives analysis, including
the range of alternatives analyzed and
the alternatives considered but not
analyzed in detail.
7. Relevant reasonably foreseeable
environmental trends and planned
actions and their possible impacts on
the affected environment, including the
covered species, as well as any closely
related connected actions.
8. Other information relevant to the
HCP and its impacts on the human
environment.
The Services will each make their
permit decisions based on the statutory
and regulatory criteria of the ESA. Their
decisions will also be informed by the
data, analyses, and findings in the EIS
and public comments received on the
Draft EIS and HCP. The Services will
each document their determinations
independently in an ESA section 10
findings document, ESA Section 7
biological opinion, and NEPA Record of
Decision developed at the conclusion of
the ESA and NEPA compliance
processes. If the Services find that all
requirements for issuance of the ITPs
are met, they will issue the requested
permits, subject to terms and conditions
deemed necessary or appropriate to
carry out the purposes of ESA section
10.
Additional Information: NMFS, as the
lead Federal agency, has chosen to use
the NEPA substitution process to fulfill
obligations under the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, as amended
(NHPA). While obligations under NHPA
and NEPA are independent, the
regulations implementing NHPA allow
for the use of NEPA review to substitute
for various aspects of the NHPA section
106 (16 U.S.C. 470f) review to improve
efficiency, promote transparency and
accountability, and support a broadened
discussion of potential effects that a
project may have on the human
environment (36 CFR 800.3 through
800.6). During preparation of the EIS,
NMFS will ensure that the NEPA
substitution process will meet any
NHPA obligations.
Authority: Section 10(c) of the ESA
and its implementing regulations (50
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CFR 222.307, 50 CFR 17.22, and 50 CFR
17.32) and NEPA and its implementing
regulations (40 CFR 1503.1 and 40 CFR
1506.6).
Dated: March 14, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–05714 Filed 3–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB767]
Notice of Availability of the Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee
Implementation Group Draft
Restoration Plan/Environmental
Assessment #8: Wetlands, Coastal,
and Nearshore Habitats
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
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
Louisiana Trustee Implementation
Group (Louisiana TIG) have prepared a
Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental
Assessment #8: Wetlands, Coastal, and
Nearshore Habitats (RP/EA #8). The
Draft RP/EA #8 describes and proposes
restoration project alternatives
considered by the Louisiana TIG to
partially restore natural resources and
ecological services injured or lost as a
result of the DWH oil spill. The
Louisiana TIG evaluated these
alternatives under criteria set forth in
the OPA natural resource damage
assessment (NRDA) regulations, and
evaluated the environmental
consequences of the restoration
alternatives in accordance with NEPA.
The purpose of this notice is to inform
the public of the availability of the Draft
RP/EA #8 and to seek public comments
on the document.
DATES: The Louisiana TIG will consider
public comments received on or before
April 18, 2022.
Virtual Public Meeting: Due to
continuing Covid–19 limitations on
gatherings of groups, the Louisiana TIG
SUMMARY:
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15385
will conduct a public webinar to
facilitate public review and comment on
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.
Central. The public may register for the
webinar at: https://
attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/
4964211858097860364. After
registering, participants will receive a
confirmation email with instructions for
joining the public webinar. The webinar
will include a presentation of the Draft
RP/EA #8 and opportunity for public
comment. The presentation slides will
be posted on the web shortly after the
public meeting is completed. Comments
will also be taken through submission
online or through U.S. mail (see
Submitting Comments below).
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: You may
access the Draft RP/EA #8 from the
‘‘News’’ section of the Louisiana TIG
website at: https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/
restoration-areas/louisiana.
Alternatively, you may request a CD of
the Draft RP/EA #8 (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT below).
Submitting Comments: You may
submit comments on the Draft RP/EA #8
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. Please note that
mailed comments must be postmarked
on or before the comment deadline
given in DATES; or
• During the public webinar:
Comments may be provided during the
webinar. Webinar information is
provided above in DATES.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mel
Landry, NOAA Restoration Center, 310–
427–8711, gulfspill.restoration@
noaa.gov.
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2022 / Notices
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 off shore oil spill in
U.S. history, discharging millions of
barrels of oil over a period of 87 days.
In addition, well over one 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 DWH Federal and State natural
resource trustees (DWH Trustees)
conducted the natural resource damage
assessment for the DWH oil spill under
OPA (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,
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
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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 Louisiana Restoration
Area are now selected and implemented
by the Louisiana TIG. The Louisiana
TIG is composed of the following
Federal Trustees: NOAA; DOI; EPA; and
USDA.
Background
The Draft RP/EA #8 is being released
in accordance with OPA NRDA
regulations at 15 CFR part 990, NEPA
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Consent
Decree, and the Final Programmatic
Damage Assessment Restoration Plan/
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (PDARP/PEIS), which
provided for an overall goal of ‘‘Restore
and Conserve Habitat.’’ This restoration
planning activity is proceeding in
accordance with the PDARP/PEIS,
which provided for various types of
restoration, including restoration of
wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitat.
Information on the Restoration Type
being considered in the Draft RP/EA #8,
as well as the OPA criteria against
which project ideas are being evaluated,
can be viewed in the PDARP/PEIS
(https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/
restoration-planning/gulf-plan) and in
the Overview of the PDARP/PEIS
(https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/
restoration-planning/gulf-plan).
Overview of the Louisiana TIG Draft
RP/EA #8
For the Draft RP/EA #8, the Louisiana
TIG assembled a list of 697 project
alternatives for the restoration of
wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitat.
These alternatives were based on
proposals from the public as well as
agencies, including projects submitted
to the DWH Trustee or Louisiana TIG
portals and projects submitted by
individual state and Federal Trustees,
including projects submitted on behalf
of non-Trustee agencies. All alternatives
underwent a step-wise screening
process based on criteria established by
OPA and the Louisiana TIG, whereby
projects that did not meet the criteria
were eliminated, and duplicative
alternatives were combined. This
resulted in six action alternatives for
wetlands, coastal, and nearshore
habitats, each of which are evaluated in
the Draft RP/EA #8. Alternatives that
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meet the criteria but are not carried
forward as preferred alternatives may be
considered in future restoration plans.
Of the six alternatives evaluated, four
are proposed as preferred alternatives
for the restoration of wetlands, coastal,
and nearshore habitats. Three of the
alternatives evaluated consider projects
for Engineering and Design (E&D), and
three of the alternatives evaluated
consider projects for full
implementation. The alternatives
analyzed include the following:
• Bayou Pointe-aux-Chenes Ridge
Restoration and Marsh Creation (E&D)—
Non-preferred, $4,736,900.
• New Orleans East Landbridge
Restoration (E&D): Preferred,
$4,000,000.
• Raccoon Island Barrier Island
Restoration (E&D): Preferred,
$8,200,000.
• Bayou Dularge Ridge and Marsh
Restoration: Preferred, $41,400,000.
• Bayou La Loutre Ridge Restoration
and Marsh Creation Project (PO–0178):
Preferred, $21,200,000.
• Lake Lery Marsh Creation and Rim
Restoration, Increment 3: Non-preferred,
$19,420,000.
The Draft RP/EA #8 also evaluates a
No Action Alternative, under which no
project would be constructed and no
additional costs would be incurred at
this time.
The Louisiana TIG has examined the
injuries assessed by the DWH Trustees
and evaluated restoration alternatives to
address the injuries. In Draft RP/EA #8,
the Louisiana TIG presents to the public
its draft plan for providing partial
compensation to the public for injured
natural resources and ecological
services in the Louisiana Restoration
Area. The proposed action is intended
to continue the process of using DWH
restoration funding to restore natural
resources injured or lost as a result of
the DWH oil spill. Additional
restoration planning for the Louisiana
Restoration Area will continue.
Next Steps
The public is encouraged to review
and comment on the Draft RP/EA #8. A
public webinar to facilitate the public
review and comment process is
scheduled for Tuesday, April 5 at 12:00
p.m. Central. After the public comment
period ends, the Louisiana TIG will
consider and address comments
received before issuing a Final RP/EA
#8. A summary of comments received
and the Louisiana TIG’s responses and
any revisions to the document, as
appropriate, will be included in the
final document.
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2022 / Notices
Additional Access to Materials
You may request a CD of the Draft RP/
EA #8 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT above). Copies of the Draft RP/
EA #8 are also available during the
public comment period at the following
locations:
Library
Address
City
Zip code
St. Tammany Parish Library ..................................
New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana Division ....
St. Bernard Parish Library ......................................
Plaquemines Parish Library ...................................
Jefferson Parish Library, East Bank Regional Library.
Jefferson Parish Library, West Bank Regional Library.
Terrebonne Parish Library .....................................
Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library ...................
South Lafourche Public Library ..............................
East Baton Rouge Parish Library ..........................
Alex P. Allain Library ..............................................
St. Martin Parish Library ........................................
Iberia Parish Library ...............................................
Vermilion Parish Library .........................................
Mark Shirley, LSU AgCenter ..................................
Calcasieu Parish Public Library Central Branch ....
310 W. 21st Avenue ..............................................
219 Loyola Avenue ................................................
1125 E. St. Bernard Highway ................................
8442 Highway 23 ...................................................
4747 W. Napoleon Avenue ....................................
Covington .......................
New Orleans ..................
Chalmette .......................
Belle Chasse ..................
Metairie ..........................
70433
70112
70043
70037
70001
2751 Manhattan Boulevard ....................................
Harvey ............................
70058
151 Library Drive ....................................................
314 St. Mary Street ................................................
16241 E. Main Street .............................................
7711 Goodwood Boulevard ...................................
206 Iberia Street ....................................................
201 Porter Street ....................................................
445 E. Main Street .................................................
405 E. St. Victor Street ..........................................
1105 West Port Street ...........................................
301 W. Claude Street ............................................
Houma ...........................
Thibodaux ......................
Cut Off ...........................
Baton Rouge ..................
Franklin ..........................
St. Martinville .................
New Iberia ......................
Abbeville ........................
Abbeville ........................
Lake Charles ..................
70360
70301
70345
70806
70538
70582
70560
70510
70510
70605
Translation Opportunities
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Vietnamese translated materials
including the Executing Summary and
project fact sheets are posted in the
‘‘News’’ section of the Louisiana TIG’s
website: https://
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/
restoration-areas/louisiana.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Administrative Record
The documents comprising the
Administrative Record for the Draft RP/
EA #8 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: March 11, 2022.
Carrie Diane Robinson,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–05553 Filed 3–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
[RTID 0648–XB799]
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Ferry Berth
Improvements in Tongass Narrows in
Ketchikan, Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental
harassment authorization.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
regulations implementing the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as
amended, notification is hereby given
that NMFS has issued an incidental
harassment authorization (IHA) to the
Alaska Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities (ADOT) to
incidentally harass, by Level A
harassment and Level B harassment
only, marine mammals during
construction activities associated with
construction of four ferry berth facilities
in Tongass Narrows in Ketchikan,
Alaska.
SUMMARY:
This authorization is effective
from March 5, 2022 through March 4,
2023.
DATES:
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
15387
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Leah Davis, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
Electronic copies of the application and
supporting documents, as well as a list
of the references cited in this document,
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may be obtained online at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act. In case
of problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of
marine mammals, with certain
exceptions. sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D)
of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)
direct the Secretary of Commerce (as
delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon
request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of small numbers of
marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
engage in a specified activity (other than
commercial fishing) within a specified
geographical region if certain findings
are made and either regulations are
issued or, if the taking is limited to
harassment, a notice of a proposed
incidental take authorization may be
provided to the public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings
shall be granted if NMFS finds that the
taking will have a negligible impact on
the species or stock(s) and will not have
an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
taking for subsistence uses (where
relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe
the permissible methods of taking and
other ‘‘means of effecting the least
practicable adverse impact’’ on the
affected species or stocks and their
habitat, paying particular attention to
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of
similar significance, and on the
availability of the species or stocks for
taking for certain subsistence uses
(referred to in shorthand as
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15385-15387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05553]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB767]
Notice of Availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan/
Environmental Assessment #8: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Louisiana Trustee
Implementation Group (Louisiana TIG) have prepared a Draft Restoration
Plan/Environmental Assessment #8: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore
Habitats (RP/EA #8). The Draft RP/EA #8 describes and proposes
restoration project alternatives considered by the Louisiana TIG to
partially restore natural resources and ecological services injured or
lost as a result of the DWH oil spill. The Louisiana TIG evaluated
these alternatives under criteria set forth in the OPA natural resource
damage assessment (NRDA) regulations, and evaluated the environmental
consequences of the restoration alternatives in accordance with NEPA.
The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability
of the Draft RP/EA #8 and to seek public comments on the document.
DATES: The Louisiana TIG will consider public comments received on or
before April 18, 2022.
Virtual Public Meeting: Due to continuing Covid-19 limitations on
gatherings of groups, the Louisiana TIG will conduct a public webinar
to facilitate public review and comment on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at
12:00 p.m. Central. The public may register for the webinar at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4964211858097860364. After
registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with
instructions for joining the public webinar. The webinar will include a
presentation of the Draft RP/EA #8 and opportunity for public comment.
The presentation slides will be posted on the web shortly after the
public meeting is completed. Comments will also be taken through
submission online or through U.S. mail (see Submitting Comments below).
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: You may access the Draft RP/EA #8 from the
``News'' section of the Louisiana TIG website at: https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/louisiana.
Alternatively, you may request a CD of the Draft RP/EA #8 (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below).
Submitting Comments: You may submit comments on the Draft RP/EA #8
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. Please note that mailed comments must be
postmarked on or before the comment deadline given in DATES; or
During the public webinar: Comments may be provided during
the webinar. Webinar information is provided above in DATES.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mel Landry, NOAA Restoration Center,
310-427-8711, [email protected].
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
[[Page 15386]]
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 off shore oil spill in U.S. history, discharging millions of
barrels of oil over a period of 87 days. In addition, well over one
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 DWH Federal and State natural resource trustees (DWH Trustees)
conducted the natural resource damage assessment for the DWH oil spill
under OPA (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, 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 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 Louisiana Restoration Area are now selected and implemented by the
Louisiana TIG. The Louisiana TIG is composed of the following Federal
Trustees: NOAA; DOI; EPA; and USDA.
Background
The Draft RP/EA #8 is being released in accordance with OPA NRDA
regulations at 15 CFR part 990, NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the
Consent Decree, and the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment
Restoration Plan/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PDARP/
PEIS), which provided for an overall goal of ``Restore and Conserve
Habitat.'' This restoration planning activity is proceeding in
accordance with the PDARP/PEIS, which provided for various types of
restoration, including restoration of wetlands, coastal, and nearshore
habitat. Information on the Restoration Type being considered in the
Draft RP/EA #8, as well as the OPA criteria against which project ideas
are being evaluated, can be viewed in the PDARP/PEIS (https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-planning/gulf-plan) and
in the Overview of the PDARP/PEIS (https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-planning/gulf-plan).
Overview of the Louisiana TIG Draft RP/EA #8
For the Draft RP/EA #8, the Louisiana TIG assembled a list of 697
project alternatives for the restoration of wetlands, coastal, and
nearshore habitat. These alternatives were based on proposals from the
public as well as agencies, including projects submitted to the DWH
Trustee or Louisiana TIG portals and projects submitted by individual
state and Federal Trustees, including projects submitted on behalf of
non-Trustee agencies. All alternatives underwent a step-wise screening
process based on criteria established by OPA and the Louisiana TIG,
whereby projects that did not meet the criteria were eliminated, and
duplicative alternatives were combined. This resulted in six action
alternatives for wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats, each of
which are evaluated in the Draft RP/EA #8. Alternatives that meet the
criteria but are not carried forward as preferred alternatives may be
considered in future restoration plans.
Of the six alternatives evaluated, four are proposed as preferred
alternatives for the restoration of wetlands, coastal, and nearshore
habitats. Three of the alternatives evaluated consider projects for
Engineering and Design (E&D), and three of the alternatives evaluated
consider projects for full implementation. The alternatives analyzed
include the following:
Bayou Pointe-aux-Chenes Ridge Restoration and Marsh
Creation (E&D)--Non-preferred, $4,736,900.
New Orleans East Landbridge Restoration (E&D): Preferred,
$4,000,000.
Raccoon Island Barrier Island Restoration (E&D):
Preferred, $8,200,000.
Bayou Dularge Ridge and Marsh Restoration: Preferred,
$41,400,000.
Bayou La Loutre Ridge Restoration and Marsh Creation
Project (PO-0178): Preferred, $21,200,000.
Lake Lery Marsh Creation and Rim Restoration, Increment 3:
Non-preferred, $19,420,000.
The Draft RP/EA #8 also evaluates a No Action Alternative, under
which no project would be constructed and no additional costs would be
incurred at this time.
The Louisiana TIG has examined the injuries assessed by the DWH
Trustees and evaluated restoration alternatives to address the
injuries. In Draft RP/EA #8, the Louisiana TIG presents to the public
its draft plan for providing partial compensation to the public for
injured natural resources and ecological services in the Louisiana
Restoration Area. The proposed action is intended to continue the
process of using DWH restoration funding to restore natural resources
injured or lost as a result of the DWH oil spill. Additional
restoration planning for the Louisiana Restoration Area will continue.
Next Steps
The public is encouraged to review and comment on the Draft RP/EA
#8. A public webinar to facilitate the public review and comment
process is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5 at 12:00 p.m. Central. After
the public comment period ends, the Louisiana TIG will consider and
address comments received before issuing a Final RP/EA #8. A summary of
comments received and the Louisiana TIG's responses and any revisions
to the document, as appropriate, will be included in the final
document.
[[Page 15387]]
Additional Access to Materials
You may request a CD of the Draft RP/EA #8 (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above). Copies of the Draft RP/EA #8 are also
available during the public comment period at the following locations:
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Library Address City Zip code
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St. Tammany Parish Library............. 310 W. 21st Avenue............ Covington................ 70433
New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana 219 Loyola Avenue............. New Orleans.............. 70112
Division.
St. Bernard Parish Library............. 1125 E. St. Bernard Highway... Chalmette................ 70043
Plaquemines Parish Library............. 8442 Highway 23............... Belle Chasse............. 70037
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.
Terrebonne Parish Library.............. 151 Library Drive............. Houma.................... 70360
Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library... 314 St. Mary Street........... Thibodaux................ 70301
South Lafourche Public Library......... 16241 E. Main Street.......... Cut Off.................. 70345
East Baton Rouge Parish Library........ 7711 Goodwood Boulevard....... Baton Rouge.............. 70806
Alex P. Allain Library................. 206 Iberia Street............. Franklin................. 70538
St. Martin Parish Library.............. 201 Porter Street............. St. Martinville.......... 70582
Iberia Parish Library.................. 445 E. Main Street............ New Iberia............... 70560
Vermilion Parish Library............... 405 E. St. Victor Street...... Abbeville................ 70510
Mark Shirley, LSU AgCenter............. 1105 West Port Street......... Abbeville................ 70510
Calcasieu Parish Public Library Central 301 W. Claude Street.......... Lake Charles............. 70605
Branch.
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Translation Opportunities
Vietnamese translated materials including the Executing Summary and
project fact sheets are posted in the ``News'' section of the Louisiana
TIG's website: https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/louisiana.
Administrative Record
The documents comprising the Administrative Record for the Draft
RP/EA #8 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: March 11, 2022.
Carrie Diane Robinson,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-05553 Filed 3-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
