Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Alabama Trustee Implementation Group Final Supplemental Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Marine Mammals, and Finding of No Significant Impact, 63163-63164 [2024-17092]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 149 / Friday, August 2, 2024 / Notices Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar (https://export.gov/ trademissions) and other internet websites, press releases to general and trade media, email blasts, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than August 5, 2024. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants of selection decisions on a ROLLING basis. Applications received after August 5, 2024, will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit. This webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 1 p.m. ADDRESSES: Webinar registration URL information: https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/ webinar/register/WN_ 1x3vDVJGSEiopidIySjQfA. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Cate O’Keefe, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda U.S. Contact Information Jason Sproule, Aerospace & Defense Team Lead, Los Angeles, California 949–283–0690; Jason.Sproule@ trade.gov Adam Shanks, USEAC Director, Rockford, Illinois (815) 315–1912; Adam.Shanks@trade.gov The Skate Committee and Advisory Panel will meet to discuss recent fishery performance and outlook for remainder of fishing year 2024. They will review the 2024 Northeast Skate Complex Annual Monitoring Report (for FY 2023) and discuss updates to survey biomass indices, catch accounting, and other information provided by the Plan Development Team. They will also discuss expected work in 2025 related to skates. Other business will be discussed, if necessary. Although non-emergency issues not contained on the agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. The public also should be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request. Gemal Brangman, Director, ITA Events Management Task Force. [FR Doc. 2024–17101 Filed 8–1–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XE149] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: Special Accommodations The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Joint Skate Committee and Advisory Panel This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate O’Keefe, Executive Director, at (978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:22 Aug 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 Dated: July 30, 2024. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–17075 Filed 8–1–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DATES: Contacts Brazil Contact Information Nathan Traurig, Foreign Commercial Service Officer, São Paulo, Brazil +55 11 95638 4905; Nathan.Traurig@ trade.gov Renato Sabaine, Commercial Specialist, São Paulo, Brazil +55 11 97322 5463; Renato.Sabaine@trade.gov khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES via webinar to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. 63163 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD722] Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Alabama Trustee Implementation Group Final Supplemental Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Marine Mammals, and Finding of No Significant Impact National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) natural resource trustees for the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) have prepared the Final Supplemental Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Marine Mammals (RPII/EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact. The Final Supplemental RPII/EA evaluates the use of additional funds from the Marine Mammals Restoration Type to extend the implementation of one or more projects currently underway in the Alabama Restoration Area to continue the Alabama TIG’s efforts to restore for injuries to marine mammals impacted by the DWH oil spill. The Final Supplemental RPII/EA evaluates two restoration alternatives including consideration of the criteria set forth in the OPA natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) regulations, and an analysis under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations. A No Action Alternative is also evaluated pursuant to the NEPA. In the Final Supplemental RPII/EA the Alabama TIG selects the preferred alternative for implementation. The total estimated cost to implement the Alabama TIG’s Preferred Alternative— an extension of the Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network Project—is $1,881,237. This action allocates the Alabama TIG’s remaining Marine Mammals restoration funds. ADDRESSES: You may view and download the Final Supplemental RPII/ EA at https://www.gulfspillrestoration. noaa.gov/restoration-areas/alabama. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1 63164 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 149 / Friday, August 2, 2024 / Notices You may also request a flash drive containing the Final Supplemental RPII/ EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stella Wilson, NOAA Restoration Center, (850) 332–4169, gulfspill.restoration@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction On April 20, 2010, the mobile offshore drilling unit DWH, which was drilling a well for BP Exploration and Production, Inc., (BP) experienced a significant explosion, fire and subsequent sinking in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the release of millions of barrels of oil and other discharges into the Gulf. Under the authority of the OPA, designated Federal and State trustees, acting on behalf of the public, assessed the injuries to natural resources and prepared the ‘‘Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement’’ and the ‘‘Record of Decision for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement’’, which sets forth the governance structure and process for DWH restoration planning under the OPA NRDA regulations. On April 4, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the eastern district of Louisiana entered a consent decree resolving civil claims by the trustees against BP. The Alabama TIG, which is composed of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, NOAA, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, selects and implements restoration projects under the Alabama TIG’s management authority in accordance with the consent decree. The Final PDARP/PEIS, ROD, consent decree, and information on the DWH trustees can be found at https://www.gulfspillrestoration. noaa.gov/restoration-planning/gulfplan. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Background Overview of the Final Supplemental RPII/EA In the Final Supplemental RPII/EA, the Alabama TIG analyzes a reasonable range of two project alternatives and, pursuant to the NEPA, a No Action Alternative. Those alternatives include: • Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network project Extension (preferred); and • Reducing Illegal Feeding of Bottlenose Dolphins project (nonpreferred). Funding to implement either alternative ultimately selected by the Alabama TIG would come from the Marine Mammal Restoration Type allocation. The total estimated cost to implement the preferred alternative is $1,881,237 and would utilize the remaining allocation of Alabama TIG Marine Mammal Restoration Type funds. Administrative Record The Administrative Record for the Final Supplemental RPII/EA can be viewed electronically at https:// www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/admin record under the folder 6.5.3.2. Authority The authority for this action is the OPA of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), its implementing NRDA regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, and the NEPA of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing regulations found at 40 CFR parts 1500–1508. Dated: July 29, 2024. Carrie Diane Robinson, Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–17092 Filed 8–1–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE In September 2018, the Alabama TIG completed the ‘‘Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Alabama Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Restoration of Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction (Nonpoint Source); Sea Turtles; Marine VerDate Sep<11>2014 Mammals; Birds; and Oysters’’. Twenty restoration projects were selected for implementation; one of which was Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network. That project has been successfully implemented utilizing Marine Mammal Restoration Type funds identified in the DWH consent decree. 16:22 Aug 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XE145] Marine Mammals; File No. 28171 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. Notice is hereby given that Rachel Cartwright, Ph.D., Keiki Kohola Project, 1330 Sabal Lakes Road, Delray Beach, FL 33445, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae; Hawaii distinct population segment [DPS]), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens; Hawaiian insular DPS), and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 3, 2024. ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species home page, https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 28171 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include ‘‘File No. 28171’’ in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Markin, Ph.D., or Carrie Hubard, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226). The applicant proposes to continue long-term monitoring of the health, behavior, and habitat use of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters. Research may be conducted from a vessel or unmanned aircraft system for counts, observations, and photograph and video recordings (above and underwater) on SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63163-63164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17092]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD722]


Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Alabama 
Trustee Implementation Group Final Supplemental Restoration Plan II and 
Environmental Assessment: Marine Mammals, and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) natural resource trustees for the 
Alabama Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) have prepared the Final 
Supplemental Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Marine 
Mammals (RPII/EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact. The Final 
Supplemental RPII/EA evaluates the use of additional funds from the 
Marine Mammals Restoration Type to extend the implementation of one or 
more projects currently underway in the Alabama Restoration Area to 
continue the Alabama TIG's efforts to restore for injuries to marine 
mammals impacted by the DWH oil spill. The Final Supplemental RPII/EA 
evaluates two restoration alternatives including consideration of the 
criteria set forth in the OPA natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) 
regulations, and an analysis under National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) implementing regulations. A No Action Alternative is also 
evaluated pursuant to the NEPA. In the Final Supplemental RPII/EA the 
Alabama TIG selects the preferred alternative for implementation. The 
total estimated cost to implement the Alabama TIG's Preferred 
Alternative--an extension of the Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama 
Marine Mammal Stranding Network Project--is $1,881,237. This action 
allocates the Alabama TIG's remaining Marine Mammals restoration funds.

ADDRESSES: You may view and download the Final Supplemental RPII/EA at 
https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/alabama.

[[Page 63164]]

You may also request a flash drive containing the Final Supplemental 
RPII/EA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stella Wilson, NOAA Restoration 
Center, (850) 332-4169, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    On April 20, 2010, the mobile offshore drilling unit DWH, which was 
drilling a well for BP Exploration and Production, Inc., (BP) 
experienced a significant explosion, fire and subsequent sinking in the 
Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the release of millions of barrels of oil 
and other discharges into the Gulf. Under the authority of the OPA, 
designated Federal and State trustees, acting on behalf of the public, 
assessed the injuries to natural resources and prepared the ``Deepwater 
Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration 
Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement'' and the 
``Record of Decision for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final 
Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement'', which sets forth the 
governance structure and process for DWH restoration planning under the 
OPA NRDA regulations. On April 4, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the 
eastern district of Louisiana entered a consent decree resolving civil 
claims by the trustees against BP.
    The Alabama TIG, which is composed of the Alabama Department of 
Conservation and Natural Resources, NOAA, Environmental Protection 
Agency, U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection 
Agency, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, selects and implements 
restoration projects under the Alabama TIG's management authority in 
accordance with the consent decree. The Final PDARP/PEIS, ROD, consent 
decree, and information on the DWH trustees can be found at https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-planning/gulf-plan.

Background

    In September 2018, the Alabama TIG completed the ``Deepwater 
Horizon Oil Spill Alabama Trustee Implementation Group Final 
Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Restoration of 
Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; Habitat Projects on 
Federally Managed Lands; Nutrient Reduction (Nonpoint Source); Sea 
Turtles; Marine Mammals; Birds; and Oysters''. Twenty restoration 
projects were selected for implementation; one of which was Enhancing 
Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network. That project 
has been successfully implemented utilizing Marine Mammal Restoration 
Type funds identified in the DWH consent decree.

Overview of the Final Supplemental RPII/EA

    In the Final Supplemental RPII/EA, the Alabama TIG analyzes a 
reasonable range of two project alternatives and, pursuant to the NEPA, 
a No Action Alternative. Those alternatives include:
     Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding 
Network project Extension (preferred); and
     Reducing Illegal Feeding of Bottlenose Dolphins project 
(non-preferred).
    Funding to implement either alternative ultimately selected by the 
Alabama TIG would come from the Marine Mammal Restoration Type 
allocation. The total estimated cost to implement the preferred 
alternative is $1,881,237 and would utilize the remaining allocation of 
Alabama TIG Marine Mammal Restoration Type funds.

Administrative Record

    The Administrative Record for the Final Supplemental RPII/EA can be 
viewed electronically at https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord under the folder 6.5.3.2.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the OPA of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et 
seq.), its implementing NRDA regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, and 
the NEPA of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing regulations 
found at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508.

    Dated: July 29, 2024.
Carrie Diane Robinson,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-17092 Filed 8-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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