Notice2024-17092
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
Primary source
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Published
August 2, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 149 (Friday, August 2, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63163-63164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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.
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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
<a href="https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/alabama">https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/alabama</a>.
[[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, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dabdafb6bca9aab3b6b6f4a8bfa9aeb5a8bbaeb3b5b49ab4b5bbbbf4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1770627b7164677e7b7b3965726463786576637e7879577978767639707861">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 <a href="https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-planning/gulf-plan">https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-planning/gulf-plan</a>.
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:
<bullet> Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding
Network project Extension (preferred); and
<bullet> 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 <a href="https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord">https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord</a> 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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