[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16656-16657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06140]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental
Assessment for Natural Resource Injuries and Service Losses Associated
With the 2010 Oil Spill From the Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on
Adak Island, Alaska
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Damage Assessment and
Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for natural resource
injuries and service losses associated with the 2010 oil spill from the
Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on Adak Island, located in the
central Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
(OPA), 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq. and related sections of Alaska law,
including AS 46.03.760 and AS 46.03.780, notice is hereby given that a
document entitled, ``Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and
Environmental Assessment for the January 11, 2010 Adak Petroleum Diesel
Spill'' (Draft DARP/EA) is being made available for public review.
DARP/EA: This Draft DARP/EA has been approved by the State and
Federal Natural Resource Trustee agencies (the Trustees) including: the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), acting on
behalf of the Department of Commerce; United States Fish & Wildlife
Service, acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior
(USFWS/DOI); and the State of Alaska's Department of Environmental
Conservation, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Natural
Resources and Department of Law. The Trustees act on behalf of the
public under OPA and State law to protect and restore natural resources
injured or lost as a result of unpermitted oil discharges.
Public Review and Comment: The publication of this notice opens the
period for public comment on the draft DARP/EA. All comments must be
submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date in
this Federal Register. Comments may be sent electronically or in
written form. Written comments may be sent to: Ian Zelo, NOAA Oil Spill
Coordinator, Assessment and Restoration Division, 7600 Sand Point Way
NE., Seattle, WA 98115. Electronic comments may be sent directly to:
[email protected].
Please provide a subject line, indicating that your comments relate
to restoration planning for the Adak 2010 oil spill. Any comments
received will become part of the administrative record and will be
available to the public. Please be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly
available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Draft Final DARP/EA is available
for downloading at http://www.darrp.noaa.gov (by clicking on the
document title in the Adak DARP/EA announcement on that page). Copies
of the DARP/EA are also available for review at: (1) UAA Consortium
Library ARLIS, Library Building, Suite 111, 3211 Providence Drive,
Anchorage, AK 99508, Reference Desk, (907) 27-ARLIS; and 2) Z.J.
Loussac Public Library, 3600
[[Page 16657]]
Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503, Reference Desk, (907) 343-2975. The
document will also be posted at: Adak City Hall, 100 Mechanic's Way,
Adak, Alaska 99546. Requests for further information can be obtained
through Ian Zelo at the contact information provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Adak January 11, 2010 oil spill involved
releases of up to 142,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the Adak
Petroleum Bulk Fuel facility into Helmet Creek and related waterways.
Diesel contamination was observed in streams and wetlands that provide
habitat for pink salmon, Dolly Verden, juvenile fish, and marine birds.
The Trustees assessed natural resource injuries and resource services
losses in the spill area, while outlining potential restoration
alternatives and considering the direct, indirect, and cumulative
impacts of these alternatives on the human environment. The Trustees
are working with Adak Petroleum to resolve its liability through the
restoration and rehabilitation of natural resources injured by the oil
discharge.
Proposed Restoration: The Draft DARP/EA identifies the restoration
projects that the Trustees propose to restore resources and services to
compensate the public for assessed losses. The Trustees' restoration
objectives are: (1) Improve Helmet Creek, restore juvenile and adult
fish passage, (2) Improve water quality, and (3) Allow for improved
habitat for salmonid species. The Trustees considered various
alternative projects to address these restoration goals, which are
outlined in this DARP/EA. However, after reviewing these alternatives,
the Trustees agreed that the proposed restoration alternative best met
their objectives. The proposed preferred alternative includes the
following projects:
(1) Remove two trash racks from culverts in Helmet Creek.
(2) Restore grade of creek for fish passage.
(3) Improve low flow passage inside the Creek's culvert and above
the tank farm.
(4) Remove debris from the creek and floodplain.
(5) Revegetate banks to minimize disturbance and provide bank
stability.
Adak Petroleum, as the Responsible Party for this spill, will be
funding and implementing restoration at the Helmet Creek site, under
Trustee supervision. This restoration work will be undertaken in
accordance with the terms of a Consent Decree that will resolve the
liability of the Responsible Party for natural resource damages under
OPA and State law.
Dated: March 5, 2013.
Christopher C. Cartwright,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, Ocean
Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-06140 Filed 3-15-13; 8:45 am]
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