[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 23834-23835] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-11165] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6335-1] Notice of Availability of Topical Scientific Reports for an Integrated Assessment of the Causes and Consequences of Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in coordination with National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, invite public comments on six topical scientific reports requested by the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) for an assessment of the causes and consequences of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico as required by section 604(a) of Public Law 105-383. The six topic papers will be used by the CENR Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Working Group to prepare an Integrated Assessment which will provide ecological and economic analysis of various options for reducing nutrient loads carried by the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. This Integrated Assessment will be delivered to the President, Congress and the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force. DATES: Comments must be received by August 2, 1999. All comments received after the formal comment period will be reviewed by the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Working Group and delivered to the Mississippi River/ Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force for their consideration along with the final Integrated Assessment. ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to: Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Working Group National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, WS 13446 SSMC4, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Field, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, WS 13446 SSMC4, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone 301-713-3060 x135, Internet John.F[email protected]; or Dr. Mary Belefski, U.S. EPA, Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (AWPD), 401 M Street, S.W. (4503F), Washington, D.C. 20460, telephone (202) 260-7061; Internet: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose The Environmental Protection Agency leads the Mississippi River/ Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force consisting of Federal, State, and Tribal members. The purpose of this group is to coordinate and support nutrient management and hypoxia related activities in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico watersheds. Status These reports will provide the basis for the formulation of an Integrated Assessment of hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico, as required in section 604(a) of Public Law 105-383. This law requires the assessment to consider the distribution, dynamics, and causes; ecological and economic consequences; sources and loads of nutrients transported by the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico; effects of reducing nutrient loads; methods for reducing nutrient loads; and the social and economic costs and benefits of such methods. This assessment will be delivered to the President and Congress and will subsequently provide the basis for the Action Plan required by section 604(b) of Public Law 105-383. Each of the reports has undergone extensive peer review by independent scientific experts. These reports, along with the public comment on them, will be considered in developing the Integrated Assessment and, subsequently, the Action Plan. The six reports are entitled: TOPIC 1--Characterization of hypoxia. This report describes the seasonal, interannual, and long-term variation of hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and its relationship to nutrient loadings. It also documents the relative roles of natural and human-induced factors in determining the size and duration of the hypoxic zone. TOPIC 2--Ecological and economic consequences of hypoxia. This report presents an evaluation of the ecological and economic consequences of nutrient loading, including impacts on Gulf of Mexico fisheries and the regional and national economy. TOPIC 3--Flux and sources of nutrients in the Mississippi- Atchafalaya River Basin. This report identifies the sources of nutrients within the Mississippi/Atchafalaya system and within the Gulf of Mexico with two distinct components, first, the geographic location of the most significant nutrient additions, and second, the relative importance of specific human activities in contributing to these loads. TOPIC 4--Effects of reducing nutrient loads to surface waters within the Mississippi River basin and Gulf of Mexico. This report estimates the effects of nutrient source reductions in the Mississippi- Atchafalaya Basin on water quality in these waters and on primary productivity and hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. TOPIC 5--Reducing nutrient loads, especially nitrate-nitrogen, to surface water, groundwater, and the Gulf of [[Page 23835]] Mexico. This report identifies and evaluates methods to reduce nutrient loads to surface water, ground water, and the Gulf of Mexico. TOPIC 6--Evaluation of economic costs and benefits of methods for reducing nutrient loads to the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to evaluating the social and economic costs and benefits of the methods identified in topic 5, this analysis includes an assessment of various incentive programs and any anticipated fiscal benefits generated for those attempting to reduce sources. The reports may be reached via either the EPA or NOS websites: at <http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/>; <http://www.nos.noaa.gov/Products/ pubs__online.html>; or contact those listed above for information on how to obtain the reports. Dated: April 29, 1999 Robert Wayland, Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. [FR Doc. 99-11165 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P