[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56788-56789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27543]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6461-3]


Notice of Availability of 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.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in coordination 
with the National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, invites public comments 
on an integrated 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 Integrated Assessment was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico 
Hypoxia Working Group under the auspices of the National Science and 
Technology Council's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources 
(CENR) and will be delivered to the President, Congress and the 
Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 20, 1999. Any 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 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Room 9127, 1305 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald Pryor, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, National 
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Room 9127, 1305 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone 301-713-3000x127, Internet: 
[email protected]; or Dr. Mary Belefski, U.S. EPA, Assessment and 
Watershed Protection Division (AWPD), 401 M Street, SW (4503F), 
Washington, DC 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 Task Force has accepted the 
responsibility to develop an Action Plan, based on the Integrated 
Assessment and other information, for reducing, mitigating, and 
controlling hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The Action Plan is 
required by section 604(b) of Public Law 105-383.

Status

    The Integrated Assessment, as required in section 604(a) of Public 
Law 105-383, examines the distribution, dynamics, and causes of 
hypoxia; 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.
    Six topical reports, each covering one of the aspects listed above, 
were prepared by teams of scientists. Each of the reports underwent 
extensive peer review by independent scientific experts. These reports, 
along with the public comment on them, were considered in developing 
the Integrated Assessment. (See 64 FR 23834-23835 dated May 4, 1999.)
    The Integrated Assessment, as well as the six topical reports and 
the public comments, may be reached via either the EPA or NOAA/NOS 
websites: at <http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/> or <http://www.nos.noaa.gov/
Products/pubs__hypox.html>; or contact those listed above for 
information on how to obtain the reports.


[[Page 56789]]


    Dated: October 15, 1999.
Robert Wayland,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 99-27543 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U