[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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