[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 57038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28540]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Coastal Impact Assistance Program: Availability of Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding 
of No Significant Impact on Approval of State Plans from Alabama, 
Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas under 
the Coastal Impact Assistance Program.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the availability of the 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact on 
approval of State plans from Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas under the Coastal Impact Assistance 
Program (CIAP). The Fiscal Year 2001 Appropriations Act for the 
Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State (Pub. L. 106-553) created 
the CIAP by amending the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The CIAP 
will direct approximately $142 million to the outer continental shelf 
(OCS) oil and gas producing states of Alaska, Alabama, California, 
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas and the approximately 150 
coastal political subdivisions within those states to help mitigate the 
impacts of OCS activities and protect coastal resources. The CIAP 
required these states to submit Coastal Impact Assistance Plans to the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) detailing how 
the funds will be expended. NOAA must approve the plans before 
disbursing funds.
    Three alternatives are available to NOAA pertaining to the CIAP: 
approve the State plans; conditionally approve the State plans; and 
deny approval of the State plans. NOAA's preferred alternative is to 
approve the State plans. NOAA finds that the State plans meet the 
requirements of the CIAP legislation. This alternative will have a 
beneficial effect on the environment because it will fulfill the intent 
of the legislation by helping to mitigate impacts from outer 
continental shelf oil and gas activities. The requirements of 40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508 (Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations to 
implement the National Environmental Policy Act) apply to the 
preparation of this Environmental Assessment. Specifically, 40 CFR 
1506.6 requires agencies to provide public notice of the availability 
of environmental documents. This notice is part of NOAA's action to 
comply with this requirement.
    Copies of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact may be found on the NOAA Web site at http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/cpd/ or may be obtained upon request from: John 
R. King, Acting Chief, Coastal Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of 
Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, phone (301) 713-3155, x188, e-
mail [email protected].

DATES: Individuals or organizations wishing to submit comments on the 
Environmental Assessment should do so by December 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be made to: John R. King, Acting Chief, 
Coastal Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal 
Resource Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
Maryland, 20910, phone (301) 713-3155, x188, e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John R. King, Acting Chief, Coastal 
Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource 
Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 
20910, phone (301) 713-3155, x188, e-mail [email protected].

    Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone 
Management Program Administration.
    Dated: November 6, 2001.
Alan Neuschatz,
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Information Officer, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-28540 Filed 11-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M