[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 7250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3150]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Additional Public Scoping for the Environmental Impact 
Statement Underway for the Proposed Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility 
(Formerly Shepard Point Oil Spill Response Facility and Access Road)

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of additional public scoping.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA) is extending the scoping period to gather information 
necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The 
EIS will analyze the proposed enhancement of oil spill response 
capabilities in southeast Prince William Sound (PWS) by means of 
constructing a regional oil spill response facility in the Cordova 
area, and a deepwater dock with road connection to a regional airport.
    The purpose of scoping is to obtain suggestions and information 
from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. Comments and participation in this scoping 
process are encouraged.

DATES: The meeting dates are:
    1. March 2, 2004, Open House from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Formal 
Testimony from 7 to 9 p.m., Anchorage, Alaska. The meeting will be held 
at the BLM Campbell Tract Facility, 6881 Abbott Loop Road, Anchorage, 
Alaska.
    2. March 4, 2004, Open House from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Formal 
Testimony from 7 to 9 p.m., Cordova, Alaska. The meeting will be held 
at the Mount Eccles Elementary School Cafeteria, 201 Adams Street, 
Cordova, Alaska.
    Meeting times and specific locations will be published in the local 
papers.
    Comments on the proposed project must be postmarked by March 19, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to ATTN: Cordova Response Facility 
EIS, URS Corporation, 2700 Gambell Street, Suite 200, Anchorage, AK, 
99507. You may also post comments at the Web site: http://www.cordovaresponsefacility.com, or via e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin K'eit, Environmental 
Scientist, (907) 586-7423, or Mark Boatwright, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, (907) 586-7301, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska Region, PO 
Box 25520, Juneau, AK 99802-5520.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March 1989, the T/V Exxon Valdez went 
aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, in south central Alaska, 
spilling 10.8 million gallons of oil, costing over $335 million for 
cleanup and for studies of damages and resource recovery plans. Oil 
spill response facilities at that time were poorly located with limited 
capabilities. Consequently, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 required pre-
positioned oil spill containment and removal equipment in communities 
and other strategic locations within Prince William Sound. Further, on 
November 25, 1992 a civil lawsuit was settled in the ``Agreement and 
Consent Decree in re: The EXXON VALDEZ'' (the Agreement) between the 
State of Alaska and the U.S. Government, and the Alyeska Pipeline 
Service Company and the ``Alyeska Owner Companies.'' Under the 
Agreement, funding was specifically set aside in the Alyeska Settlement 
Fund (the Fund) for construction of oil spill response storage 
facilities and docks in three PWS communities: Chenega Bay, Tatitlek 
and Cordova. Facilities have since been constructed in Tatitlek and 
Chenega Bay. Funding was appropriated from the Fund through Alaska 
State Legislation, CCS SB 165, Chapter No. 41, June 1, 1993. A 
Memorandum of Agreement between the State of Alaska and the BIA 
specifies that the BIA is responsible for the development of the 
project, including acting as the Lead Agency for National Environmental 
Policy Act compliance in connection with the proposed action.
    The proposed action is to enhance the oil spill response 
capabilities in the southeast area of Prince William Sound (PWS) by 
developing an oil spill response facility in the Cordova area. Proposed 
project components consist of a deepwater dock with adequate depth for 
large oil spill response vessels loaded with heavy equipment, a staging 
area contiguous to the dock for staging oil spill recovery equipment, 
and an access road or upgrades to the existing transportation system 
sufficient for linking the facility to the Cordova Airport, a PWS 
regional airport facility. This will allow efficient transport of out-
of-region supplies and equipment through the Cordova airport to a wide 
variety of vessels operating in PWS. While economic development is not 
a direct purpose of the proposed action, the proposed action will have 
economic and transportation effects that will be assessed in the 
environmental impact statement.
    The first scoping period for this project was initiated in October 
2002 under the project title ``Shepard Point Oil Spill Response 
Facility and Access Road.'' The project is now titled the ``Cordova Oil 
Spill Response Facility Project.'' The project title was revised to 
maintain consistency with other descriptions of the project and to 
accurately reflect that a reasonable range of alternatives will be 
analyzed in the EIS, in compliance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act. All public comments received during the October 2002 
scoping period will be evaluated with equal consideration as comments 
received during this extended period.

    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with section 
1501.7, Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 
1500 through 1508) implementing the procedural requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 1.6) 
and is within the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.1.

    Dated: February 4, 2004.
Dave Anderson,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-3150 Filed 2-12-04; 8:45 am]
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