[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 50 (Thursday, March 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 16296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05898]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-SER-BISC-09775; PPSESEROC3, PPMPSAF1Y.YP0000]


Record of Decision for the Coral Reef Restoration Plan, Biscayne 
National Park, FL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the 
availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Coral Reef 
Restoration Plan (Plan) for Biscayne National Park, Florida. On May 31, 
2012, the Regional Director, Southeast Region, approved the ROD for the 
project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elsa Alvear, Biscayne National Park, 
9700 SW. 328th Street, Homestead, FL 33033; Telephone (786)-335-3623.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many vessel groundings occur annually in 
Biscayne National Park, causing injuries to submerged resources. The 
goal of coral reef restoration actions in Biscayne National Park is to 
create a stable, self-sustaining reef environment of similar topography 
and surface complexity to that which existed prior to injury, such that 
natural recovery processes, enhanced through mitigation, if needed, 
will lead to a fully functioning coral reef community with near natural 
complexity, structure, and make-up of organisms. The Plan provides a 
systematic approach to addressing injuries to coral reefs caused by 
vessel groundings within Biscayne National Park. The Environmental 
Impact Statement prepared for the Plan analyzed two alternatives, the 
No Action alternative (Alternative 1) and Restoration Using a 
Programmatic Approach (Alternative 2).
    Alternative 1 would not change the existing approach to coral reef 
restoration planning and implementation, including NEPA compliance. 
Currently, Biscayne National Park resource managers evaluate the 
impacts of coral reef restoration actions and specific restoration 
methods when planning and implementing restoration at each grounding 
incident. In contrast, to address each coral injury under Alternative 
2, the most appropriate restoration actions and specific restoration 
methods would be selected from a ``toolbox'' of methods that already 
have had their impacts evaluated programmatically. Under Alternative 2, 
10 reasonable and common coral reef restoration actions were identified 
and evaluated for inclusion in the toolbox.
    The ROD identifies Alternative 2 (Restoration Using a Programmatic 
Approach) as the National Park Service's selected action. The ROD 
includes a statement of the decision made, a summary of the other 
alternative considered, the basis for the decision, a description of 
the environmentally preferable alternative, and a summary of public and 
agency involvement in the decision-making process. Copies of the ROD 
may be obtained from the contact listed below or online at  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/bisc.
    The responsible official for this Record of Decision is the 
Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama 
Street SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: March 7, 2013.
 Gordon Wissinger,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-05898 Filed 3-13-13; 8:45 am]
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