[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16656-16657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06140]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental 
Assessment for Natural Resource Injuries and Service Losses Associated 
With the 2010 Oil Spill From the Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on 
Adak Island, Alaska

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Damage Assessment and 
Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for natural resource 
injuries and service losses associated with the 2010 oil spill from the 
Adak Petroleum Bulk Fuel Facility on Adak Island, located in the 
central Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
(OPA), 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq. and related sections of Alaska law, 
including AS 46.03.760 and AS 46.03.780, notice is hereby given that a 
document entitled, ``Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for the January 11, 2010 Adak Petroleum Diesel 
Spill'' (Draft DARP/EA) is being made available for public review.
    DARP/EA: This Draft DARP/EA has been approved by the State and 
Federal Natural Resource Trustee agencies (the Trustees) including: the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), acting on 
behalf of the Department of Commerce; United States Fish & Wildlife 
Service, acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior 
(USFWS/DOI); and the State of Alaska's Department of Environmental 
Conservation, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Natural 
Resources and Department of Law. The Trustees act on behalf of the 
public under OPA and State law to protect and restore natural resources 
injured or lost as a result of unpermitted oil discharges.
    Public Review and Comment: The publication of this notice opens the 
period for public comment on the draft DARP/EA. All comments must be 
submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date in 
this Federal Register. Comments may be sent electronically or in 
written form. Written comments may be sent to: Ian Zelo, NOAA Oil Spill 
Coordinator, Assessment and Restoration Division, 7600 Sand Point Way 
NE., Seattle, WA 98115. Electronic comments may be sent directly to: 
[email protected].
    Please provide a subject line, indicating that your comments relate 
to restoration planning for the Adak 2010 oil spill. Any comments 
received will become part of the administrative record and will be 
available to the public. Please be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Draft Final DARP/EA is available 
for downloading at http://www.darrp.noaa.gov (by clicking on the 
document title in the Adak DARP/EA announcement on that page). Copies 
of the DARP/EA are also available for review at: (1) UAA Consortium 
Library ARLIS, Library Building, Suite 111, 3211 Providence Drive, 
Anchorage, AK 99508, Reference Desk, (907) 27-ARLIS; and 2) Z.J. 
Loussac Public Library, 3600

[[Page 16657]]

Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503, Reference Desk, (907) 343-2975. The 
document will also be posted at: Adak City Hall, 100 Mechanic's Way, 
Adak, Alaska 99546. Requests for further information can be obtained 
through Ian Zelo at the contact information provided above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Adak January 11, 2010 oil spill involved 
releases of up to 142,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the Adak 
Petroleum Bulk Fuel facility into Helmet Creek and related waterways. 
Diesel contamination was observed in streams and wetlands that provide 
habitat for pink salmon, Dolly Verden, juvenile fish, and marine birds. 
The Trustees assessed natural resource injuries and resource services 
losses in the spill area, while outlining potential restoration 
alternatives and considering the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
impacts of these alternatives on the human environment. The Trustees 
are working with Adak Petroleum to resolve its liability through the 
restoration and rehabilitation of natural resources injured by the oil 
discharge.
    Proposed Restoration: The Draft DARP/EA identifies the restoration 
projects that the Trustees propose to restore resources and services to 
compensate the public for assessed losses. The Trustees' restoration 
objectives are: (1) Improve Helmet Creek, restore juvenile and adult 
fish passage, (2) Improve water quality, and (3) Allow for improved 
habitat for salmonid species. The Trustees considered various 
alternative projects to address these restoration goals, which are 
outlined in this DARP/EA. However, after reviewing these alternatives, 
the Trustees agreed that the proposed restoration alternative best met 
their objectives. The proposed preferred alternative includes the 
following projects:
    (1) Remove two trash racks from culverts in Helmet Creek.
    (2) Restore grade of creek for fish passage.
    (3) Improve low flow passage inside the Creek's culvert and above 
the tank farm.
    (4) Remove debris from the creek and floodplain.
    (5) Revegetate banks to minimize disturbance and provide bank 
stability.
    Adak Petroleum, as the Responsible Party for this spill, will be 
funding and implementing restoration at the Helmet Creek site, under 
Trustee supervision. This restoration work will be undertaken in 
accordance with the terms of a Consent Decree that will resolve the 
liability of the Responsible Party for natural resource damages under 
OPA and State law.

    Dated: March 5, 2013.
Christopher C. Cartwright,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, Ocean 
Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-06140 Filed 3-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P