[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39253-39254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15696]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No.: 130514469-3562-02]


Notice of Extension of Comment Period for Draft Initial 
Comprehensive Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, 
Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act 
(RESTORE Act), the Secretary of Commerce, as Chair of the Gulf Coast 
Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council), announces the extension of the 
public comment period for the Draft Initial Comprehensive Plan (Draft 
Plan) to restore and protect the Gulf Coast region and the Draft 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Draft PEA) for the Draft Plan. 
Council Members also have compiled preliminary lists of ecosystem 
restoration projects that are ``authorized but not yet commenced'' and 
the full Council is in the process of evaluating these lists; the 
Council announces the availability of these preliminary lists. If you 
previously submitted comments, please do not resubmit them because the 
Council has already incorporated them into the public record and will 
fully consider them.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by July 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Draft Plan, the preliminary 
lists of ``authorized but not yet commenced'' ecosystem restoration 
projects, and Draft PEA by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via www.restorethegulf.gov.
     Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send a copy of your 
comments to Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, c/o U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4077, 
Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Council can be reached at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 29, 2013, we published a Federal 
Register notice (78 FR 32237) announcing the availability of the Draft 
Plan, the preliminary lists of ``authorized but not yet commenced'' 
ecosystem restoration projects, and the Draft PEA for the Draft Plan 
and requesting comments, to be submitted by June 24, 2013. To provide 
additional time for responses, this notice extends the comment period 
until July 8, 2013.
    The Council is seeking public and tribal comment on all aspects of 
the Draft Plan. In particular, the Council seeks public and tribal 
comment on the following:
    (1) The Draft Plan includes restoration Priority Criteria 
established in the RESTORE Act and applicable to the Council's 
selection of projects and programs for the first three years after 
publication of the Initial Comprehensive Plan. The Council is 
considering further defining these criteria and developing additional 
criteria for consideration.
    a. Should the Council further define the Priority Criteria? If so, 
how?
    b. Should the Council develop additional criteria for consideration 
now or in the future? If so, what should they be?
    (2) The ``Objectives'' section of the Draft Plan describes the 
broad types of activities the Council envisions funding in order to 
achieve its ecosystem restoration goals.
    a. Should the Council consider other Objectives at this juncture? 
If not, at what point, if any, should the Council consider additional 
Objectives? If so, what should they be?
    b. Similarly, should the Council eliminate any of the Objectives? 
If so, what effect will elimination of the Objective(s) have on the 
Council's ability to ensure a regional ecosystem approach to 
restoration?
    c. How should the Council prioritize its restoration Objectives?
    (3) The Council is considering establishing or engaging advisory 
committees as may be necessary, such as a citizens' advisory committee 
and/or a science advisory committee, to provide input to the Council in 
carrying out its responsibilities under the RESTORE Act.
    a. Should the Council establish any advisory committees?
    b. If so, what type of advisory committees should the Council 
establish? How should the Council structure such advisory committees? 
What role should such advisory committees play?
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 
U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  4321-4335, and the Council on Environmental Quality's 
regulations implementing NEPA, 40 C.F.R. Parts 1500-1507, the Council 
has prepared a Draft PEA on the Draft Plan. The Council is also seeking 
public comment on all aspects of the Draft PEA in addition to all 
aspects of the Draft Plan and the preliminary list of ``authorized but 
not yet commenced'' ecosystem restoration projects compiled by Council 
Members.
    Document Availability: Copies of the Draft Plan, the preliminary 
list of ``authorized but not yet commenced'' projects and programs, and 
Draft PEA are available at the following office during regular business 
hours: Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4077, 
Washington, DC 20230. Electronic versions of the documents can be 
viewed and downloaded at www.restorethegulf.gov.

    Legal Authority: The statutory program authority for the Draft 
Initial Comprehensive

[[Page 39254]]

Plan is found in subtitle F of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 
21st Century Act (``MAP-21''), Pub. L. 112-141, 126 Stat. 405 (Jul. 
6, 2012).

    Dated: June 25, 2013.
Cameron F. Kerry,
Acting Secretary of Commerce, Chair, Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration 
Council.
[FR Doc. 2013-15696 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-EA-P