[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85936-85937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28617]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF025


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment for 
the Bluefield Holdings, Inc. Site 2 Shoreline Restoration Project 
Credit Purchase

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment; 
request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a document entitled, ``Draft 
Environmental Assessment for the Bluefield Holdings, Inc. Site 2 
Shoreline Restoration Project Credits Purchase'' (Draft EA) is 
available for public review and comment. This document has been 
prepared by the state, tribal, and Federal natural resource trustee 
agencies (the ``Trustees'')--NOAA, United States Fish & Wildlife 
Service (USFWS) acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior 
(DOI), Washington Department of Ecology (as lead State trustee), 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, 
and the Suquamish Tribe--to evaluate potential impacts to the 
environment from purchasing 30 credits in the Bluefield Holdings, Inc. 
Site 2 Shoreline Restoration Project (Site 2). The proposed credits 
purchase in the Site 2 project is a component of the overall effort to 
restore natural resources and resource services that have been injured 
and lost resulting from releases of hazardous substances into the Lower 
Duwamish River (LDR). This draft EA is tiered from the June 2013 Final 
LDR NRDA Restoration Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement (RP/EIS). The EA describes the Trustees' proposed plan to 
purchase 30 credits in the Site 2 project. The purchase would utilize a 
portion of the funds provided to the Trustees from the Pacific Sound 
Resources settlement (United States et al. v. Pacific Sound Resources 
et al., Civ. No. C94-687 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 29, 1994)). The Trustees may 
only use these funds for restoration purposes. The Trustees will 
consider comments received during the public comment period before 
finalizing this EA.

DATES: Comments on the Draft EA must be submitted in writing on or 
before December 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Draft EA should be sent to 
Rebecca Hoff of NOAA at 7600 Sand Point Way NE., DARC Building 1, 
Seattle, WA 98115 or by email: [email protected]. The Draft EA is 
also available for downloading at http://bit.ly/2fJlE8G. Comments on 
this plan are to be sent in writing to Rebecca Hoff of NOAA. These 
written comments may be submitted either by mail at the address 
provided above; by fax to 206-526-6665, or by email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Hoff, at 206-526-6276, or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The LDR is the estuarine portion of the 
Duwamish River, and starts from the mouth at the East and West 
Waterways on both sides of Harbor Island at Seattle's Elliott Bay and 
ends at the natural rock formation commonly known as North Winds Weir 
(approximately 7 miles), in central Puget Sound. Historic operations of 
various entities resulted in releases of hazardous substances, such as 
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls 
(PCBs), heavy metals, and other hazardous compounds, into the LDR.
    The RP/PEIS describes the type of restoration that the Trustees 
believe would be most effective in addressing the injuries in the LDR 
resulting from releases of hazardous substances--Integrated Habitat 
Restoration. The Site 2 project will create the full suite of habitats 
identified in the Integrated Habitat Restoration approach, and is 
consistent with the description of projects and project impacts 
discussed in the RP/PEIS. The Draft EA released today identifies the 
Trustees' proposed use of some of the settlement funds to purchase 
restoration credits sufficient to allow Bluefield Holdings to begin 
implementing the Site 2 project. The Site 2 project will create and/or 
rehabilitate shallow subtidal habitat, intertidal mudflat habitat, 
marsh habitat, and riparian habitat.
    In undertaking this NRDA restoration effort and in releasing this 
Draft EA, the Trustees are acting in accordance with their designation 
and authorities under section 107(f) of the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9607(f) 
of the Federal Water Pollution and Control Act (FWPCA), 33 U.S.C. 1321, 
Subpart G of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution 
Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR 300.600 through 300.615, and regulations 
at 43 CFR part 11, which are applicable to natural resource

[[Page 85937]]

damage assessments under CERCLA. The Trustees act on behalf of the 
public under these authorities to protect and restore natural resources 
injured or lost resulting from discharges or releases of hazardous 
substances.

    Dated: November 22, 2016.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28617 Filed 11-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P