[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 87938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29238]


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GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL

[Docket No. 112062016-1111-07]


Amendment to Initial Funded Priorities List

AGENCY: Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

ACTION: Notice of amendment to Initial Funded Priorities List.

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SUMMARY: On November 16, 2016, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration 
Council (Council) amended its Initial Funded Priorities List (FPL) to 
change the Responsible Council Member of the FPL activity entitled 
``GOMA Coordination'' from the State of Alabama to the Department of 
Commerce.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please send questions by email to 
[email protected] or contact John Ettinger at (504) 444-
3522.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Deepwater Horizon oil spill led to passage of the Resources and 
Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies 
of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), which dedicates 80% 
of all Clean Water Act administrative and civil penalties related to 
the oil spill to the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (Trust Fund). 
The RESTORE Act also established the Council as an independent federal 
entity comprised of the governors of five Gulf Coast states and the 
department heads of six federal agencies. Among other responsibilities, 
the Council administers a portion of the Trust Fund known as the 
Council-Selected Restoration Component in order to ``undertake projects 
and programs, using the best available science, which would restore and 
protect the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and 
wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Gulf 
Coast.'' Additional information on the Council can be found here: 
https://www.restorethegulf.gov.
    On December 9, 2015, the Council approved an Initial FPL, which 
includes projects and programs approved for funding under the Council-
Selected Restoration Component, along with activities that the Council 
identified as priorities for potential future funding. The FPL included 
the project entitled ``GOMA Coordination'' to support further 
development of a Monitoring Community of Practice using expertise from 
existing Gulf of Mexico Alliance Priority Issue Teams. As approved in 
the FPL, the Responsible Council Member of this activity was the State 
of Alabama.
    On November 16, 2016, the Council voted to change the Responsible 
Council Member of the FPL activity entitled ``GOMA Coordination'' from 
the State of Alabama to the Department of Commerce. The Department of 
Commerce is a co-sponsor of a closely related FPL activity entitled 
``Council Monitoring & Assessment Program Development.'' This proposed 
amendment would increase administrative efficiency and facilitate 
project implementation and tracking. No other aspect of this FPL 
activity will change.
    Additional information on this project is available in an activity-
specific appendix to the FPL, which can be found here: https://www.restorethegulf.gov.

Will D. Spoon,
Program Analyst, Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.
[FR Doc. 2016-29238 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-58-P