[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12082-12083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03747]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project; Notice of 
Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental 
Impact Statement; Extension of Public Comment Period

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On January 13, 2017 NOAA published a notice in the Federal 
Register to solicit public comment on the joint draft environmental 
impact report and environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) that 
analyzes the potential effects on the physical and human environment 
related to a

[[Page 12083]]

proposed reverse osmosis desalination facility project within the 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary boundaries. This document 
extends the public comment period for the draft EIR/EIS until March 29, 
2017.

DATES: The comment period for the notice published January 13, 2017 (82 
FR 4302) is extended. NOAA will accept public comments on the draft 
EIR/EIS if they are received on or before March 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NOS-2016-0156, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NOS-2016-0156, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to MBNMS Project Lead for 
CalAm Desalination Project, 99 Pacific Ave., BLDG 455a, Monterey, CA 
93940.
     Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any 
other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment 
period, may not be considered by NOAA. All comments received are a part 
of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Grimmer at 99 Pacific Ave., BLDG 
455a, Monterey, CA 93940, 831-647-4253, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As discussed in the January 13, 2017 notice 
(82 FR 4302), a permit application was submitted by California American 
Water Company (CalAm) to NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 
(MBNMS) for construction and operation of its proposed Monterey 
Peninsula Water Supply Project (MPWSP or Project) in order to 
supplement existing water supplies for CalAm's Monterey District 
service area. NOAA's proposed action would be whether to approve the 
installation of a subsurface seawater intake system, the discharge of 
brine into MBNMS via an existing outfall pipe, and the continued 
presence of pipelines in MBNMS to transport seawater to a desalination 
facility.
    The joint draft environmental impact report and environmental 
impact statement (EIR/EIS) was prepared in accordance with Section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (CEQ 
NEPA Regulations). NOAA is seeking public comment on the DEIR/DEIS, 
which is available at http://montereybay.noaa.gov or may be obtained by 
contacting the individual listed under the heading FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. The original comment period was to end on February 
27, 2017.
    Due to the length of the document, NOAA and its state partner have 
received a request to extend the public comment period to allow for 
additional review time. An extension of the public comment period may 
also benefit other interested stakeholders. Therefore, NOAA has 
extended the deadline by 30 days, or until March 29, 2017.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

    Dated: February 16, 2017.
John Armor,
Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2017-03747 Filed 2-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P