[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32216-32217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10671]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL 10927-01-OW]


South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act--Interim Assessment; 
Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announces a 
series of public meetings of the Interagency Working Group on the 
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (IWG-HABHRCA). 
The purpose of these meetings is for the IWG-HABHRCA to provide updates 
on the assessment of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia in South 
Florida, including a presentation of progress to-date as well as next 
steps, as is required by the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 
2021. The meetings will be open to the

[[Page 32217]]

public and conducted in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual 
attendance options. Please see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further 
details.

DATES: Public meetings will be held between June 26-June 29, 2023, at 
the following locations in South Florida:

1. Fort Pierce--June 26, 2023 (9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
2. Belle Glade--June 28, 2023 (9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
3. Fort Myers--June 29, 2023 (1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.)

    Exact locations will be provided to those that register. More 
information on how to register can be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Allenbach, South Florida 
Program, Water Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--Region 
4, telephone number: 404-562-9687, email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In South Florida, HABs and hypoxia--the overgrowth of algae/
cyanobacteria and often related severe oxygen depletion--are observed 
in lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastal areas. These HABs proliferate 
when environmental conditions (e.g., winds, temperatures, currents, 
excess nutrients) are favorable, and can result in significant impacts 
to human health and the environment as well as local economies.
    Coordinated federal efforts to address HABs and hypoxia began with 
the passage of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control 
Act (HABHRCA) in 1998. Pub. L. 105-383, 112 Stat. 3447. HABHRCA 
established an interagency working group (IWG), which now consists of 
over twenty member agencies, co-chaired by NOAA and EPA. 33 U.S.C. 
4001(a).
    The South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021 requires the 
IWG-HABHRCA to conduct a regional assessment of South Florida. 33 
U.S.C. 4004a(b). The assessment needs to address the status of, and 
gaps within, current HAB and hypoxia research, monitoring, management, 
prevention, response, and control activities. 33 U.S.C. 4004a(b)(3). In 
addition, the IWG-HABHRCA needs to develop and submit to Congress a 
plan, based on the assessment, for reducing, mitigating, and 
controlling HABs and hypoxia in the South Florida region. 33 U.S.C. 
4004a(c).
    The first step in this process is to conduct an interim assessment 
that will represent a synthesis of the state of knowledge of HABs and 
hypoxia in South Florida. This interim assessment will serve to guide 
the full integrated assessment and plan. Currently, the IWG-HABHRCA is 
seeking feedback on progress to-date to ensure that the interim 
assessment is accurate and inclusive of ongoing efforts by State, 
local, and tribal governments as well as non-governmental, academic 
groups, and private industry.

II. Purpose of the Public Meetings

    EPA and NOAA, along with other members of the IWG-HABHRCA, will 
hold three public meetings in the South Florida region during the week 
of June 26, 2023. The purpose of these public meetings is for the IWG-
HABHRCA to update the public on the assessment of HABs and hypoxia in 
South Florida, including a presentation of progress to-date and next 
steps. Specifically, the IWG-HABHRCA will at these public meetings:
    (1) Present an overview of the assessment process that describes 
project scope, methods, and types of information requested;
    (2) Present the assessment outline and discuss information gathered 
to-date and highlight gaps; and
    (3) Receive feedback from attendees.

III. How can I participate in these public meetings?

    The meetings will be open to the public and conducted with both in-
person and virtual attendance options. Registration information, 
meeting materials, and opportunities to provide public input can be 
found at: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/habhrca/clean-coastal-waters-act.
    Registration for the Meeting: Registration is required. Interested 
persons who wish to attend either in-person or virtually must register 
by June 9, 2023.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: Meeting materials, including the 
meeting agenda and briefing materials, will be available 15 days before 
the meeting date.
    Procedures for Providing Public Input: Registered attendees may 
provide comments verbally and in writing during and up to 30 days after 
the public meeting. Written comments are encouraged. Oral statements 
may also be delivered in-person but will be limited to three minutes in 
length and may not be possible if the number of commenters exceeds the 
allotted time on the agenda for verbal comments.

Radhika Fox,
Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-10671 Filed 5-18-23; 8:45 am]
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