ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

MOBILE and BALDWIN COUNTIES

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR A REVIEW OF A FEDERAL AGENCY’S CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION FOR A PROPOSED FEDERAL ACTION
PUBLIC NOTICE - 591

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) hereby gives notice that The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey has requested, in accordance with Title 15 C.F.R. 930 Subpart C, review of a proposed federal action pursuant to ADEM Administrative Code division 335-8.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey is proposing to conduct a hydrographic survey of an area of about 200 square nautical miles within the coverage area located offshore of Pascagoula, Mobile, and Gulfport. The project will take place between March and November 2021.  A vessel will leave port from Gulfport, Mississippi, and proceed to the survey location.  In the course of the project, the field crew will survey the area with a combination of single beam and multibeam echo sounders and side scan sonar.  Coast Survey will also collect bottom samples with a small grab sampler.  This notice serves as the federal consistency determination for the referenced action, as required by Federal Consistency Determination for the proposed hydrographic survey of Approaches to Pascagoula between March and November of 2021.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey has determined that the proposed activity is consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (ACAMP).

Any person wishing to make comments or provide additional information relative to the proposed activity’s consistency with the ACAMP must submit such comments or information by letter or by email to ADEM at the address below within fifteen (15) calendar days following the publication date of this notice. Only those comments, which address issues within the Department’s scope of authority, can be considered. All correspondence regarding this proposal should reference application number ACAMP-2021-083.

J. Scott Brown, Chief
Mobile Branch Office
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
3664 Dauphin Street, Suite B
Mobile, Alabama 36608-1211
Coastal@adem.alabama.gov

Copies of all information submitted are available for public inspection at the ADEM office located at the above address Monday – Friday (except legal holidays), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Arrangements for copying should be made in advance. This Public Notice is available on the internet at http://adem.alabama.gov/newsEvents/publicNotices.cnt. The ADEM Division 335-8 rules are available on the internet at adem.alabama.gov.

After consideration of all written comments and consideration of the requirements of the Alabama Coastal Area Management Act and ADEM Coastal Program rules, the Department will make a final determination.  The Department’s determination, associated documents and all comments received during the public comment period will be available for inspection at the ADEM office located at the above address during normal working hours.  Notice of the final permit decision will be sent to any person who requests such notice, in writing, during this comment period.

Notice is hereby given this 30th day of December, 2021, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

_____________________
Lance R. LeFleur,
Director

Nondiscrimination Statement: The Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in the administration of its programs.