ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

GULF OF MEXICO

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 Deepwater Horizon Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) proposes ten projects for implementation included in a restoration plan titled “Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan 2 and Environmental Assessment: Fish, Sea Turtles, Marine Mammals, and Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities” (Draft RP2/EA). The TIG has determined that the ten proposals are consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (ACAMP) and has requested, in accordance with Title 15 C.F.R. Part 930 Subpart C, a review of the ten proposals pursuant to ADEM Administrative Code division 335-8. 

The ten proposals are:

1. Reduction of Post-Release Mortality from Barotrauma in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Reef Fish Recreational Fisheries.
2. Better Bycatch Reduction Devices for the GOM Commercial Shrimp Trawl Fishery.
3. Restoring for Bluefin Tuna via Fishing Depth Optimization.
4. Developing Methods to Detect Sea Turtle Bycatch in the GOM Menhaden Purse Seine Fishery.
5. Reducing Juvenile Sea Turtle Bycatch Through Development of Reduced Bar Spacing in Turtle Excluder Devices.
6. Developing a Gulf-wide Comprehensive Plan for In-water Sea Turtle Data Collection.
7. Reducing Impacts to Cetaceans During Disasters by Improving Response Activities.
8. Reduce Impacts of Anthropogenic Noise on Cetaceans.
9. Reduce and Mitigate Vessel Strike Mortality of Cetaceans.
10. Active Management and Protection (Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities). 

Any person wishing to make comments or provide additional information relative to the proposed federal action’s consistency with the ACAMP must submit such comments or information in writing 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-2019-212.

Alabama Department of Environmental Management
3664 Dauphin Street, Suite B
Mobile, Alabama  36608-1211

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 22nd day of May, 2019, 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.