ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTY

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 (DWH) Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) 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 Open Ocean TIG has provided a draft restoration plan entitled "Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan 4 and Environmental Assessment: Fish and Water Column Invertebrates and Sea Turtles." The Restoration Plan identifies ten restoration projects proposed for implementation with five requiring a consistency determination. The proposed five projects requiring a consistency determination are 1) Return ‘Em Right: Species and Area Expansion (Reduction of Postrelease Mortality from Barotrauma in Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Recreational Fisheries); 2) Reduction of Diverse Threats to Fish and Water Column Invertebrates; 3) Communication, Adaptive Management, Planning and Integration; 4) Gulf-Wide Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction; and 5) Gulf-Wide Sea Turtle Stranding Network and Emergency Response Enhancements. The Open Ocean TIG has determined that these five projects are consistent with the enforceable policies of the Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (ACAMP) to the maximum extent practicable.

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-2025-014.

Mark Rainey
Mobile Branch Office
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
1615 South Broad St
Mobile, Alabama 36605
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 review and copying should be made in advance. These documents related to this proposed action and documents otherwise related to this facility also may be viewed at the Department’s eFile system located at http://app.adem.alabama.gov/eFile/ by selecting Media Area “Water,” entering “2025-014” in place of the “Permit Number,” and pressing Search.

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 http://www.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 and on the Department’s eFile system. Notice of the final decision will be sent to any person who requests such notice, in writing, during this comment period.

The Department maintains a list of interested individuals who are emailed legal notices regarding proposed permits. If you wish to receive such notices, please sign up at http://adem.alabama.gov by entering your email address on the left side of the page and clicking the submit button.

Notice is hereby given on this 6th day of November, 2024, 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.