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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Ocean Service (NOS) 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 NOAA proposes to continue NOS data collection projects, which will take place in the 2023 to 2027 timeframe, in the U.S. territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, U.S. rivers, and states’ offshore waters, and some supporting activities in coastal and riparian lands. Projects may include surveys performed from crewed vessels and remotely operated or autonomous vehicles; the use of echo sounders and other active acoustic equipment; the employment of other equipment including bottom samplers and conductivity, temperature, and depth instruments; and supporting activities such as the use of divers and the installation of tide buoys. Terrestrial activities would involve the installation, maintenance, and removal of tide gauges and GPS reference stations. For those activities proposed to take place within the Alabama Coastal Zone, the NOAA’s NOS has determined that the proposed activities are 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-2022-432.

Sarila Mickle
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 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 the application number 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 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 this 7th day of September, 2022, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

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.