[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 57448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28562]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability, Joint Environmental Assessment and
Restoration Plan
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), on behalf of the
Department of the Interior and States of Indiana and Ohio, announces
the release for public review of the draft Joint Environmental
Assessment and Restoration Plan (Plan) for the Fish Creek #2 Diesel
Fuel Spill. The Plan covers the co-trustees' proposal to restore
natural resources injured as a result of the 1993 Fish Creek spill. A
public information meeting addressing the plan will be held on November
14, 1996, in Edgerton, Ohio.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 16,
1996.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Plan may be made to: U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 620 South Walker Street,
Bloomington, Indiana 47403-2121.
Written comments or materials regarding the Plan should be sent to
the same address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David C. Hudak, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 620
South Walker Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47403-2121 (Attention:
Environmental Contaminants Program).
Interested parties may also call (812) 334-4261 for further
information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 15, 1993, a pipeline ruptured
and discharged approximately 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel that flowed
into Fish Creek, in DeKalb County, Indiana, and spread into Williams
County, Ohio. Fish Creek, which is located in northeastern Indiana,
northwestern Ohio, and portions of southwest Michigan, supports a
diverse mussel fauna. At least 30 species of mussels are known to exist
in the watershed. Fish Creek is the only place in the world that the
white cat's paw pearly mussel (Epioblasma obliquata perobliqua), a
Federally-listed endangered mussel, is known to exist. Fish Creek also
is known to harbor two other Federally-listed endangered mussel
species, the northern riffleshell (Epioblasma rangiana) and the
clubshell (Pleurobema clava). Several state-listed endangered mussels
also occur in the affected reaches of Fish Creek. Following the spill,
mortality of mammals, migratory birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and
mussels was observed in the spill plume are of Fish Creek.
In 1996, the United States of America, the State of Indiana, and
the State of Ohio settled claims for natural resource damages
associated with the 1993 Fish Creek oil spill under authority of the
Oil Pollution Act. The settlement proceeds shall be used to compensate
for injury, destruction, or loss of natural resources under trusteeship
of the Department of the Interior, State of Indiana, and State of Ohio.
The Plan is being released in accordance with the Natural Resource
Damage Assessment Regulations found at 15 CFR, part 990. It is intended
to describe the co-trustees' proposals to restore natural resources
lost as a result of this spill.
Restoration efforts will include the combination of protection and
enhancement activities that have the greatest potential to restore the
natural resources of Fish Creek to pre-spill conditions, with
particular emphasis on the endangered mussels. The Plan focuses: (1) on
increased endangered mussel recovery efforts; (2) water quality
improvement; (3) riparian corridor protection; (4) community outreach
and education; and, (5) monitoring to determine if the selected
restoration actions are successful.
Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment
on the Plan. Copies of the Plan are available for review at the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service's Ecological Services Field Office in
Bloomington, Indiana (620 South Walker Street, Bloomington, Indiana);
the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (402 West Washington, Room
273, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2748); the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (2525 North Shadeland Avenue, Room 202,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6015); the Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency (P.O. Box 1049, 1800 Watermark Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049
or the Northwest District Office, 347 North Dunbridge Road, Bowling
Green, Ohio 43402); and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (1930
Belcher Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43224-1387). Additionally, the Plan will
be available for review at the following community libraries: Angola,
Indiana; Auburn, Indiana; Bryan, Ohio; Butler, Indiana; Edgerton, Ohio;
Edon, Ohio; and Fremont, Indiana.
An informational meeting, open to the public, will be held to
explain the Plan, provide information, receive written comments, and to
answer any questions. The meeting will be held at the Miller Park
Shelter House, Miller Park Drive, Edgerton, Ohio on November 14, 1996,
from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Written comments will be considered and addressed
in the final Plan at the conclusion of the restoration planning
process.
William F. Hartwig,
Regional Director, Region 3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 96-28562 Filed 11-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
