95-20637. Natural Resource Damage Assessments

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 22, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 43574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20637]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 990


Natural Resource Damage Assessments

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: Section 1006(e)(1) of the Oil Pollution Act requires the 
President, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 
and Atmosphere, to promulgate regulations for the assessments of 
natural resources damages resulting from the discharge of oil. The 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed those 
regulations on August 3, 1995 (60 FR 39804). NOAA wishes to announce a 
Conference on the Proposed Rule for the Natural Resources Damage 
Assessment Provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, that will be 
held in two locations: in Washington, DC on August 30-31, 1995 and in 
San Francisco, California on September 6-7, 1995. The regulations have 
been significantly revised in response to comments received on the 
January 7, 1994 proposed rule. These meetings are designed to encourage 
discussion on the proposed rule and NOAA's new approach to natural 
resource damage assessment. For more information or to register for one 
of the Conference locations, please contact the conference coordinator 
at the telephone number below.

DATES: The meetings will be held August 30-31, 1995 in Washington, DC 
and September 6-7, 1995 in San Francisco, California.

ADDRESSES: The August 30-31 meeting will be held at the U.S. Department 
of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Bldg., Main Auditorium, 14th & 
Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The September 6-7 meeting will 
be held at Fort Mason Center, Landmark Building C 2nd Floor, Room 215, 
San Francisco, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Chapman, Conference Coordinator, Damage Assessment Center, 
telephone [phone], Ext. 200; FAX [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), 33 
U.S.C. 2701 et seq., provides for the prevention of, liability for, 
removal of, and compensation for the discharge, or substantial threat 
of discharge, of oil into or upon the navigable waters of the United 
States, adjoining shorelines, or the Exclusive Economic Zone. Section 
1006(e) requires the President, acting through the Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, to develop regulations establishing 
procedures for natural resource trustees to use in the assessment of 
damages for injury to, destruction of, loss of, or loss of use of 
natural resources covered by OPA. Section 1006(b) provides for the 
designation of federal, state, Indian tribe and foreign natural 
resource trustees to determine resource injuries, assess natural 
resource damages (including the reasonable costs of assessing damages), 
present a claim, recover damages, and develop and implement a plan for 
the restoration, rehabilitation, replacement, or acquisition of the 
equivalent of the injured natural resources under their trusteeship.
    NOAA will hold a Conference on the Proposed Rule for the Natural 
Resource Damage Assessment provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
in two locations: in Washington, DC on August 30-31, 1995 and in San 
Francisco, California on September 6-7, 1995. The first day of the 
Conference, from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, will be devoted to a presentation 
and explanation of the rule, ending with an initial question and answer 
session regarding specific issues relevant to the rule. The second day, 
from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, will continue the question and answer session 
and will use two panel discussions to highlight specific aspects of 
restoration in the new rule. Topics include restoration of natural 
resources and their associated ecological and human services, focusing 
on the implications of the proposed rule and restoration techniques, 
methodologies, and case studies featuring successful projects.
    These meetings are open to the public. Those with a direct interest 
in the assessment process are encouraged to attend, including 
representatives of industry, environmental groups, government agencies 
and the public. A synopsis of each meeting will be prepared and 
included in the administrative record of the rulemaking process.

    Dated: August 16, 1995.
Terry D. Garcia,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 95-20637 Filed 8-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3520-12-M