99-24304. Notice of Availability of the Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the March 28, 1993, Colonial Pipeline Oil Spill Near Reston, Virginia

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 180 (Friday, September 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 50540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24304]



[[Page 50540]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Final Restoration Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for the March 28, 1993, Colonial Pipeline Oil 
Spill Near Reston, Virginia

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Restoration Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for the March 28, 1993, Colonial Pipeline Oil 
Spill near Reston, Virginia.

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SUMMARY: The Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for 
the March 28, 1993, Colonial Pipeline Oil Spill near Reston, Virginia, 
has been completed. Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations, the Trustees, representing the National Park Service, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Commonwealth of Virginia, and District of 
Columbia, in 1998 prepared and made available for a 30-day public 
review the Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for that 
Oil Spill (the EA). During the review period, the Trustees held a 
public meeting in Herndon, Virginia, to discuss the EA. See the notice 
of availability for the EA published in the Federal Register on October 
23, 1998 (63 FR 56939).
    Following the 30-day public availability period, the Trustees 
selected the preferred alternative, described in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 
of the EA, and determined that the implementation of the preferred 
alternative will not cause a significant environmental impact. See the 
notice of availability for the Decision Notice and Finding of No 
Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) published in the Federal Register on July 
20, 1999 (64 FR 38915). In making that selection and determination, the 
Trustees considered the information and analysis contained in the EA 
and the comments received during the 30-day public availability period. 
As a result, the Trustees adopted certain modifications to the 
preferred alternative. Those modifications are described in the Final 
Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment.
    The preferred alternative contains both primary and compensatory 
restoration actions. Natural recovery is the primary restoration action 
selected to return injured natural resources to their baseline 
conditions. A package of multiple compensatory restoration actions, 
including various wildlife habitat and recreational use enhancement 
projects, was selected to replace the interim loss of natural resource 
services. The goal of primary and compensatory restoration is to make 
the environment and the public whole for injuries to, or loss of, 
natural resources and services resulting from the oil spill. This 
follows on the 1998 judicial settlement resolving the Federal, State, 
and District claims for penalties and natural resource damages with the 
responsible party, Colonial Pipeline Company.

Supplementary Information: Requests for copies of the Final Restoration 
Plan and Environmental Assessment, or for any additional information, 
should be directed to Daniel Hamson, National Park Service, 
Environmental Quality Division, 1849 C Street, N.W. (Mail Stop 2749), 
Washington, D.C. 20240, Telephone: [phone].

    Dated: September 10, 1999.
Sharon Kliwinski,
Acting Associate Director, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science.
[FR Doc. 99-24304 Filed 9-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P