Assateague Island National Seashore NPS

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL: NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW IN REPLY REFER TO: L7617 (4190) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Assateague Island National Seashore 7206 National Seashore Lane Berlin, MD 21811 Alternative Energy Program Rulemaking Draft Environmental Assessment Branch Chief, Environmental Assessment Branch Minerals Management Service, Mail Stop 4042 381 Elden Street Herndon, VA 20170 Dear Mr. Bennett: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Alternative Energy Program Rulemaking Draft Environmental Assessment. The Assateague Island National Seashore respectfully requests the following citation be added to the list of laws applicable to the issuance of Alternative Energy and Alternate Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf on page 15 of the Federal Compliance for the Leasing Process section, Table 1. Federal Legal Authorities Relevant to Activities on the OCS: Public Law 94-578 (Section 301, October 21, 1976) amending the organic legislation for Assateague Island National Seashore includes a provision requiring that: “Not withstanding any other provision of law, no federal loan, grant, license, or other form of assistance for any project which would significantly adversely affect the administration, use, and environmental quality of the seashore shall be made, issued, or approved by the head of any Federal agency without first consulting with the Secretary [of the Interior] to determine whether or not such project is consistent with the plan developed pursuant to this section and allowing him at least thirty days to comment in writing on such proposed action.” We believe this provision should be specifically noted in the final document as a condition of any future actions associated with alternative energy development and production and alternate use of facilities on the outer continental shelf in proximity to and with potential to affect Assateague Island National Seashore. Please see the attached map and detailed comments. Sincerely, /s/ Scott J. Bentley SIGNED ORIGINAL ON FILE Scott J. Bentley Superintendent Enclosures (See attached file: Alt Energy Exclusion Zone.pdf)(See attached file: ASIS comments - DEIS.doc) Scott J. Bentley Superintendent Assateague Island National Seashore 7206 National Seashore Lane Berlin, MD 21811 410-641-1443 x209 phone 410-641-1099 fax "He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Jim Elliott, 1948