Notice of Availability, Oil Spill Restoration Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability, Oil Spill 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) announces the

release of the draft Nestucca Oil Spill Restoration Plan (Plan) for

public review. The Plan covers the Service proposal to restore natural

resources injured as a result of the 1988 Nestucca barge oil spill. A

public information meeting addressing the plan will be held on March

15, 1994, in Ocean Shores, WA.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 28, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Plan may be made to: U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 3704 Griffin Lane SE., suite

102, Olympia, Washington 98501-2192.

Written comments or materials regarding the Plan should be sent to

the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David C. Frederick, State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

3704 Griffin Lane SE, suite 102, Olympia, Washington 98501-2192,

(Attention: Environmental Contaminants Program).

Interested parties may also call (206) 753-9440 for further

information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 22, 1988, the tug, Ocean

Service, collided with the barge, Nestucca, which spilled more than

230,000 gallons of No. 6 fuel oil into the Pacific Ocean near Grays

Harbor, Washington. Shorelines were oiled within Grays Harbor and along

110 miles of the Washington State coast north of Grays Harbor,

including portions of Olympic National Park and five National Wildlife

Refuges. Oil also reached south to Oregon State and north to Vancouver

Island, British Columbia. More than 13,000 oiled migratory birds were

recovered by wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations, of which,

approximately 1,000 survived the oiling and rehabilitation process and

were released. Estimates of actual migratory bird mortality from the

spill range from 4 to 6 times the 13,000 oiled birds collected.

In 1991, the United States of America settled claims for natural

resource damages associated with 1988 Nestucca oil spill under the

authority of the Clean Water Act. The settlement proceeds shall be used

to compensate for injury, destruction, or loss of natural resources

within the Department of the Interior's trusteeship. The Plan is being

released in accordance with the natural resource damage assessment

regulations found at 43 CFR, part 11. It is intended to describe

Service proposals to restore natural resources lost as a result of this

spill. Restoration efforts will focus on migratory birds, primarily

common murres (Uria aalge).

The Plan focuses on determining what factors are most important in

regulating common murre survival and reproduction in Washington and

diminishing human perturbations at Oregon and Washington seabird

colonies. The following actions are proposed: (1) Educate pilots,

boaters, fishermen, and other visitors to the Washington and Oregon

coasts and National Wildlife Refuges about protected wildlife resources

in these areas and explain the reasons for, and methods of minimizing

disturbance to seabirds and other wildlife; (2) delineate and describe

seabird mortality resulting from the incidental take of seabirds in

Washington net fisheries and identify and implement measures to reduce

the mortality; (3) improve habitat conditions for burrow nesting

seabirds by eradicating the introduced European rabbit (Oryctolagus

cuniculus) from Destruction Island; and (4) monitor common murre

attendance at Washington breeding colonies to determine if the selected

restoration actions are successful, and to identify how the survival

and reproductive success of common murres and other seabirds at these

colonies is being impacted. These impacts may be addressed through

future restoration actions.

Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment

on the Plan and to provide additional alternatives. In Washington,

copies are available for review at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's

Ecological Services Field Office in Olympia (3704 Griffin Lane SE.,

suite 102, Olympia, Washington), the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

office (100 Brown Farm Road, Olympia, Washington), the Washington

Coastal Refuges office (33 South Barr Road, Port Angeles, Washington),

and the following Washington State community libraries: Port Angeles,

Sequim, Forks, Clallum Bay, Ocean Shores, Port Townsend, Port Hadlock,

Olympia, Aberdeen, Westport, Hoquiam, and Raymond. In Oregon, copies

are available for review at the Hatfield Marine Science Center Library

in Newport and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office in

Portland (911 NE 11th Avenue).

An informational meeting, open to the public, will be held to

explain the Plan, provide information, and to answer any questions. The

meeting will be held at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, Mezzanine

Room 1, 120 West Chance Ala Mer, Ocean Shores, Washington; on March 15,

1994, from 7 to 9 pm. All written and public meeting comments will be

considered and addressed in the final Plan at the conclusion of the

restoration planning process.

Dated: February 1, 1994.

Marvin Plenert,

Regional Director, Region 1, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 94-3131 Filed 2-9-94; 8:45 am]

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