[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 61341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30094]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Assessment Plan: Grand Calumet River, Indiana Harbor Ship Canal, 
Indiana Harbor and Associated Lake Michigan Environments; Notice of 
Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is given that the public comment period for the 
document titled ``Assessment Plan: Grand Calumet River, Indiana Harbor 
Ship Canal, Indiana Harbor and Associated Lake Michigan Environments'' 
is extended for 30 days. Initial notice of availability was published 
on October 14, 1997 with a deadline for submittal of comments of 
November 13, 1997. This notice extends the comment period until 30 days 
from the date of publication in the Federal Register.
    The U.S. Department of the Interior, and the State of Indiana 
(``trustees'') are trustees for natural resources considered in this 
assessment, pursuant to subpart G of the National Oil and Hazardous 
Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, 40 CFR 300.600 and 300.610, and 
Executive Order 12580.
    The trustees are following the guidance of the Natural Resource 
Damage Assessment Regulations found at 43 CFR Part 11. The public 
review of the Plan announced by this Notice is provided for in 43 CFR 
11.32(c).
    Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment 
on the Plan. Copies of the Plan can be requested from the address 
listed below. All written comments will be considered by the trustees 
and included in the Report of Assessment, at the conclusion of the 
assessment process.

DATES: Written comments on the Plan must be submitted on or before 
December 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Plan may be made to: Supervisor, 
Ecological Services Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 620 S. 
Walker Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47403
        or:
    Ms. Elizabeth Admire, Indiana Department of Environmental 
Management, 100 N. Senate Avenue, P.O. Box 6015, Indianapolis, Indiana 
46206-6015.
    Comments on the Plan should be sent to the Indiana Department of 
Environmental Management at the address listed above. The trustees will 
coordinate comment review.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The trustees are undertaking an assessment 
of damages resulting from the suspected injury to natural resources of 
the Grand Calumet River, Indiana Harbor Ship Canal, Indiana Harbor and 
Associated Lake Michigan Environments which have been exposed to 
hazardous substances released by area steel mills, refineries and other 
potential sources. It is suspected that this exposure has caused injury 
and resultant damages to trustee resources. The injury and resultant 
damages will be assessed under the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, and the Clean 
Water Act, as amended. The Plan addresses the trustees' overall 
assessment approach and utilizes existing data. Plan addenda may be 
prepared by the trustees to provide public notice of additional data 
collection activities.
William F. Hartwig,
Regional Director, Region 3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 97-30094 Filed 11-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M