[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 211 (Tuesday, October 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 64982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27944]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Restoration and Compensation 
Determination Plan, Lower Fox River/Green Bay Natural Resource Damage 
Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of 45-day comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is given that the ``Restoration and Compensation 
Determination Plan, [for the] Lower Fox River and Green Bay Natural 
Resource Damage Assessment'' is available for public review and 
comment. The public comment period started at a public meeting in Green 
Bay, Wisconsin on October 25, 2000. In addition, comments are being 
accepted on each of the following documents, released previously. 
``Fish Consumption Advisories in the Lower Fox River/Green Bay 
Assessment Area'' (November 24, 1998); ``Injuries to Avian Resources, 
Lower Fox River/Green Bay Natural Resource Damage Assessment'' (May 7, 
1999); ``PCB Pathway Determination for the Lower Fox River/Green Bay 
Natural Resource Damage Assessment'' (August 30, 1999); ``Recreational 
Fishing Damages from Fish Consumption Advisories in the Waters of Green 
Bay'' (November 1, 1999); ``Injuries to Surface Water Resources, Lower 
Fox River/Green Bay Natural Resource Damage Assessment'' (November 8, 
1999); and ''Injuries to Fishery Resources, Lower Fox River/Green Bay 
Natural Resource Damage Assessment'' (November 8, 1999).
    The U.S. Department of the Interior (``Department''), the U.S. 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Menominee Indian 
Tribe of Wisconsin, the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, the 
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and the Michigan Attorney-
General are acting as co-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 assessment, including the activities addressed in this 
restoration and compensation determination plan, is being conducted 
pursuant to the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Regulations found at 
43 CFR Part 11. The public review of the restoration and compensation 
determination plan announced by this Notice is provided for in 43 CFR 
11.81(d)(1).
    Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment 
on the restoration and compensation determination plan, and on the 
published assessment results listed in the notice. Copies of the 
restoration and compensation determination plan, the published 
assessment results listed in this notice, and the ''Assessment Plan: 
Lower Fox River/Green Bay NRDA'' (``The Plan'') issued on August 23, 
1996 (FR Doc. 96-21520), can be requested from the address listed 
below. The Restoration and Compensation Determination Plan does not 
represent final determination or claim for damages. The participating 
co-trustees may revise the Restoration and Compensation Determination 
Plan in response to issues raised during the comment period. All 
written comments will be considered and included in the Report of 
Assessment at the conclusion of the assessment process and the 
participating co-trustees will make the final determination for the 
assessment.

DATES: Written comments on the restoration and compensation 
determination plan and the published assessment results listed in this 
notice must be submitted on or before December 15, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The restoration and compensation determination plan, as well 
as the other documents listed in this notice, can be accessed online 
through the Internet at the following website: http://midwest.fws.gov/nrda/. Written requests for paper copies, or copies on compact disk, 
may be made to: David Allen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1015 
Challenger Court, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this natural resource damage 
assessment is to confirm and quantify injuries to natural resources, 
resultant economic damages, and the natural resource restoration 
necessary to address those injuries in the Lower Fox River, Green Bay, 
and Lake Michigan environment resulting from exposure to 
polychlorinated biphenyls released by Fox River, Wisconsin paper mills. 
The injury and required restoration are assessed under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 
as amended, and the Clean Water Act, as amended.

William F. Hartwig,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 00-27944 Filed 10-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M