[Federal Register: May 14, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 94)]
[Notices]
[Page 26823-26824]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14my04-36]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7661-6]
Draft Physical Stream Assessment: A Review of Selected Protocols
for Use in the Clean Water Act Section 404 Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce; U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), Defense; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
Interior; Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Agriculture;
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of availability to review and comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Mitigation Action Plan signed
in December of 2002 by the Environmental Protection Agency, Department
of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of the Interior,
Department of Agriculture, and Department of Transportation, the
Federal Interagency Mitigation Workgroup (FIMW) commissioned the
preparation of a technical resource document to assist with stream
mitigation entitled: Physical Stream Assessment: A Review of Selected
Protocols for use in the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Program
(Stream Mitigation Compendium). The Stream Mitigation Compendium is
intended as a reference that can be consulted by regulatory agencies,
resource managers, and restoration ecologists in order to select,
adapt, or devise stream assessment methods appropriate for impact
assessment and mitigation of fluvial resources in the CWA Section 404
Program.
[[Page 26824]]
DATES: In order to be considered, comments must be postmarked or e-
mailed on or before June 28, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or by
hand delivery/courier. E-mail comments to mitigation@epa.gov. Please
put ``Stream Mitigation Compendium Comments'' in the Subject Line and
include your comments as an attachment to the email in either Word or
Wordperfect format. Mail or hand deliver/courier comments to: Palmer
Hough, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division (4502T),
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mitigation Action Plan Web site at
http://www.mitigationactionplan.gov or contact either Palmer Hough,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division (4502T), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, phone: (202) 566-1374,
e-mail: Hough.Palmer@epa.gov or Alan Miller, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, 441 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20314-1000, phone: (202)
761-7763, e-mail: Alan.J.Miller@hq02.usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reports published in 2001 by the National
Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the General Accounting Office (GAO)
provided a critical evaluation of the effectiveness of wetlands
compensatory mitigation for authorized losses of wetlands and other
waters under Section 404 of the CWA. Section 404 regulates discharges
of dredged and fill materials into waters of the United States and
requires compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts. The
independent analyses and other commentaries highlighted a number of
shortfalls and identified a variety of technical, programmatic, and
policy recommendations for the Federal agencies, States, and other
involved parties.
An interagency team drafted the National Mitigation Action Plan
endorsing the goal of no net loss of wetlands and outlining specific
action items that address the concerns of the NAS, GAO, and other
independent evaluations. The 17 actions, with various agency leads,
address areas of concern, including collection and availability of
data, clarifying performance standards, improving accountability, and
integrating mitigation into the watershed approach. Development of the
Stream Mitigation Compendium is one of these action items. The FIMW is
seeking public review before finalizing this document.
Please note that comments, including names and street addresses of
respondents, are available for public review in a docket. Copies of the
draft Stream Mitigation Compendium are available at the Mitigation
Action Plan Web site at http://www.mitigationactionplan.gov (Click on
``Status of Action Items'' and locate and click on ``Stream Mitigation
Compendium'' in the summary table). A printed copy of this document can
be obtained by contacting: Palmer Hough, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Wetlands Division (4502T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
Dated: May 10, 2004.
Benjamin H. Grumbles,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 04-10982 Filed 5-13-04; 8:45 am]
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