U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
Notice of availability.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), on behalf of the Department of the Interior (DOI), as the natural resource trustee, announces the release for public review of the Draft Natural Resource Damages Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (RP/EA) for the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (JHNWR). The Draft RP/EA presents a preferred alternative that compensates for impacts to natural resources caused by: (1) The release of oil at the JHNWR; and (2) the release of hazardous substances from the Publicker Industries Inc. National Priorities List Superfund Site. Natural resource damages received from the impacts from the release of oil and hazardous substances are being combined and used for restoration activities at the JHNWR.
Written comments must be submitted on or before November 27, 2006.
Copies of the RP/EA are available for review during office hours at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19153, and online at
Written comments or materials regarding the RP/EA should be sent to the State College address.
Melinda Turner, Environmental Contaminants Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Field Office, 315 South Allen Street, Suite 322, State College, Pennsylvania 16801. Interested parties may also call 814–234–4090 or e-mail
In July 2005, the DOI, acting as natural resource Trustee, reached a natural resource damages settlement in the amount of $865,000 for natural resource injuries associated with the discharge of oil that occurred on February 2, 2000, at the JHNWR. The discharge of oil and the remedial activities injured Service trust resources (migratory birds and Federal lands).
In addition, the DOI reached two settlement agreements between 1989 and 1996 for natural resource injuries associated with the Publicker Industries Inc. Superfund Site, located approximately 7 miles upstream from the JHNWR. Natural resource injuries associated with the Publicker Site included injuries to Service trust resources (migratory birds and anadromous fish) from the discharge of hazardous substances. Because of the similar resource injuries associated with the sites, an opportunity exists to combine the Sunoco settlement funds with those acquired from the settlements from the nearby Publicker Superfund Site to create a larger-scale restoration action. The combined funds available for restoration activities from the oil release and Publicker settlements total $1,523,845. Restoration projects proposed in the Draft RP/EA include wetland restoration at the JHNWR.
The RP/EA is being released in accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, (33 U.S.C.
The RP/EA describes and compares a reasonable number of habitat restoration alternatives. Restoration projects which provide similar services as those impacted by the release of oil and hazardous substances and coincide with the primary goals of the JHNWR are preferred. Based on an evaluation of the various restoration alternatives, the preferred alternative consists of removing filled material to restore freshwater tidal wetland at the JHNWR. Restoration of wetlands will compensate for injuries to natural resources, including migratory birds, migratory bird habitat, anadromous fish, and Federal lands.
Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment on the RP/EA. Copies of the RP/EA are available for review at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19153, and online at
The authority for this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, (33 U.S.C.