[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9034]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 

Intent to Conduct a Public Meeting on the Preparation of a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Mullica River-Great Bay 
National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Jersey

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean 
Service, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and intent to prepare a draft 
environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972, as amended, the State of New Jersey and the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to conduct public 
scoping meetings to present a preliminary draft management plan outline 
for the proposed Mullica River-Great Bay National Estuarine Research 
Reserve and to solicit comments on significant issues related to the 
preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft 
Management Plan (DMP). THe DEIS and DMP will address research, 
monitoring, education and resource protection needs for the Reserve.
    In October 1993, NOAA approved the nomination of Mullica River-
Great Bay in New Jersey as a proposed research reserve. Research 
reserves provide natural coastal habitats as field laboratories for 
baseline ecological studies and education programs. Research and 
monitoring programs are designed to enhance basis scientific 
understanding of the coastal environment and aid in resource management 
decision making.
    The Mullica River-Great Bay Reserve is proposed to be managed by 
the Rutgers University, Institute of Marine and Coastal Science (IMCS) 
in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection and 
Energy's (DEPE) Office of Land and Water Planning. Since the 1970's, 
the Institute's marine field station at Tuckerton has been the site of 
some of the earliest east coast research on estuarine systems and 
continues to provide research and education opportunities for 
investigators from universities throughout the country to study coastal 
system dynamics. These research activities have generated biological 
and geological data that will be of immense value to furthering the 
long-term research and education goals of the Reserve.
    The Institute has developed a preliminary draft management plan 
outline for the Reserve which identifies specific needs and priorities 
related to research, monitoring, education, and resource protection at 
the approved site. It also outlines an administration plan, volunteer 
program and facilities development needs; public access, and visitor 
use policies.
    At the public meetings, DEPE, IMCS, and NOAA will provide a 
synopsis of the process for developing a DMP and will solicit comments 
on significant environmental issues that will be incorporated into a 
DEIS.
    The public meetings will be held from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and from 6 
p.m.-8 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 1994, at the Little Egg Harbor Township 
Hall, 7 Gifford Road, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey 08087.
    Interested parties who wish to submit suggestions, comments or 
substantive information regarding the scope or content of the proposed 
DEIS/DMP are invited to attend either of the above meetings. Parties 
who wish to respond in writing should do so by May 16, 1994, to Ms. 
Dolores Washington, Program Specialist, Sanctuaries and Reserves 
Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOAA, SSMC4, 
suite 12155, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Dolores Washington, Program Specialist, Sanctuaries and Reserves 
Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOAA, SSMC4, 
12155, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (Telephone 301/713-3132).

    Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.420 (Coastal Zone 
Management) Research Reserves.

    Dated: April 11, 1994.
Frank Maloney,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 94-9034 Filed 4-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M