[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 226 (Thursday, November 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 59221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29636]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Estuarine Research Reserve System; Public Meetings on 
Site Selection Process for Nomination of Candidate Site in Alaska

AGENCY: Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), 
National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings in Seldovia and Homer, Alaska, on the 
site selection process for the nomination of a candidate site for the 
National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972, as amended, the State of Alaska and the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intend to conduct public meetings 
on December 10 and 11, 1996, in Seldovia and Homer, Alaska, 
respectively, as part of NOAA's site selection process for the 
nomination of a candidate site for the National Estuarine Research 
Reserve (NERR) System.

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, December 10, 1996 at 6:30 p.m.

ADDRESS: Seldovia Library Building, Multi-purpose Room, 260 Seldovia 
Street, Seldovia, Alaska 99663.

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, December 11, 1996 at 7:00 p.m.

ADDRESS: Homer City Hall, City Council Chambers, 491 East Pioneer 
Avenue, Homer, Alaska 99603.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Moser, Alaska Department of Fish 
and Game, at (907) 267-2341, or Matt Menashes, Program Specialist, 
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource 
Management, NOAA, at (301) 713-3132, ext. 117.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NERR System is dedicated to fostering a 
system of estuarine reserves that represents the wide range of coastal 
and estuarine habitats found in the United States. NOAA has developed a 
classification scheme and typology of national estuarine areas that 
places the coastlines of the United States into biogeographic regions 
and subareas.
    Site selection criteria are based on ecological representativeness, 
value for research and education, and practical coastal management 
considerations. The site ultimately designated will be used by 
researchers, educators, and the general public to study estuarine 
ecology and coastal issues that can aid in coastal policy making and 
management decisions.
    During the past year, the State of Alaska, in consultation with 
NOAA, has undertaken a process to identify a site which adequately 
represents the major estuarine characteristics of Southcentral Alaskan 
coastal ecosystems. An estuary located in Southcentral Alaska would be 
the first site to represent the Fjord Biogeographic Region.
    After consideration of several possible sites along the 
Southcentral Alaska coast, the Southcentral Alaska National Estuarine 
Research Reserve Site Selection Committee has selected the Kachemak Bay 
area of Southcentral Alaska as its candidate site for nomination as a 
potential NERR. These public meetings are being held to provide details 
and solicit comments on this proposed site.
    At the public meetings, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will 
provide an overview of the national NERR Program; provide a summary of 
the Southcentral Alaska NERR initiative, including the site selection 
process and a description of the proposed site; and conduct an open 
question and answer period.
    Following the public meetings, a site nomination document will be 
developed based on existing research documents and literature, and 
comments received from NOAA, the Southcentral Alaska National Estuarine 
Research Reserve Site Selection Committee, and the general public. The 
final site selection document will then be sent to the Governor of 
Alaska for his approval. If approved, the Governor will forward the 
site selection package and a nomination letter to NOAA for approval. 
After NOAA approves the State's proposed site, a draft and final 
Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan must be prepared 
prior to final site designation.
    The public meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 
10, 1996, at the Seldovia Library Building, Seldovia, Alaska, and at 
7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 1996, at the Homer City Hall, 
Homer, Alaska.
    Interested parties who wish to comment on the site selection are 
invited to attend. For more information contact Janet Moser, Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game, at (907) 267-2341 or Matt Menashes, 
Program Specialist, Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, Office of Ocean 
and Coastal Resource Management, NOAA, at (301) 713-3132, ext. 117.

    Dated: October 29, 1996.

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.420 (Coastal Zone 
Management) Research Reserves
David L. Evans,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 96-29636 Filed 11-20-96; 8:45 am]
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