[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8258-8260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4462]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-591); 
Section 4(c)--5-Year Review and Modification to the Coastal Barrier 
Resources System as a Result of Natural Forces

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of modifications to 28 units of the Coastal Barrier 
Resources System.

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SUMMARY: The Coastal Barrier Improvement Act requires the Secretary of 
the Interior to review the maps of the Coastal Barrier Resources System 
(System) at least once every 5 years and make any minor and technical 
modifications to the boundaries of System units that the Secretary 
determines are necessary to reflect changes occurring as a result of 
natural forces. This notice announces the findings of the review of the 
System.

DATES: Changes to the System become final on February 24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Revised maps of System units affected by this review are 
available for purchase from the U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Science 
Information Center, P.O. Box 25286, Denver, Colorado 80225. Official 
maps can be viewed at Fish and Wildlife Service offices listed in the 
appendix.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Denise Henne, Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Division of Habitat Conservation, (703) 358-2201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Resources 
Act of 1982, as amended by the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act, 
established the Coastal Barrier Resources System as referred to and 
adopted by Congress. Section 4(c) states the Secretary of the Interior 
shall conduct a review of the System at not less than 5-year intervals 
and make, in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, and local 
officials, any necessary minor and technical modifications to unit 
boundaries to reflect changes caused by natural forces. Secretarial 
Order 3093

[[Page 8259]]

delegated responsibility for Section 4 to the Fish and Wildlife Service 
on April 28, 1983.
    The Service contracted with the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration to photograph all units of the System in 1992 and 1993 
using infra-red photography at a scale of 1:65,000. Photographs of 
units were enlarged to 1:12,000 and 1:24,000 and overlayed with mylar 
sheets depicting unit boundaries. The photographs were compared with 
the topographic maps depicting the units of the System, as approved by 
Congress in 1990, to determine if changes had occurred due to natural 
forces.
    Upon completion of this review and consultation, as appropriate, 28 
units of the System were found to have changed due to natural forces. 
These units were as follows:

Maine
    ME-17--Small Point Beach
    ME-18--Stover Point
Massachusetts
    MA-03--Castle Neck
    C01B-Brace Cove
    MA-20P--Nauset Beach/Monomoy
    MA-24--Naushon Island Complex
    C28--South Beach
    C31--Elizabeth Islands
Rhode Island
    D02B--Prudence Island Complex
New York
    NY-04P--Prospect Point
    NY-50--Fresh Pond
    F10--Napeague
New Jersey
    NJ-09--Stone Harbor
Maryland
    MD-03--Sound Shore
    MD-37P--Flag Ponds
    MD-38--Cove Point Marsh
Virginia
    VA-09--Elliotts Creek
    VA-23--Simpson Bend
    VA-36--Presley Creek
North Carolina
    L07--Lea Island Complex
    L09--Masonboro Island
Florida
    P16--Keewaydin Island
    P17--Lovers Key Complex
    FL-89--Peninsula Point
FL-99--Tom King
    FL-101--Garcon Point
Alabama
    Q01A--Pelican Island
U.S. Virgin Islands
    VI-07--Great Pond

    Copies of the official System maps reflecting the boundary 
modifications have been filed with the House of Representatives 
Committee on Resources and the Committee on Banking and Financial 
Services, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. 
Copies of these maps have been distributed to the Chief Executive 
Officer (or representative) of each appropriate Federal, State, or 
local agency having jurisdiction over an area in which a modified unit 
is located. Copies of the maps are also available for inspection 
through the Service's Regional and Field Offices. The aerial 
photography of the units is available in certain Field Offices (see 
addresses in appendix).

Coastal Barrier Resources System Revised Maps

    The Service has made the following revisions to System units, as 
required by Section 4(c) of Public Law 101-591:

Maine

    ME-17--Small Point Beach. The unit has been expanded to include the 
mouth of Sprague River, which has migrated outside of the original unit 
boundary.
    ME-18--Stover Point. The south boundary has been modified to 
include both sides of the entrance to the embayment, plus the 
associated aquatic habitat.

Massachusetts

    MA-03--Castle Neck. The south boundary at the entrance to Essex Bay 
has been moved to incorporate the expanded barrier.
    C01B--Brace Cove. The boundary has been expanded to include all of 
Brace Cove and the associated aquatic habitat.
    MA-20P--Nauset Beach/Monomoy. The south end of Nauset Beach has 
eroded away, with part of the barrier retreating onto Morris Island. 
The boundary has been moved onto Morris Island to incorporate this 
change.
    MA-24--Naushon Island Complex. A narrow barrier now connects the 
West Beach and Crescent Beach segments of this unit. Wetlands have 
developed between the barrier and Westend Pond. The unit has been 
expanded to include the connecting barrier, associated aquatic habitat, 
and Westend Pond.
    C28--South Beach. The dune line has moved inland and out of the 
unit on most of the peninsulas connecting the bays in the unit. The 
unit has been expanded to include all of the dune formations.
    C31--Elizabeth Islands. Narrow barriers have developed outside of 
two segments of the unit on Pasque Island. The boundaries have been 
moved to include these barriers and associated aquatic habitat.

Rhode Island

    D02B--Prudence Island Complex. A narrow barrier now connects the 
two segments on Coggeshall Cove, Prudence Island. The boundary has been 
expanded to connect the two segments and include the associated aquatic 
habitat.

New York

    NY-04P--Prospect Point. The barrier has expanded north to Prospect 
Point. This expansion plus the associated aquatic habitat have been 
added to the unit.
    NY-50--Fresh Pond. The mouth of the south pond has migrated outside 
of the unit. The unit has been expanded to include this area.
    F10--Napeague. The head of the spit at the mouth of Napeague Harbor 
is outside of the unit. The unit has been expanded to include the 
entire spit.

New Jersey

    NJ-09--Stone Harbor. A substantial shoal has developed at the mouth 
of Hereford Inlet, much of which is outside the unit. The unit has been 
expanded to include all of this sand-sharing system.

Maryland

    MD-03--Sound Shore. The barrier has expanded across a creek to the 
south of the unit. The unit has been expanded to include all of the 
barrier plus the associated aquatic habitat.
    MD-37P--Flag Ponds. The barrier has expanded to the south, outside 
of the unit. The unit has been expanded to include all of the barrier 
plus the associated aquatic habitat.
    MD-38--Cove Point Marsh. The barrier at the north end of the unit 
has receded behind the boundary and no longer has associated aquatic 
habitat. The unit boundary has been adjusted to exclude this open-water 
area.

Virginia

    VA-09--Elliotts Creek. The barrier has expanded to the south. The 
unit has been modified to include all of the barrier and the associated 
aquatic habitat.
    VA-23--Simpson Bend. France and Little Back Creeks are now 
connected by a barrier. The unit has been expanded to include all of 
the barrier and the associated aquatic habitat.
    VA-36--Presley Creek. The mouth of the creek has migrated outside 
of the unit. The boundary has been modified to include the mouth of the 
creek.

North Carolina

    L07--Lea Island Complex. The spit on the south side of Rich Inlet 
is prograding and is no longer completely within the unit. The unit has 
been expanded to include the entire spit and associated aquatic 
habitat.

[[Page 8260]]

    L09--Masonboro Island. The spit on the north side of Masonboro 
Inlet has prograded outside of the unit. The unit boundary has been 
adjusted to include all of the undeveloped portion of the spit and 
associated aquatic habitat.

Florida

    P16--Keewaydin Island. A substantial shoal has developed outside of 
the unit at the mouth of Big Marco Pass. The boundary has been adjusted 
to include this sand-sharing area.
    P17--Lovers Key Complex. A barrier is developing outside of the 
unit on the north side of Big Carlos Pass. The unit boundary has been 
adjusted to include this area.
    FL-89--Peninsula Point. The peninsula is prograding to the north 
across the mouth of Alligator Harbor. The unit has been expanded to 
include all of the peninsula and the associated aquatic habitat.
    FL-99--Tom King. The spit has accreted to the north of the unit. 
The unit boundary has been adjusted to include all of the spit and 
associated aquatic habitat.
    Fl-101--Garcon Point. The secondary barrier has expanded northward 
on the East Bay side of the unit. The unit has been expanded to include 
the barrier and the associated aquatic habitat.

Alabama

    Q01A--Pelican Island. The island is prograding across Pelican 
Passage toward Dauphin Island. The boundary has been adjusted to 
include all of Pelican Island, the secondary barrier developing on 
Dauphin Island behind Pelican Island, and all associated aquatic 
habitat.

U.S. Virgin Islands

    VI-07--Great Pond. The barrier has expanded to the south of Great 
Pond. The unit has been expanded to include the barrier and associated 
aquatic habitat.

                                 Appendix--Location of Maps Available for Review                                
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               U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service                               States of jurisdiction              
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                      Regional Offices                                                                          
                                                                                                                
Regional Director, Region 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife          North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Virgin Islands.  
 Service, 75 Spring St. SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, (404)                                                       
 331-3580.                                                                                                      
Regional Director, Region 5, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service,  Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New  
 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, Massachusetts 01035-      Jersey, Maryland, Virginia.                       
 9589, (413) 253-8200.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                
                       Field Offices                                                                            
                                                                                                                
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 22 Bridge  Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island.                
 St., Concord, NH 03301-4986, (603) 225-1411.                                                                   
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3817       New York.                                          
 Luker Road, Cortland, NY 13045, (607) 753-9334.                                                                
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 927 N.     New Jersey.                                        
 Main St., Bldg. D-1, Pleasantville, NJ, 08232, (609) 646-                                                      
 0620.                                                                                                          
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 177        Maryland.                                          
 Admiral Cochrane Dr., Annapolis, MD, 21401, (410) 573-4500.                                                    
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mid        Virginia.                                          
 County Center, U.S. Route 17, White Marsh, VA 23183, (804)                                                     
 693-6694.                                                                                                      
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 551-F      North Carolina.                                    
 Pylon Dr., Raleigh, NC 27636-3726, (919) 856-4520.                                                             
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1360 U.S.  Florida: Lee & Collier Counties.                   
 Highway 1, Vero Beach, FL 32961, (407) 562-3909.                                                               
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1612 June  Florida: Franklin & Santa Rosa Counties.           
 Ave., Panama City, FL 32405-3721, (904) 769-0552.                                                              
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2001       Alabama.                                           
 Highway 98, Daphne, AL 36526, (334) 441-5181.                                                                  
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box   U.S. Virgin Islands.                               
 491, Boqueron, PR 00622, (809) 851-7297.                                                                       
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    Dated: January 28, 1997.
John G. Rogers,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4462 Filed 2-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M