[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38520-38521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18999]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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 Meeting and Intent to Prepare a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and 
with section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as 
amended, the State of Mississippi and the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intend to conduct a public scoping 
meeting on the proposed Mississippi National Estuarine Research Reserve 
(NERR) 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.

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, August 6, 1997 at 6:00 p.m.

ADDRESS: East Jackson County Community Center, 9313 Old Stage Road, 
Pascagoula, Mississippi 39581.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Mitchell, Coastal Ecology 
Division, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, at (601) 385-
5860; Mark W. LaSalle, Mississippi State University Coastal Research 
and Extension Center (601) 388-4710; or Nathalie Peter, Sanctuaries and 
Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 
NOAA, at (301) 713-3132, ext. 119.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 1997, NOAA approved the nomination 
of Grand Bay/Bangs Lake estuary complex as a proposed National 
Estuarine 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 scientific understanding of the coastal environment and aid in 
resource management decision making.
    The proposed Mississippi NERR is the Grand Bay/Bangs Lake estuary 
complex located in southeast Jackson County Mississippi. It encompasses 
approximately 15,000 acres of estuarine tidal marsh, shallow-water open 
bay, wet pine savanna, and coastal swamp habitats. Approximately 9,600 
acres are state-owned estuarine marsh and shallow-bay bottoms that are 
currently recognized as the Grand Bay Estuarine Preserve. The remaining 
5,400 acres are largely wet pine savanna that are part of the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Grand Bay Savanna National Wildlife 
Refuge.
    The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Mississippi State 
University Coastal Research and Extension Center (MSU) have developed a 
preliminary draft management plan outline for the NERR which will 
identify specific needs and priorities related to research, monitoring, 
education, and resource protection at the proposed site. It also 
outlines an administrative plan, volunteer program and facilities 
development needs, public access, and visitor use policies.

[[Page 38521]]

    At the public meetings, DMR, MSU, 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 meeting will be held in Pascagoula, Mississippi, at the 
East Jackson County Community Center, 9313 Old Stage Road, on August 6, 
1997, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
    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 the above meeting. Parties who wish to 
respond in writing should do so by August 21, 1997, to Jerry Mitchell, 
Coastal Ecology Division, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, 
192 Gateway Drive, Biloxi, MS 39531, or Nathalie Peter, NOAA 
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway N/ORM2, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.

    Dated: July 11, 1997.
Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.420 (Coastal Zone 
Management) Research Reserves

Jeffrey R. Benoit,
Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 97-18999 Filed 7-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P