[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19978-19979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10248]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Estuarine Research Reserve System

AGENCY: Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal 
Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of approval and availability of revision to the final 
revised management plan for the Apalachicola National Estuaries 
Research Reserve, 1999-2004.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, 
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, has approved the 
revised Management Plan for the Apalachiocola National Estuarine 
Research Reserve (ANERR). The ANERR was designated in 1979 and has been 
operating under a Management Plan approved on August 27, 1993. Pursuant 
to section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1461, and 
921.33(c) of the implementing regulations, a state must revise its 
management plan at least every five years, or more often if necessary. 
This revision is Florida's effort to comply with this requirement.
    The revisions to the ANERR Management Plan include:
    1. The revised management plan expands the Reserve boundaries from 
193,758 acres to a total of 246,766 acres. The newly incorporated lands 
were previously described in the 1993 ANERR. Management Plan Revision 
as proposed areas for boundary expansion. The Florida Game and Fresh 
Water Fish Commission (GFC) amended an existing Memorandum Of 
Understanding with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection 
(DEP) which adds 17,521 acres to Reserve boundaries. This addition 
extends the floodplain portion of the Reserve to the east and west. The 
expansion also includes 34,487 of Northwest Florida Water Management 
District (NWFWMD) floodplain lands bordering the Reserve's northern 
boundary. The inclusion of these lands expands the Reserve to Mile 
Marker 52 on the Apalachicola River. The lands and waters of the 
Reserve are all contiguous and the boundary expansion affords the 
Reserve considerably more influence in river basin issues.
    The management plan revision places seven small but important 
tracts totaling 419 acres under ANERR's management. As a result, the 
Reserve now has lead-role management on 21,480 of the 246,766 acres. 
The remainder is managed under Cooperative Agreements with GFC and 
NWFWMD.
    2. The revised management plan includes the addition of three 
permanent state positions to the ANERR staff; one each in research, 
education and resource management. There has also been an increase in 
state support for temporary employees.
    3. Under a NOAA matching grant, the ANERR has constructed a new 
Administrative/Research facility. The 8,000 square foot building has 
4,000 square feet of office space, a 1,000 square foot laboratory and 
3,000 square feet of maintenance shop.
    4. The revised management plan demonstrates continued strong 
support from the Florida DEP and NOAA for research, monitoring and 
education programs. The Resource Management section of the management 
plan describes the Reserve's expanded role in the management of upland 
resources. ANERR staff will now be involved with prescribed burning, 
dump-site cleanup, opening lands to the public and exotic plant 
control.
    Copies of the document can be obtained from the Apalachicola 
National Estuarine Research Reserve, 350 Carroll Street, Eastpoint, 
Florida 32368. (850) 670-4783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathalie Peter, OCRM, Estuarine 
Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor (N/ORM5), Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910. (301) 713-3132, Extension 119.

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


[[Page 19979]]


    Dated: April 14, 1999.
Ted Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 99-10248 Filed 4-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M