[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44501-44502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21083]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Federal Approval of Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean 
Service.

ACTION: Notice of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
National Ocean Service's approval of Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal 
Program pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended 
16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA) approved Minnesota's Lake Superior 
Coastal Program (MLSCP) on July 6, 1999, pursuant to the provisions of 
section 306 of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as 
amended, 16 U.S.C. 1455 (CZMA). The MLSCP is described in Minnesota's 
Lake Superior Coastal Program and Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(P/FEIS) published in June, 1999.
    Minnesota is the 33rd state to receive Federal approval of its 
coastal management program. Minnesota submitted a proposed coastal 
program to NOAA in July, 1998. Upon reaching a preliminary decision 
that the program met the requirements of the CZMA, and in order to meet 
its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act, NOAA 
published Minnesota's Statement (P/DEIS) for public review on August 7, 
1998. NOAA published the P/FEIS including public comments on the P/DEIS 
and responses to those comments on June 4, 1999. NOAA has also 
fulfilled its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act through 
consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
    The MLSCP is the culmination of several years of development by the 
State of Minnesota, interest groups, the general public, Federal 
agencies, and in consultation with NOAA. The MLSCP consists of numerous 
state policies on diverse coastal management issues which are 
prescribed by statute and other legal mechanisms and made enforceable 
under state law. The MLSCP will improve the decision making process for 
determining appropriate coastal land and water uses in light of 
resource consideration and increase public awareness of coastal 
resources and processes. The MLSCP will increase long term protection 
of the state's coastal resources while providing for sustainable 
economic development.
    NOAA approval of the MLSCP makes the state eligible for Federal 
financial assistance for program administration and enhancement under 
sections 306, 306A, 308 and 309 of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1455, 1455a, 
1456a, and 1456b). Minnesota has submitted an application for $652,000 
in FY 1999 Federal CZMA funds which are available to it. These funds 
will generally be used to assist the state in administering the various 
state and local authorities included in the MLSCP as well as be used to 
fund local management efforts to sustain ecosystems, sustain coastal 
communities, and increase public access.
    NOAA approval of the MLSCP also makes operational, as of the date 
of this Federal Register Notice, the CZMA Federal consistency 
requirement with respect to the MLSCP (16 U.S.C. 1456; 15 CFR part 
930). Therefore, as of today, direct Federal activities occurring 
within or outside the Minnesota Coastal

[[Page 44502]]

Zone that are reasonably likely to affect any land or water use or 
natural resources of the Minnesota Coastal Zone must be consistent to 
the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the 
MLSCP. In addition, activities within or outside the Minnesota Coastal 
Zone requiring a Federal license or permit listed in the P/FEIS, and 
Federal financial assistance to state agencies and local governments 
that are reasonably likely to affect any land or water use or natural 
resource of the Minnesota Coastal Zone must be consistent with the 
enforceable policies of the MLSCP.
    Part V, Chapter 3 of the P/FEIS identifies the enforceable policies 
of the Minnesota program, Part V, Chapter 6 of the P/FEIS as well as 
the CZMA regulations at 15 CFR part 930, identifies Federally licensed 
or permitted activities subject to the Federal consistency requirements 
and provides specific procedures to be used in the Federal/State 
coordination process.

ADDRESSES: For further information please contact Neil Christerson at 
(301) 713-3113, Extension 167; or via fax at (301) 713-4367; or via e-
mail at [email protected]

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone Management 
Program Administration)

    Dated: August 6, 1999.
John Oliver,
Director, Management and Budget Office, National Ocean Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21083 Filed 8-13-99; 8:45 am]
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