[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 27017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12362]


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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 in Rockport, Texas on the site 
selection process for the nomination of a candidate site for the 
National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

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DATES: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 at 2 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Saltwater Pavilion, 810 Seabreeze Drive, Rockport Beach 
Park, Rockport, Texas 78383.
SUMMARY: In accordance with section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972, as amended, the State of Texas and the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intend to conduct a public 
meeting on June 11, 2003 in Rockport, Texas as part of NOAA's site 
selection process for the nomination of a candidate site for the 
National Estuarine Research Reserve System (Reserve System).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The mission of the Reserve System is to 
promote stewardship of the nation's estuaries through science and 
education using a system of protected areas. NOAA has developed a 
classification scheme and typology of national estuarine areas that 
places the coastlines of the United States into biogeographic regions 
and subregions. Reserves are selected to represent these biogeographic 
regions and subregions and the wide range of coastal and estuarine 
habitats found in the United States.
    Site selection criteria for a new reserve are based on 
environmental representativeness; value for research, monitoring, 
education, interpretation, and stewardship; acquisition and 
accessibility considerations; and coastal management considerations. 
The site ultimately designated will be used by researchers, educators, 
and the general public to study estuarine ecology and resource 
management issues that can aid in coastal policymaking and management 
decisions.
    During the past year, the State of Texas in consultation with NOAA 
has undertaken a process to identify a site that adequately represents 
the major estuarine characteristics of a coastal ecosystem in the 
western Gulf of Mexico. An estuary located in Texas would be the first 
site to represent the Western Gulf Subregion of the Louisianian 
Biogeographic Region (Galveston to Mexico).
    After consideration of several possible sites along the Texas 
coast, the Texas National Estuarine Research Reserve Site Selection 
Committee and Site Evaluation Subcommittee have selected Mission/
Aransas Estuary located on the central Texas coast as a candidate site 
for nomination as a potential reserve. The public meeting is being held 
to provide details and solicit comments on this proposed site.
    At the public meeting, the University of Texas at Austin Marine 
Science Institute will provide an overview of the Reserve System 
Program, the Texas site selection process, a physical description of 
the proposed site, and an open question and answer period.
    Following the public meeting, a site nomination document will be 
finalized based on existing research documents and literature, and 
comments received from NOAA, the Texas Site Selection Committee and 
Site Evaluation Subcommittee, and the general public. The final site 
selection document will then be sent to the Governor of Texas for 
approval. If approved, the Governor will forward the site selection 
package and a nomination letter to NOAA for final clearance. A draft 
and final Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan must be 
prepared prior to final site designation.
    The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 at 2 
p.m. at the Saltwater Pavilion, 810 Seabreeze Drive within the Rockport 
Beach Park, Rockport, Texas 78383. Interested parties who wish to 
comment on the site selection are invited to attend.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Montagna, University of Texas at 
Austin Marine Science Institute at (361) 749-6779 or 
[email protected]; or Nathalie Peter, Project Manager, Estuarine 
Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 
NOAA, at (301) 713-3155, extension 119, or [email protected].

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

    Dated: May 9, 2003.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-12362 Filed 5-16-03; 8:45 am]
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