[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60643-60644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26777]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Evaluation of State Coastal Management Programs and National 
Estuarine Research Reserves

AGENCY: Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), DOC.

ACTION: Notice of intent to evaluate and notice of availability of 
final evaluation findings.

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SUMMARY: The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management 
(OCRM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the Alabama 
Coastal Management Program and the Weeks Bay National Estuarine 
Research Reserve, Alabama. The Coastal Zone Management Program 
evaluation will be conducted pursuant to section 312 of the Coastal 
Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, (CZMA) and regulations at 15 
CFR part 923, subpart L. The National Estuarine Research Reserve 
evaluation will be conducted pursuant to sections 312 and 315 of the 
CZMA and regulations at 15 CFR part 921, subpart E and part 923, 
subpart L.
    The CZMA requires continuing review of the performance of states 
With respect to coastal program implementation. Evaluation of Coastal 
Zone Management Programs and National Estuarine Research Reserves 
requires findings concerning the extent to which a State has met the 
national objectives, adhered to its Coastal Management Program document 
or Reserve final management plan approved by the Secretary of Commerce, 
and adhered to the terms of financial assistance awards funded under 
the CZMA.
    The evaluations will include a site visit, consideration of public 
comments, and consultations with interested Federal, State and local 
agencies and members of the public. Public meetings will be held as 
part of the site visits.
    Notice is hereby given of the dates of the site visits for the 
listed evaluations, and the dates, local times, and locations of the 
public meetings during the site visits.
    The Alabama Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit will 
be held December 8-12, 2003. One public meeting will be held during the 
week. The public meeting will be on Wednesday, December 10, 2003, from 
6 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the Killian Room, International Trade Center, 250 
North Water Street, Mobile, Alabama.
    The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation site 
visit will be held December 8-12, 2003. One public meeting will be held 
during the week. The public meeting will be on Thursday, December 11, 
2003, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Interpretive Center Auditorium, 
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 11300 U.S. Highway 98, 
Fairhope, Alabama.
    Copies of States' most recent performance reports, as well as 
OCRM's notifications and supplemental request letters to the States, 
are available upon request from OCRM. Written comments from interested 
parties regarding these Programs are encouraged and will be accepted 
until 15 days after the last public meeting. Please direct written 
comments to Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation 
Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA,

[[Page 60644]]

1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. When 
the evaluations are completed, OCRM will place a notice in the Federal 
Register announcing the availability of the Final Evaluation Findings.
    Notice is hereby given of the availability of the final evaluation 
findings for the Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, 
and Pennsylvania Coastal Management Programs (CMPs); and the Ace Basin 
(South Carolina), Delaware (Delaware), and Jobos Bay (Puerto Rico) 
National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs). Sections 312 and 315 of 
the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), as amended, require a 
continuing review of the performance of coastal states with respect to 
approval of coastal management programs, and the operation and 
management of NERRs.
    The states of Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, 
and Pennsylvania were found to be implementing and enforcing their 
federally approved coastal management programs, addressing the national 
coastal management objectives identified in CZMA Section 303(2)(A)-(K), 
and adhering to the programmatic terms of their financial assistance 
awards. Delaware and Ace Basin NERRs were found to be adhering to 
programmatic requirements of the NERR System. Jobos Bay NERR was found 
to be not fully adhering to the programmatic requirements of the NERR 
System.
    Copies of these final evaluation findings may be obtained upon 
written request from: Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and 
Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 
NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910, or [email protected], (301) 713-3155, extension 118.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy 
and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource 
Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910, (301) 713-3155, extension 118.

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

    Dated: October 16, 2003.
Richard W. Spinrad,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 03-26777 Filed 10-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P