[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31965-31966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12835]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Federal Consistency Appeal by Villa Marina Yacht Harbor, Inc. 
From an Objection by the Puerto Rico Planning Board

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

ACTION: Notice of appeal and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Villa Marina Yacht Harbor, Inc. has filed an administrative 
appeal with the Department of Commerce asking that the Secretary of 
Commerce override the Puerto Rico Planning Board's objection to the 
proposed expansion of an existing marina located in Sardinera Bay, 
Sardinera Ward, Fajardo, Puerto Rico.

DATES: Public comments on the appeal are due within 30 days of the 
publication of this notice.

ADDRESSES: All e-mail comments on issues relevant to the Secretary's 
decision of this appeal may be submitted to 
[email protected]. Comments may also be sent by mail to 
Molly Holt, Attorney-Adviser, NOAA Office of the General Counsel for 
Ocean Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1305 East-West Highway, Room 6111, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910. Materials from the

[[Page 31966]]

appeal record will be available at the Internet site http://www.ogc.doc.gov/czma.htm and at the NOAA Office of the General Counsel 
for Ocean Services. In addition, public filings made by the parties to 
the appeal will be available at the offices of the Puerto Rico Planning 
Board.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Molly Holt, Attorney-Adviser, NOAA 
Office of the General Counsel for Ocean Services, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1305 East-West 
Highway, Room 6111, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or at (301) 713-2967, 
extension 215.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Notice of Appeal

    On October 31, 2003, Villa Marina Yacht Harbour, Inc. (Appellant) 
filed a notice of appeal with the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) 
pursuant to section 307(c)(3)(A) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 
1972 (CZMA), as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq., and the Department of 
Commerce's implementing regulations, 15 CFR part 930, subpart H. The 
appeal is taken from an objection by the Puerto Rico Planning Board 
(PRPB) to Appellant's consistency certification for a U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers permit for a marina expansion. This project is located in 
Sardinera Bay, Sardinera Ward, Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
    The CZMA provides that a timely objection by a State precludes any 
Federal agency from issuing licenses or permits for the activity unless 
the Secretary finds that the activity is either ``consistent with the 
objectives'' of the CZMA (Ground I) or ``necessary in the interest of 
national security'' (Ground II). Section 307(c)(3)(A). To make such a 
determination, the Secretary must find that the proposed project 
satisfies the requirements of 15 CFR 930.121 or 930.122.
    The Appellant requests that the Secretary override the State's 
consistency objections based on Ground I. To make the determination 
that the proposed activity is ``consistent with the objectives'' of the 
CZMA, the Secretary must find that: (1) The proposed activity furthers 
the national interest as articulated in section 302 or 303 of the CZMA, 
in a significant or substantial manner; (2) the adverse effects of the 
proposed activity do not outweigh its contribution to the national 
interest, when those effects are considered separately or cumulatively; 
and (3) no reasonable alternative is available that would permit the 
activity to be conducted in a manner consistent with enforceable 
policies of Puerto Rico's management program. 15 CFR 930.121.

II. Public Comments

    Written public comments are invited on any of the issues that the 
Secretary must consider in deciding this appeal. Comments must be 
received within 30 days of the publication of this notice, and may be 
submitted by e-mail to [email protected]. Comments may also 
be sent to Molly Holt, Attorney-Adviser, NOAA Office of the General 
Counsel for Ocean Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1305 East-West Highway, 
Room 6111, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments will be made available to 
the Appellant and the State; they will also be posted on a Department 
of Commerce Web site identified below.

III. Appeal Documents

    NOAA intends to provide the public with access to all materials and 
related documents comprising the appeal record via the Internet at 
http://www.ogc.doc.gov/czma.htm and, during business hours, at the NOAA 
Office of the General Counsel for Ocean Services. In addition, copies 
of public filings by the parties will be available for review at the 
offices of the Puerto Rico Planning Board.

    Dated: May 28, 2004.

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog No. 11.419 Coastal Zone 
Management Program Assistance)

James R. Walpole,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 04-12835 Filed 6-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M