[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11615-11616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4540]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Evaluation of State Coastal Management Programs and National 
Estuarine Research Reserves

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to evaluate and notice of availability of 
final 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 Great 
Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Hampshire; the American 
Samoa Coastal Management Program; the Rookery Bay National Estuarine 
Research Reserve, Florida; the Puerto Rico Coastal Management Program; 
and the California Coastal Commission Coastal Management Program.
    The Coastal Zone Management Program evaluations 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 evaluations 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 Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Hampshire, 
evaluation site visit will be held April 26-28, 2005. One public 
meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be on 
Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at 7 p.m., at the New Hampshire Fish and 
Game Department, Region 3 Office, 225 Main Street, Durham, New 
Hampshire.
    The American Samoa Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit 
will be held June 6-10, 2005. One public meeting will be held during 
the week. The public meeting will be held on Monday, June 6, 2005, at 4 
p.m., at the Convention Center, Utulei, American Samoa.
    The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Florida, 
evaluation site visit will be held June 20-24, 2005. One public meeting 
will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on 
Wednesday, June 22, 2005, at 6 p.m., at the Environmental Learning 
Center Auditorium, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 300 
Tower Road, Naples, Florida.
    The Puerto Rico Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit 
will be held June 20-24, 2005. One public meeting will be held during 
the week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2005, 
at 7 p.m. at the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental 
Resources, Parada 3\1/2\ Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
    The California Coastal Commission Coastal Management Program 
evaluation site visit will be held June 20-24, 2005. One public meeting 
will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on 
Tuesday, June 21, 2005, at 7 p.m. at the City of Santa Cruz Police 
Department, Community Room, 155 Center Street, Santa Cruz, California.
    Copies of States' most recent performance reports, as well as 
OCRM's notifications and supplemental request letters to the State, 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 held for that Program. 
Please direct written comments to 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. When the evaluations are

[[Page 11616]]

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 Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, 
Ohio, and Wisconsin Coastal Management Programs (CMPs); and the Waquoit 
Bay (Massachusetts) National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). 
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 CMPs and the operation and 
management of NERRs.
    The States of Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, 
Ohio, and Wisconsin 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. Waquoit Bay (Massachusetts) NERR was found to be adhering to 
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: February 24, 2005.
Eldon Hout,
Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 05-4540 Filed 3-8-05; 8:45 am]
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