[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 29280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10161]



[[Page 29280]]

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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 
Pennsylvania Coastal Management Program.
    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 CZMA requires continuing review of the performance of states 
with respect to coastal program implementation. Evaluation of Coastal 
Zone Management Programs requires findings concerning the extent to 
which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its Coastal 
Management Program document approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and 
adhered to the terms of financial assistance awards funded under the 
CZMA.
    The evaluation will include a site visit, consideration of public 
comments, and consultations with interested Federal, state and local 
agencies and members of the public. A public meeting will be held as 
part of the site visit.
    Notice is hereby given of the date of the site visit for the listed 
evaluation, and the date, local time, and location of the public 
meeting during the site visit.
    The Pennsylvania Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit 
will be held July 11-15, 2005. One public meeting will be held during 
the week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2005, 
at 7 p.m. at the Philadelphia Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
    Copies of a state's most recent performance reports, as well as 
OCRM's notification and supplemental request letters to the state, are 
available upon request from OCRM. Written comments from interested 
parties regarding this Program are encouraged and will be accepted 
until 15 days after the public meeting. 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 
evaluation is 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 Virgin Islands Coastal Management Program (CMP); and 
the South Slough (Oregon) and Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas (Florida) 
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 CMPs and the operation and management of NERRs.
    The territory of the Virgin Islands was found to be implementing 
and enforcing its federally approved coastal management program, 
addressing the national coastal management objectives identified in 
CZMA Section 303(2)(A)-(K), and adhering to the programmatic terms of 
its financial assistance awards. South Slough (Oregon) and Guana-
Tolomato-Matanzas (Florida) NERRs were 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: May 13, 2005.
Eldon Hout,
Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 05-10161 Filed 5-19-05; 8:45 am]
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