[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17325-17326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6696]


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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 Wells 
(Maine) National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Narragansett Bay 
(Rhode Island) National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Wisconsin 
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 
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 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.
    Each 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 dates of the site 
visits for the listed evaluations, and the dates, local times, and 
locations of the public meetings during the site visits.
    Dates and Times: The Wells (Maine) National Estuarine Research 
Reserve evaluation site visit will be held May 13-15, 2008. One public 
meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held 
on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at 5 p.m. at the Mather Auditorium, Wells 
National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farm, 342 Laudholm Farm 
Road, Wells, Maine.
    The Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island) National Estuarine Research 
Reserve evaluation site visit will be held May 20-23, 2008. One public 
meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held 
on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at 12 noon at the Hope Brown Center, 
Farnham Farm, Prudence Island, Rhode Island. ONLY in the event the 
ferry to Prudence Island cannot operate, the public meeting will be 
held on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at 12 noon at the Foundry, Room 280, 
235 Promenade Street, Providence, Rhode Island.
    The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit will 
be held June 16-20, 2008. One public meeting will be held during the 
week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at 6 
p.m. at The Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon 
Bay, Wisconsin.

ADDRESSES: Copies of states' most recent performance reports, as well 
as OCRM's evaluation notification and supplemental information 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 public meeting 
held for a Program. Please direct written comments to Kate Barba, 
Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and 
Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th 
Floor, N/ORM7, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given of the availability 
of the final evaluation findings for the South Slough (Oregon) National 
Estuarine Research Reserve (South Slough NERR) and the Maryland and New 
York Coastal Management Programs (CMPs). 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 and New York were found to be implementing 
and enforcing their federally approved coastal management programs, 
addressing the national coastal management objectives identified in

[[Page 17326]]

CZMA Section 303(2)(A)-(K), and adhering to the programmatic terms of 
their financial assistance awards. The South Slough 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: Kate Barba, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation 
Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 
1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, N/ORM7, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910, or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Barba, Chief, National Policy and 
Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 
NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, N/ORM7, Silver Spring, 
Maryland 20910, (301) 563-1182.

    Dated: March 20, 2008.
David M. Kennedy,
Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National 
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Federal Domestic Assistance
Catalog 11.419. Coastal Zone Management Program Administration.

 [FR Doc. E8-6696 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P