[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31414-31415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-15538]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Estuarine Research Reserve System

AGENCY: Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal 
Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Approval and Availability for the revised Guana 
Tolomato Matanzas, Florida National Estuarine Research Reserve 
Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, 
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. 
Department of Commerce has approved the revised Guana Tolomato 
Matanzas, Florida National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan.
    The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve is 
located in St. Johns and Flagler counties and is geographically 
separated into a northern and southern component separated by the City 
of St. Augustine. The Reserve was designated in 1999. Pursuant to 15 
CFR 921.33(c), a state must revise their management plan every five 
years. The submission of this plan brings the Reserve into compliance 
and sets a course for successful implementation of the goals and 
objectives of the Reserve.
    The revised management plan outlines the administrative structure; 
the education, stewardship, and research goals of the reserve; and the 
plans for future land acquisition and facility development to support 
reserve operations. The Reserve management goals and objectives can be 
categorized within the following five management challenges: Public 
use, habitat and species management, watershed land use, cultural 
preservation and interpretation, and global processes. These issues can 
be directly or indirectly linked to anthropogenic land use of 
increasing population densities accompanied by increasing development, 
recreation and economic pressures.
    The Guana Tolomato Matanzas Environmental Education Center is a 
notable addition since the last management plan and serves as the 
administrative, education, research, and stewardship facility for the 
northern component of the Reserve. The facility will provide an 
opportunity for further outreach to the community and serve as a center 
of excellence for regional science, education and stewardship forums.
    The boundary of the Reserve is being expanded to include 8,865 
acres of publicly owned land in the southern component of the reserve. 
Approximately 4,166 acres of the Faver-Dykes State Park is being added 
to the 1,333 acres of the Faver-Dykes State Park incorporated at 
designation. The additional park lands will provide new resources and 
allow for an extension of the existing partnership. Additionally, 4,699 
acres of the Matanzas State Forest is being added to the Reserve 
boundary to protect the last remaining undisturbed salt marsh within 
the Reserve and is part of a 16,000 acre continuous conservation 
corridor. These additions will bring the total Reserve acreage to 
73,352 acres protected for long-term research, education and 
stewardship. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33, NOAA published a notice in the 
Federal Register providing an opportunity for public comment on July 7, 
2008. No comments were received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erica Seiden at (301) 713-3155 or

[[Page 31415]]

NOAA's National Ocean Service, Estuarine Reserves Division, 1305 East-
West Highway, Station 10542, Silver Spring, MD 20910. To access the 
Guana Tolomato Matanzas, FL Management Plan visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/gtm/management/plan.htm.

    Dated: June 11, 2009.
David M. Kennedy,
Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-15538 Filed 6-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P