[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 145 (Thursday, July 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 37980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18082]


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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 Maine 
Coastal Management Program, the Washington Coastal Management Program, 
and the Padilla Bay (Washington) National Estuarine Research Reserve.
    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 CZMA 
requires continuing review of the performance of states with respect to 
coastal program implementation. Evaluation of Coastal 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 National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation 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. Evaluation of 
National Estuarine Research Reserves requires findings concerning the 
extent to which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its 
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.
    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].
    Dates and Times: The Maine Coastal Management Program evaluation 
site visit will be held September 14-18, 2009. One public meeting will 
be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, 
September 15, 2009, at 7 p.m., at the Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium, 1 
City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, Maine.
    The Washington Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit 
will be held September 21-25, 2009. One public meeting will be held 
during the week. The public meeting will be held on Monday, September 
21, 2009, at 6 p.m. at the Washington Department of Ecology Auditorium, 
300 Desmond Drive, SE., Lacey, Washington.
    The Padilla Bay (Washington) National Estuarine Research Reserve 
evaluation site visit will be held September 22-24, 2009. One public 
meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held 
on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the Padilla Bay National 
Estuarine Research Reserve, Interpretive Center Meeting Room, 10441 
Bayview-Edison Road, Mt. Vernon, Washington.

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 last 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 Wisconsin Coastal Management 
Program (CMP) and the Sapelo Island (Georgia) and Wells (Maine) 
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 State of Wisconsin 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 their 
financial assistance awards. The Sapelo Island and Wells 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: 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.

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone Management 
Program Administration)

    Dated: July 23, 2009.
David M. Kennedy,
Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National 
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-18082 Filed 7-29-09; 8:45 am]
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