[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 168 (Thursday, August 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53467-53473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21167]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-FHC-2013-N012; FF09F21000-FXHC112509CBRA-134]


John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System; Delaware, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas; Availability of Draft 
Maps and Request for Comments

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) requires the 
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to review the maps of the John H. 
Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) at least once every 5 
years and make any minor and technical modifications to the boundaries 
of the CBRS as are necessary to reflect changes that have occurred in 
the size or location of any CBRS unit as a result of natural forces. 
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have conducted this 
review for all of the CBRS units in Delaware, South Carolina (including 
one unit that crosses the State boundary into North Carolina), Texas, 
and one CBRS unit in Florida. The draft maps were produced by the 
Service in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA). This notice announces the findings of our review and request 
for comments on the draft revised maps from Federal, State, and local 
officials.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by September 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-deliver (during normal business hours) comments 
to Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers Coordinator, Division of Budget and 
Technical Support, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax 
Drive, Room 840, Arlington, VA 22203, or send comments by electronic 
mail (email) to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers 
Coordinator, (703) 358-2071.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice fulfills a requirement under the 
CBRA (16 U.S.C. 3503(f)(3)) that requires the Secretary to publish a 
notice in the Federal Register of any proposed revisions to the CBRS 
authorized under 16 U.S.C. 3503(c)-(e). The CBRA requires the Secretary 
to review the maps of the CBRS at least once every 5 years and make any 
minor and technical modifications to the boundaries of the CBRS as are 
necessary to reflect changes that have occurred in the size or location 
of any CBRS unit as a result of natural forces (16 U.S.C. 3503(c)). 
Most of the modifications to the draft maps announced via this 
particular notice for Delaware, South Carolina (including one unit that 
crosses that State boundary into North Carolina), Texas, and one unit 
in Florida, were made to reflect changes to the CBRS units that 
occurred as a result of natural forces (e.g., erosion and accretion). 
However, one of the draft maps also includes a voluntary addition to 
the CBRS that was requested by the owners of the property. The CBRA 
authorizes the Secretary to add a parcel of real property to the CBRS 
if: (1) The owner of the parcel requests, in writing, that the 
Secretary add the parcel to the CBRS; and (2) the parcel is an 
undeveloped coastal barrier (16 U.S.C. 3503(d)). The CBRA also 
authorizes the Secretary to add excess Federal property to the CBRS 
following consultation with the Administrator of the U.S. General 
Services Administration and a determination that the property 
constitutes an undeveloped coastal barrier (16 U.S.C. 3503(e)). None of 
the draft maps announced via this particular notice for Delaware, South 
Carolina (including one unit that crosses that State boundary into 
North Carolina), Texas, and one unit in Florida, include additions of 
excess Federal property to the CBRS.
    The Service's review resulted in a set of 87 draft revised maps 
dated November 30, 2012, depicting a total of 69 CBRS units. The set of 
maps includes: 7 Maps for 10 CBRS units located in Delaware; 24 maps 
for 23 CBRS units located in South Carolina (including 1 unit that 
crosses the State boundary into North Carolina); 55 maps for 35 CBRS 
units located in Texas; and 1 map for 1 CBRS unit located in both Pasco 
and Pinellas Counties, Florida. The Service found that 62 of the 69 
units reviewed had experienced changes in their size or location as a 
result of natural forces since they were last mapped.

Background

    Coastal barriers are typically narrow, elongated landforms located 
at the interface of land and sea and are inherently dynamic ecosystems. 
Coastal barriers provide important habitat for fish and wildlife, and 
serve as the mainland's first line of defense against the impacts of 
severe storms. With the passage of the CBRA in 1982 (Pub. L. 97-348), 
Congress recognized that certain actions and programs of the Federal 
Government have historically subsidized and encouraged development on 
coastal barriers, where severe storms are much more likely to occur, 
and the result has been the loss of natural resources; threats to human 
life, health, and property; and the expenditure of millions of tax 
dollars each year (16 U.S.C. 3501(a)).
    The CBRA established the CBRS, which comprised 186 geographic units 
encompassing approximately 453,000 acres of undeveloped lands and 
associated aquatic habitat along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico 
coasts. The CBRS was expanded by the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 
1990 (Pub. L. 101-591) to include additional areas along the Atlantic 
and Gulf of Mexico coasts, as well as areas along the coasts of the 
Great Lakes, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The CBRS now 
comprises a total of 857 geographic units encompassing approximately 
3.1 million acres of relatively undeveloped coastal barrier lands and 
associated aquatic habitat. These areas are depicted on a series of 
maps entitled ``John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System.''
    Most new Federal expenditures and financial assistance that have 
the effect of encouraging development are prohibited within the CBRS. 
However, development can still occur within the CBRS, provided that 
private developers or other non-Federal parties bear the full cost, 
rather than the American taxpayers.
    The CBRS includes two types of units, System Units and Otherwise 
Protected Areas (OPAs). System Units generally comprise private lands 
that were relatively undeveloped at the time of their designation 
within the CBRS. Most new Federal expenditures and financial 
assistance, including Federal flood insurance, are prohibited within 
System Units. OPAs generally comprise lands established under Federal, 
State, or

[[Page 53468]]

local law, or are held by a qualified organization primarily for 
wildlife refuge, sanctuary, recreational, or natural resource 
conservation purposes. OPAs are denoted with a ``P'' at the end of the 
unit number (e.g., DE-01P). The only Federal spending prohibition 
within OPAs is the prohibition on Federal flood insurance.
    The Secretary, through the Service, is responsible for 
administering the CBRA, which includes maintaining the official maps of 
the CBRS, consulting with Federal agencies that propose to spend funds 
within the CBRS, preparing updated maps of the CBRS, and making 
recommendations to Congress regarding proposed changes to the CBRS. 
Aside from three minor exceptions, only Congress--through new 
legislation--can modify the maps of the CBRS to add or remove land. 
These exceptions, which allow the Secretary to make limited 
modifications to the CBRS (16 U.S.C. 3503(c)-(e)), are for: (1) Changes 
that have occurred to the CBRS as a result of natural forces; (2) 
voluntary additions to the CBRS requested by property owners; and (3) 
additions of excess Federal property to the CBRS.

Digital Conversion of the CBRS Maps

    Official CBRS boundaries are depicted on maps adopted by Congress. 
The boundaries have also been identified on the Flood Insurance Rate 
Maps (FIRMs) produced by FEMA with varying degrees of accuracy. The 
FIRMs are used to determine flood insurance eligibility and rates 
through the National Flood Insurance Program. The CBRS boundaries are 
shown on the FIRMs because of the CBRA's restriction on Federal flood 
insurance within the CBRS.
    Since 2006, the Service and FEMA have collaborated to improve the 
accuracy of the CBRS boundaries depicted on the FIRMs. In 2011, this 
interagency partnership was expanded to help facilitate a ``digital 
conversion'' of the official CBRS maps. The purpose of the digital 
conversion effort is to:
    (1) Ensure that the CBRS boundaries depicted on the FIRMs are 
consistent with the CBRS boundaries depicted on the official CBRS maps;
    (2) Update the CBRS maps to account for natural changes and to 
incorporate any voluntary additions and excess Federal property within 
the CBRS; and
    (3) Replace the entire set of CBRS maps at a lower cost and in a 
timelier manner than would be possible via comprehensive map 
modernization (``comprehensive map modernization'' is the type of 
mapping mandated by section 4 of Public Law 109-226 and described in 
the Service's 2008 Report to Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier 
Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project). See additional 
information concerning comprehensive map modernization at the end of 
this section.
    The timeframe for updating the CBRS maps for particular areas 
through the digital conversion effort is determined by the Service and 
FEMA, taking into consideration other ongoing mapping efforts in order 
to maximize efficiencies and minimize costs. The digital conversion 
effort improves the accuracy, integrity, and usability of the CBRS data 
and maps, which increases compliance with the CBRA by reducing 
erroneous Federal expenditures (including invalid flood insurance 
policies) within the CBRS, and improves government efficiency and 
customer service by providing more reliable and user-friendly CBRS maps 
and digital data.
    Through the digital conversion effort, the existing CBRS boundaries 
will be:
    (1) Transferred and fitted to updated base maps (i.e., a recent 
aerial image) to ensure that the boundaries correspond with the natural 
or development features they are clearly intended to follow on the 
official maps (such adjustments will generally be within the width of 
the existing CBRS boundary, which is about 100 feet on the Earth's 
surface);
    (2) Modified to reflect any natural changes that have occurred 
since the maps were last updated and to incorporate any voluntary 
additions and excess Federal property within the CBRS; and
    (3) In limited circumstances, modified to correct administrative 
errors made in the past either in (a) the transcription of the 
boundaries from maps that were reviewed and approved by Congress to the 
official CBRS maps on file with the Service or (b) the inclusion of 
unqualifying areas to the CBRS through a map modification to account 
for natural changes under 16 U.S.C. 3503(c).
    In reviewing the CBRS maps for Delaware, South Carolina (including 
the unit that crosses into North Carolina), Texas, and one unit in 
Florida, the Service found that most of these areas (62 of the 69 CBRS 
units reviewed) had experienced some level of natural change since they 
were last remapped.
    Changes to the CBRS boundaries through digital conversion are 
limited to the administrative modifications the Secretary is authorized 
to make under the CBRA (16 U.S.C. 3503(c)-(e)) and limited 
modifications needed to correct transcription errors between the 
boundaries approved by Congress in the past and those depicted on the 
official CBRS maps on file with the Service. Changes that are outside 
the scope of this authority cannot be made through the digital 
conversion process; such changes must be made through the comprehensive 
map modernization process, which is more time and resource intensive 
because it entails significant research, public review, and 
Congressional enactment of the revised maps. Comprehensive map 
modernization not only transfers the CBRS boundaries to a new base map 
and makes any modifications necessary to account for natural changes, 
but also corrects errors that affect property owners and adds areas 
appropriate for inclusion to the CBRS (beyond those additions 
authorized under 16 U.S.C. 3503(c)-(e)). The Coastal Barrier Resources 
Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Section 4 of Pub. L. 109-226) directs the 
Secretary to produce comprehensively revised maps for the entire CBRS. 
The Service has produced a limited number of comprehensively revised 
maps for Congressional consideration in the past and will continue to 
produce comprehensively revised maps as resources are made available 
for that effort.

CBRS Digital Conversion Methodology

    Below is a summary of the methodology the Service used to conduct a 
review of the CBRS units to identify areas where natural change has 
occurred and to produce draft revised maps through the digital 
conversion process.

Base Map Selection

    A base map is a map depicting background reference information such 
as landforms, roads, landmarks, and political boundaries, onto which 
other thematic information is placed. In an effort to ensure 
consistency between the CBRS boundaries depicted on the official CBRS 
maps and the FEMA FIRMs, the Service generally selected the same 
underlying base map as the base map used by FEMA for the FIRM. In some 
cases, the FIRM base map was not suitable for CBRS mapping (e.g., when 
the FIRM base map was vector based instead of an aerial image or did 
not provide complete coverage over remote coastal barrier features). In 
such cases, the Service selected aerial imagery to serve as the CBRS 
base map that was recent (generally less than 5 years old), high 
resolution (1 meter per pixel resolution or better), orthorectified 
(i.e., adjusted to ensure the proper perspective of features relative 
to their true position on the Earth's surface), and available free of 
charge.

[[Page 53469]]

Georeferencing and Boundary Interpretation

    CBRS boundaries are generally intended to follow natural and 
development features on the ground, such as shorelines, stream 
channels, edges of marshes or wetlands, roads, and jetties. The CBRS 
boundaries must be fit to these same features on the new base map 
through a process of boundary interpretation and transcription. Prior 
to transcribing the CBRS boundaries to the new base map, scanned 
versions of all currently controlling and superseded CBRS maps for the 
affected areas were georeferenced (i.e., aligned to a known geographic 
coordinate system) to the new base map and analyzed to determine the 
original intent of the CBRS boundaries. The Service also consulted the 
1982 and 1994 CBRS Photographic Atlases (a set of aerial photographs 
maintained by the Service with the CBRS unit boundaries overlaid) and 
other sources to aid in boundary interpretation.

Boundary Transcription

    The original base maps used for the official CBRS maps are, in most 
cases, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle 
maps (i.e. maps from a commonly used series published by USGS, 
generally at a scale of 1:24,000) dated 1990 or earlier. The USGS maps 
were designed to meet the United States National Map Accuracy Standards 
which define accuracy standards for published maps, including 
horizontal and vertical accuracy (National Map Accuracy Standards are 
available for download at http://nationalmap.gov/standards/nmas.html). 
The horizontal accuracy standard requires at least 90 percent of the 
``well-defined points'' (e.g., property boundary monuments, 
intersections of roads, corners of large buildings, etc.) tested to be 
accurate to 1/50 of an inch on the map, which translates to 40 feet on 
the ground (using a 1:24,000 scale map). However, most CBRS boundaries 
follow features (e.g., shorelines, vegetative breaks, and mangrove 
stands) that are dynamic and/or do not meet the definition of ``well-
defined points'' and, therefore, may have a degree of horizontal error 
greater than 40 feet. As such, the CBRS boundaries have inherited the 
underlying base map's level of error in horizontal accuracy.
    Compounding the problems associated with the outdated base maps is 
the fact that the CBRS boundaries were hand drawn on the base maps 
using now antiquated cartographic techniques. System unit boundaries 
were manually drawn on the maps with a thick pen, and the OPA 
boundaries were delineated using strips of cartographic drafting tape 
affixed directly onto the base maps. The use of strips of tape to 
represent curving features such as shorelines on large scale maps 
contributed to the inaccuracy of the OPA boundaries. These now outdated 
manual techniques for delineating the CBRS boundary lines resulted in a 
boundary thickness that translates to about 100 feet on the Earth's 
surface. Additionally, in some cases, the boundary lines contain gaps 
that were left intentionally so that annotation on the base maps would 
not be obscured.
    Due to the dynamic nature of coastal areas, the age and relative 
inaccuracy of the original base maps, and the manual cartographic 
techniques used to create the current set of official CBRS maps, the 
Service has found that digitizing the center of the boundary from the 
georeferenced CBRS map and placing it on the new base map often yields 
discrepancies between the CBRS boundaries and the features they are 
clearly intended to follow on the ground. Therefore, the Service 
evaluated the intent of each segment of CBRS boundary and fit the 
boundary to the new base map according to the following general 
guidelines:
     If the intent of a particular boundary segment was clearly 
to follow an identifiable natural or development feature, the digital 
boundary was adjusted to the appropriate feature on the new base map. 
The extent of such adjustments was generally limited to the width of 
the existing boundary line depicted on the official map (which 
translates to about 100 feet on the Earth's surface).
     If the intent of a particular boundary segment could not 
be determined; if the underlying feature had clearly undergone human-
generated change; or if the boundary line on the official map is 
generally more than 100 feet from the actual feature it was intended to 
follow on the ground, no adjustments were made and the center of the 
georeferenced boundary was used. These types of changes are beyond the 
scope of the digital conversion effort and require further review 
through the comprehensive map modernization effort that is described 
earlier in this notice.
     If clear and compelling evidence was found (through the 
course of the normal boundary review and interpretation process) that 
the boundary on the official CBRS map reflected a minor transcription 
error that was made after the original draft maps were reviewed and 
approved by Congress in past years, that error was corrected.
    Additional information concerning the horizontal accuracy and other 
challenges associated with the existing CBRS maps and boundaries is 
available in the CBRS boundary metadata posted on the Service's 
Internet site at http://www.fws.gov/cbra/Maps/CBRS-Metadata.xml and in 
the Service's 2008 Report to Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier 
Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project.

Boundary Modifications To Account for Natural Changes, Voluntary 
Additions, and Additions of Excess Federal Property

    The Service assessed the official CBRS maps, as well as historical 
and current aerial imagery, to determine where natural changes (e.g., 
eroded shorelines, accreted sand spits, changes in the configuration of 
the wetlands, etc.) have occurred since the maps were last updated. 
Where the intent of a boundary segment was clearly to follow a 
geomorphic feature on the ground, and that feature had undergone 
natural change, the boundary on the map was modified to follow the 
present location of the geomorphic feature and/or the aquatic habitat 
associated with the feature. Associated aquatic habitat may include the 
adjacent wetlands, marshes, estuaries, inlets, and nearshore waters 
associated with the fastland component of the coastal barrier. The term 
``fastland'' refers to the portion of a coastal barrier between the 
mean high tide line on the ocean side, and the upper limit of tidal 
vegetation (or, if such vegetation is not present, the mean high tide 
line) on the landward side of the coastal barrier. In many cases, 
portions of the landward boundary were modified to reflect natural 
changes to the wetland/fastland interface. The ``wetland/fastland 
interface'' is a transitional area between wetlands and fastlands, or 
land that is predominately wet and land that is predominately dry. This 
interface was identified for CBRS mapping purposes through aerial photo 
interpretation, supported in some cases by National Wetlands Inventory 
data (http://www.fws.gov/wetlands).
    The CBRS boundaries were also modified to account for any other 
administrative changes that are authorized by the CBRA (i.e., inclusion 
of voluntary additions and excess Federal property).

Map Paneling

    Each official CBRS map covers a spatial extent roughly equivalent 
to one USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle; this spatial extent is

[[Page 53470]]

referred to as a ``map panel.'' There are many places where the 
existing CBRS map panels overlap each other, yet provide no indication 
that there is another CBRS unit in the same area that is shown on a 
different map panel. This omission is a source of confusion for users 
who assume that if no CBRS unit is depicted on a specific CBRS map, 
then there is no CBRS unit in that area. The Service addressed this 
issue by repaneling the affected areas using one of the following two 
options.
    Option 1: The existing map panels were shifted and/or combined to 
eliminate overlaps, and all CBRS units on a given map panel were 
depicted. For example, Harbor Island Unit M11 and Hunting Island Unit 
SC-09P in South Carolina are adjacent to one another and share a 
coincident boundary, but are currently shown on two separate official 
maps. As a result of this review, these two maps were combined into a 
single map depicting both units. Also, Waites Island Complex Unit M01 
is currently considered to be two distinct units with the same name, 
one in North Carolina and one in South Carolina, and these units are 
depicted individually on two separate maps. As a result of this review, 
the two units were combined, counted as one unit, and depicted on a 
single map.
    Option 2: Due to time constraints, many maps included in this 
review were not repaneled. In these cases, the adjacent unit(s) that 
are not the subject of the map are shown for informational purposes 
with a note indicating that there is a separate map for the adjacent 
unit(s).
    In future projects, the Service will generally follow the first 
option above to eliminate as many map panel overlaps as possible. 
Changes to the configuration of the CBRS map panels do not affect the 
placement of the CBRS boundaries, but will help reduce confusion and 
improve the usability of the CBRS maps.

Proposed Modifications to the CBRS Boundaries

    In accordance with the CBRA's requirement to update the CBRS maps 
at least once every 5 years to account for natural changes, the Service 
has prepared draft revised maps for all CBRS units in Delaware, South 
Carolina (including a unit that crosses into North Carolina), Texas, 
and one unit in Florida. These draft maps are dated November 30, 2012. 
The Service's review of these areas found a total of 62 CBRS units that 
require modifications due to natural changes in the size or location of 
the units. Below is a summary of those changes depicted on the draft 
maps. The summary also identifies one voluntary addition to the CBRS 
requested by the owners of a property in Horry County, South Carolina 
(in accordance with 16 U.S.C. 3503(d)) and the correction of a 
transcription error that was made in 1990 on one map in Galveston 
County, Texas.
    Following the close of the comment period on the date listed in the 
DATES section of this document, the Service will review all comments 
received from Federal, State, and local officials on the draft maps; 
make adjustments to the draft maps, as appropriate; and publish a 
notice in the Federal Register to announce the availability of the 
final revised maps.

Delaware

    The Service's review found all 10 of the CBRS units in Delaware to 
have changed due to natural forces.

    DE-01: LITTLE CREEK UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit has 
been modified to reflect natural changes that have occurred in the 
configuration of the marsh and wetland/fastland interface. The 
boundary has also been modified to reflect channel migration along 
Lewis Ditch. The seaward boundary of the excluded area was modified 
to account for shoreline erosion along the Delaware Bay.
    DE-01P: LITTLE CREEK UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit has 
been modified to reflect natural changes that have occurred in the 
configuration of the marsh and wetland/fastland interface. The 
boundary has been modified to reflect channel migration and erosion 
along Kellys Ditch, Lewis Ditch, and several small unnamed creeks. 
The boundary has also been modified to account for erosion at the 
mouth of the St. Jones River.
    DE-02P: BEACH PLUM ISLAND UNIT. The landward boundary of the 
unit has been modified to reflect natural changes that have occurred 
in the configuration of the marsh and wetland/fastland interface. 
The boundary has also been modified to account for channel migration 
and erosion along Broadkill River, Doty Glade, Old Mill Creek, and 
Canary Creek. The name of this unit has been changed from ``Plum 
Beach Island'' to ``Beach Plum Island'' to correctly identify the 
underlying barrier feature.
    DE-03P: CAPE HENLOPEN UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for erosion along the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal, 
as well as erosion and channel migration of an unnamed stream.
    DE-06: SILVER LAKE UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit has 
been modified to account for erosion and accretion along the 
shoreline of Silver Lake.
    DE-07P: DELAWARE SEASHORE UNIT. The boundary of the unit has 
been modified to account for shoreline erosion at the tip of Cedar 
Neck.
    DE-08P: FENWICK ISLAND UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit 
has been modified to account for erosion and channel migration along 
Miller Creek and an unnamed stream. The landward boundary has also 
been modified to account for marsh erosion along the western 
shoreline of Little Assawoman Bay.
    H00: BROADKILL BEACH UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit has 
been modified to reflect natural changes that have occurred in the 
configuration of the marsh and wetland/fastland interface. The 
boundary has also been modified to account for channel migration and 
erosion along the Murderkill River, Brockonbridge Gut, Mispillion 
River, Cedar Creek, Primehook Creek and several small unnamed 
streams. The seaward boundary of the excluded area has been modified 
to account for shoreline erosion along Delaware Bay.
    H00P: BROADKILL BEACH UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit 
has been modified to reflect natural changes that have occurred in 
the configuration of the marsh and wetland/fastland interface. The 
boundary has also been modified to account for channel migration and 
erosion along Brockonbridge Gut, Mispillion River, Broadkill River, 
and several small unnamed streams.
    H01: NORTH BETHANY BEACH UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit 
has been modified to account for erosion and channel migration of an 
unnamed stream.

South Carolina

    The Service's review found all 23 of the CBRS units in South 
Carolina (including one unit, M01, that crosses the State boundary into 
North Carolina) to have changed due to natural forces.

    M01: WAITES ISLAND COMPLEX. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to reflect natural changes that have occurred in the 
configuration of the marsh, wetland/fastland interface, and the 
location of House Creek, Little River, the Intracoastal Waterway, a 
small unnamed creek, and Hog Inlet. Due to the dynamic nature of the 
adjacent barrier to the south of the unit, the southern lateral 
boundary has been generalized and placed generally at the southern 
side of Hog Inlet. The South Carolina and North Carolina segments of 
this unit have been combined into a simple map for simplicity and 
clarity.
    M02: LITCHFIELD BEACH UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit 
has been modified to account for channel migration along Clubhouse 
Creek, wetlands loss, and the accretion of the Litchfield Beach sand 
spit and associated shoals.
    M03: PAWLEYS INLET UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to include emergent marsh, account for channel migration at 
the north end of the unit, and reflect natural changes to the 
wetland/fastland interface on the landward side of the unit.
    M04: DEBIDUE BEACH UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for channel migration along Debidue and Jones 
Creeks. The boundary has been modified to reflect natural changes to 
the wetland/fastland interface on the landward side of the unit, and 
to keep all of North Island in the adjacent unit to the south (Unit 
SC-04).

[[Page 53471]]

    M05: DEWEES ISLAND COMPLEX. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for natural changes in the wetlands and channel 
migration along Whiteside Creek, Dewees Creek, and Capers Inlet. The 
boundary has been modified to reflect natural changes to the 
wetland/fastland interface on the mainland as well as along the 
northern side of Dewees Island.
    M06: MORRIS ISLAND COMPLEX. Portions of the unit's landward 
boundary have been modified to account for natural changes to the 
wetlands/fastland interface. The boundary has been modified to 
address channel migration and wetlands loss along Folly Creek, Rat 
Island Creek, and several other minor channels. The boundary has 
been modified to account for erosion at the tip of the sand spit on 
the northern end of Folly Island. Several portions of the boundary 
have been generalized where the underlying features that the 
boundary originally followed (e.g., wetlands and minor channels) no 
longer exist and suitable substitutes were not identified.
    M07: BIRD KEY COMPLEX. Portions of the unit's boundary have been 
modified to account for channel migration along Folly River, Stono 
River, and Bass Creek. Portions of the landward boundary have been 
modified to reflect natural changes to the wetland/fastland 
interface. Several portions of the boundary have been generalized 
where the underlying features that the boundary originally followed 
(e.g., wetlands and minor channels) no longer exist and suitable 
substitutes were not identified.
    M07P: BIRD KEY COMPLEX. Portions of the unit's boundary have 
been modified slightly to account for channel migration along Folly 
River.
    M08: CAPTAIN SAMS INLET UNIT. The eastern boundary of the unit 
has been modified to account for channel migration along Kiawah 
River and Captain Sams Creek. The landward boundary has been 
modified to address natural changes to the wetland/fastland 
interface.
    M09: EDISTO COMPLEX. The boundary of the unit has been modified 
to account for channel migration along North Edisto River, Ocella 
Creek, and Jeremy Inlet. The landward boundary has been modified to 
reflect natural changes to the wetland/fastland interface. The 
offshore boundary has been extended to clarify the inclusion of 
Deveaux Bank within the unit.
    M09P: EDISTO COMPLEX. The boundary of the unit has been modified 
to account for channel migration along Jeremy Inlet and Scott Creek.
    M10: OTTER ISLAND UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for channel migration along South Edisto River 
and Two Sisters Creek. The boundary has been modified to reflect 
natural changes in the wetland/fastland interface.
    M11: HARBOR ISLAND UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for erosion and wetlands loss along Harbor River 
and Ward Creek and to remove a portion of Harbor Island, which has 
accreted into the unit but was intended to be excluded. The boundary 
has been modified to reflect natural changes in the wetland/fastland 
interface.
    M12: ST. PHILLIPS ISLAND UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for channel migration, wetlands loss, and spit 
accretion along Skull Creek and Skull Inlet. The boundary has been 
modified to account for channel migration along Story River and an 
unnamed tributary. The landward boundary has been modified to 
reflect natural changes to the wetland/fastland interface.
    M13: DAUFUSKIE ISLAND UNIT. The northern lateral boundary of the 
unit has been moved northward to account for an accreting sand spit 
and associated shoals. The boundary has been modified to address 
channel migration along Mungen Creek, New River, and an unnamed 
stream.
    SC-01: LONG POND UNIT. A segment of the boundary in the northern 
portion of the unit has been modified to account for channel 
migration and erosion. The portions of the Meher Spiritual Center 
that were not already within the unit have been added based on a 
voluntary addition request made by the owners of the property to the 
Secretary of the Interior.
    SC-03: HUNTINGTON BEACH UNIT. The northern boundary of the unit 
along Main Creek has been modified to account for natural changes at 
the southern tip of Garden City Beach north of Murrells Inlet. 
Portions of the boundary have been modified to account for channel 
migration along Oaks Creek and natural changes that have occurred in 
the configuration of the wetland/fastland interface.
    SC-04: NORTH/SOUTH ISLANDS UNIT. The boundary of the unit has 
been modified to account for natural changes in the wetland/fastland 
interface and channel migration in North Santee Bay. The boundary 
has been modified to keep all of North Island and South Island, 
which had both been accreting into adjacent units, in Unit SC-04.
    SC-05P: SANTEE UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been modified 
to account for channel migration along North Santee Bay and the 
South Santee River. The landward boundary has been modified to 
reflect natural changes to the wetland/fastland interface. A portion 
of Cape Island has accreted out of adjacent Unit SC-06P and into 
Unit SC-05P, but because it is unclear whether this portion of the 
coincident boundary between the two units is based on an established 
property boundary, the boundary has not been modified.
    SC-06P: CAPE ROMAIN UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to reflect natural changes to the wetland/fastland 
interface. It has been modified to address channel migration and 
wetlands loss along Bull Narrows, Price Creek, and several other 
minor channels. A portion of Cape Island has accreted out of Unit 
SC-06P and into adjacent Unit SC-05P, but because it is unclear 
whether this portion of the coincident boundary between the two 
units is based on an established property boundary, the boundary has 
not been modified.
    SC-07P: CAPERS ISLAND UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit 
has been modified to reflect natural changes to the wetland/fastland 
interface. The boundary has been modified to account for channel 
migration and wetlands loss along Bull Narrows, Price Creek, 
Whiteside Creek, Capers Inlet, and several other minor channels.
    SC-09P: HUNTING ISLAND UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for erosion and wetlands loss along Harbor 
River, and channel migration in the unnamed channel upstream of 
Fripps Inlet.
    SC-10P: TURTLE ISLAND UNIT. The boundary has been modified to 
account for channel migration along New River, Wright River, and 
Walls Cut.

Texas

    The Service's review found 28 of the 35 CBRS units in Texas to have 
changed due to natural forces.

    T02A: HIGH ISLAND UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to reflect natural changes to the southern edge of the 
Intracoastal Waterway.
    T03A: BOLIVAR PENINSULA UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to reflect natural changes in the configuration of the 
wetlands on and around the Bolivar Peninsula and along the 
Intracoastal Waterway. A small overwash fan has been added to the 
southern segment of the unit. Additionally, the excluded area of the 
southern segment of the unit and a portion of the southwestern 
boundary of the southern segment of the unit were modified (by 
approximately 80 feet and 230 feet respectively) to correct an error 
in transcription of the boundary from the draft map that was 
reviewed and approved by Congress to the official map dated October 
24, 1990, for this unit. This area was correctly depicted on the 
original 1982 official map for Unit T03A as well as the draft map 
for Unit T03A contained the Service's 1988 Report to Congress: 
Volume 19, Texas (North Coast). This correction is supported by an 
assessment of the historical maps for this area as well as the 
legislative history of the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 
(Pub. L 101-591).
    T03AP: BOLIVAR PENINSULA UNIT. A portion of the boundary at the 
southwestern end of the unit has been modified to reflect natural 
changes along the Gulf-fronting shoreline near Port Bolivar.
    T04: FOLLETS ISLAND UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for natural changes to the landward side of 
Follets Island, the southern side of the Intracoastal Waterway, and 
the configuration of the wetlands along Mud Island. The seaward 
boundaries of the excluded areas have been modified to account for 
erosion along the Gulf-fronting shoreline of Follets Island.
    T04P: FOLLETS ISLAND UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for natural changes to the landward side of 
Follets Island, the southern side of the Intracoastal Waterway, and 
the configuration of the wetlands along Mud Island.
    T05: BRAZOS RIVER COMPLEX. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to account for natural changes along the southern edge of 
the Intracoastal Waterway. The boundary of the southern segment of 
the unit located landward of the Intracoastal

[[Page 53472]]

Waterway has been modified in some places to reflect natural changes 
to the wetlands and the eastern edge of the San Bernard River.
    T05P: BRAZOS RIVER COMPLEX. Portions of the landward boundary at 
the northern end of the unit have been modified to account for 
natural changes to the southern edge of the Intracoastal Waterway.
    T06: SARGENT BEACH UNIT. Portions of the unit's boundary have 
been modified to account for wetlands loss and to follow the 
northern edge of the barrier located to the south of the Cedar 
Lakes. The coincident boundary between Units T06 and T06P has been 
generalized in places where the configuration of the barrier feature 
has changed. The lateral portion of the coincident boundary between 
the two units has not been modified, because it is unclear whether 
that portion of the boundary is based on an established property 
boundary.
    T06P: SARGENT BEACH UNIT. Portions of the landward boundary at 
the northern end of the unit have been modified to account for 
natural changes to the southern edge of the Intracoastal Waterway. 
Portions of the boundary have been modified to account for wetlands 
loss and to follow the northern edge of the barrier located to the 
south of the Cedar Lakes. The coincident boundary between Units T06 
and T06P has been generalized in places where the configuration of 
the barrier feature has changed. The lateral portion of the 
coincident boundary between the two units has not been modified, 
because it is unclear whether that portion of the boundary is based 
on an established property boundary.
    T07: MATAGORDA PENINSULA UNIT. The coincident boundary between 
Units T07 and T07P has been generalized, in order to account for 
natural changes to the edge of the wetlands and the shoreline on the 
landward side of the Matagorda Peninsula and a strip of spoil 
islands behind the peninsula along the Intracoastal Waterway. These 
boundaries have been generalized because of the highly dynamic 
nature of the barrier. Wetlands located to the west of the Colorado 
River on the landward side of the unit were added to the unit. An 
historic inlet towards the southern end of the Matagorda Peninsula 
that has closed since the map was last updated has been reclassified 
from T07P (an otherwise protected area) to T07 (a System unit).
    T07P: MATAGORDA PENINSULA UNIT. The coincident boundary between 
Units T07 and T07P has been generalized, in order to account for 
natural changes to the edge of the wetlands and the shoreline on the 
landward side of the Matagorda Peninsula and strip of spoil islands 
behind the peninsula along the Intracoastal Waterway. These 
boundaries have been generalized because of the highly dynamic 
nature of the barrier. Wetlands around the mouth of a channel that 
empties into Matagorda Bay (located just west of the Colorado River) 
have been added to the unit. An historic inlet towards the southern 
end of the Matagorda Peninsula that has closed since the map was 
last updated has been reclassified from T07P (an otherwise protected 
area) to T07 (a System unit).
    T08: SAN JOSE ISLAND COMPLEX. The coincident boundaries between 
Units T08 and TX-06P and between Units T08 and T08P have been 
modified to account for natural changes along certain channels 
within the wetlands on the landward side of Matagorda Island, along 
the edge of the wetlands behind Matagorda Island and San Jose 
Island, and along the shoreline of the barrier. An historic inlet at 
Cedar Bayou between San Jose Island and Matagorda Island that has 
closed since the map was last updated has been reclassified from 
T08P (an otherwise protected area) to T08 (a System unit).
    T08P: SAN JOSE ISLAND COMPLEX. The landward boundary of most of 
the unit has been modified to account for natural changes along the 
southern edge of the Intracoastal Waterway. The coincident 
boundaries between Units T08P and TX-06P and between Units T08P and 
T08 have been modified to account for natural changes along certain 
channels within the wetlands on the landward side of Matagorda 
Island, along the edge of the wetlands behind Matagorda Island and 
San Jose Island, and along the shoreline of the barrier. An historic 
inlet at Cedar Bayou between San Jose Island and Matagorda Island 
that has closed since the map was last updated has been reclassified 
from T08P (an otherwise protected area) to T08 (a System unit).
    T11, T11P: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND UNIT. The coincident boundary 
between Units T11 and T11P has been modified in some places to 
better follow a break between the Laguna Madre and South Padre 
Island that is visible on the base imagery.
    T12: BOCA CHICA UNIT. Portions of the boundary of the unit have 
been modified to account for natural changes to the wetland/fastland 
interface as visible on the base imagery. The northern boundary of 
the unit has been modified to account for natural changes to the 
shoreline. Two narrow strips that were not included in the original 
unit were added to the southwestern portion of the unit. These 
strips include both wetlands and fastlands that are not connected to 
the mainland and are part of the barrier system. The boundary along 
the mouth of the Rio Grande has been moved northward to account for 
erosion of the barrier on the U.S. side of the river and accretion 
of the barrier on the Mexico side.
    T12P: BOCA CHICA UNIT. Portions of the western boundary of the 
southern segment of the unit have been modified to reflect natural 
changes to the wetland/fastland interface as visible on the base 
imagery.
    TX-02P: MCFADDIN UNIT. The boundary of the unit has been 
modified to reflect natural changes to the southern edge of the 
Intracoastal Waterway and to the northern shoreline of Star Lake.
    TX-04, TX-04P: SWAN LAKE UNIT. The coincident boundary between 
the units has been generalized due to the erosion of the underlying 
barrier feature in Swan Lake that it was originally following. The 
landward boundary of both units has been modified to reflect natural 
changes in the wetland/fastland interface and the shoreline.
    TX-06P: MATAGORDA ISLAND UNIT. The landward boundary of most of 
the unit has been modified to account for natural changes along the 
southern edge of the Intracoastal Waterway. The coincident 
boundaries between Units TX-06P and T08P and between Units TX-06P 
and T08 at the southern end of the unit have also been modified due 
to natural changes along certain channels within the wetlands on the 
landward side of Matagorda Island.
    TX-09: COON ISLAND BAY UNIT. Portions of the landward boundary 
of the unit have been modified to account for natural changes to the 
wetland/fastland interface and the shoreline.
    TX-10: SHELL BEACH UNIT. Portions of the landward boundary of 
the unit have been modified to account for natural changes to the 
wetland/fastland interface. An area of wetlands along the northern 
lateral boundary was added to the unit.
    TX-15P: MUSTANG ISLAND UNIT. Portions of the southern boundary 
of the unit located to the northwest of Packery Channel Park have 
been modified to account for natural changes to the wetland/fastland 
interface. Another portion of the southern part of the boundary has 
been modified to follow the western edge of Packery Channel.
    TX-17, TX-17P: SHAMROCK ISLAND UNIT. The coincident boundary 
between TX-17 and TX-17P has been generalized and straightened, 
because Shamrock Island has eroded significantly and in some places 
there is no longer a feature for the boundary to follow. The 
southern boundary of both units has been moved southward to account 
for accretion at the south end of Shamrock Island.
    TX-19: STARVATION POINT UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit 
has been modified to account for the eroding shoreline and natural 
changes to the wetland/fastland interface. The boundary has been 
modified to include the entire sand-sharing system of the barrier 
feature around Starvation Point in the unit.
    TX-21: KLEBERG POINT UNIT. The landward boundary of the unit has 
been modified to account for the eroding shoreline and changes to 
the wetland/fastland interface. The boundary has been modified to 
include the entire sand-sharing system of the barrier feature around 
Kleberg Point in the unit.

Florida

    The Service's review found that Unit FL-87P (the only CBRS unit in 
Florida that was part of this review) had changed due to natural 
forces. The other CBRS units in Florida were not assessed as part of 
this review.

    FL-87P: ANCLOTE KEY UNIT. The boundaries of the unit have been 
extended to the north, east, and south in order to capture the 
entire sand-sharing system of Anclote Key and to include a portion 
of Anclote Key that has accreted south outside of the existing 
boundaries.

Request for Comments

    The CBRA requires consultation with the appropriate Federal, State, 
and local officials on the proposed CBRS boundary modifications to 
reflect changes that have occurred in the size

[[Page 53473]]

or location of any CBRS unit as a result of natural forces (16 U.S.C. 
3503(c)). We invite interested Federal, State, and local officials to 
review and comment on the draft maps for Delaware, South Carolina 
(including one unit that crosses the State boundary into North 
Carolina), Texas, and one unit in Florida. The Service is specifically 
notifying the following stakeholders concerning the availability of the 
draft maps and opportunity to provide comments on the proposed boundary 
modifications: The Chair and Ranking Member of the House of 
Representatives Committee on Natural Resources; the Chair and Ranking 
Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; the 
members of the Senate and House of Representatives for the affected 
areas; the Governors of the affected areas, and other appropriate 
Federal, State, and local officials.
    Federal, State, and local officials may submit written comments and 
accompanying data to the individual and location identified in the 
ADDRESSES section above. We will also accept digital Geographic 
Information System (GIS) data files that are accompanied by written 
comments. Comments regarding specific units should reference the 
appropriate CBRS unit number and unit name. Please note that boundary 
modifications through this process can only be made to reflect changes 
that have occurred in the size or location of any CBRS unit as a result 
of natural forces, voluntary additions to the CBRS, or additions of 
excess Federal property to the CBRS; other requests for changes to the 
CBRS will not be considered at this time. We must receive comments on 
or before the date listed in the DATES section of this document.

Availability of Draft Maps and Related Information

    The draft maps and digital boundary data can be accessed and 
downloaded from the Service's Internet site: http://www.fws.gov/CBRA. 
The digital boundary data are available in shapefile format for 
reference purposes only. The digital boundaries are best viewed using 
the base imagery to which the boundaries were drawn; this information 
is printed in the title block of the draft maps. The Service is not 
responsible for any misuse or misinterpretation of the digital boundary 
data.
    Interested parties may also contact the Service individual 
identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above to make 
arrangements to view the draft maps at the Service's Headquarters 
office. Interested parties who are unable to access the draft maps via 
the Internet or at the Service's Headquarters office may contact the 
Service individual identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section above, and reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure the 
stakeholder's ability to view the draft maps.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Gary Frazer,
Assistant Director for Ecological Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-21167 Filed 8-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P