[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 53732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21220]



[[Page 53732]]

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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 of the Grand Bay, Mississippi and Delaware 
National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan Revisions.

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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, U.S. 
Department of Commerce approves the Grand Bay, Mississippi and the 
Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan Revisions. 
The revised management plans outline the administrative structure; the 
research, education, training, and stewardship goals of the reserve; 
and the plans for future land acquisition and facility development to 
support reserve operations.
    The Grand Bay Reserve takes an integrated approach to management, 
linking research, education, training and stewardship functions to 
address high priority issues including climate change, threats to 
reserve resources and ecological functions, watershed development, and 
changes in water quality. Since the last management plan, the reserve 
has built out its core programs and monitoring infrastructure; 
constructed a L.E.E.D. certified Coastal Resources Center that includes 
laboratories, offices, classrooms, interpretative areas, and 
dormitories; and created interpretive trails.
    With the approval of this management plan, the Grand Bay Reserve 
will decrease their total acreage from 18,400 acres to 18,049. The 
change is attributable to accuracy adjustments based on improved 
geographic information for the site. The revised management plan will 
serve as the guiding document for the 18,049 acre Grand Bay Reserve for 
the next five years.
    The Delaware management plan focuses on improving the scientific 
understanding of estuarine and coastal ecosystems; improving public 
awareness and environmental literacy to enable environmentally 
sustainable decision-making; and protecting, managing and restoring the 
reserve to serve as a model site for sustainable community stewardship. 
Notable changes in the revised plan include a boundary expansion, a new 
coastal training program, implementation of the Blackbird Creek Reserve 
Master Ecological Restoration Plan, the opening of the Blackbird Creek 
Stewardship Center and facility improvements to the St. Jones Coastal 
Training Center.
    With the approval of this management plan, the Delaware Reserve 
will increase their total acreage from 4,930 acres to 6,206. The change 
is attributable to acquisition of two parcels, totaling 64.3 acres, and 
increased mapping accuracy. These parcels have high ecological value 
and provide increased opportunities for research, education, and 
restoration. The revised management plan will serve as the guiding 
document for the 6,206 acre Delaware Reserve for the next five years.
    The Grand Bay, Mississippi Reserve Management Plan revision is 
available at (http://grandbaynerr.org/reserve-management-plan) and the 
Delaware Reserve Management Plan revision is available at (http://de.gov/dnerr).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Chasse at (301) 563-1198, Michael 
Migilori at (301) 563-1126 or Erica Seiden at (301) 563-1172 of NOAA's 
National Ocean Service, Estuarine Reserves Division, 1305 East-West 
Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

    Dated: August 23, 2013.
Christopher C. Cartwright,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, National 
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-21220 Filed 8-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P