[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 42479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17426]



[[Page 42479]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Amendment to the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management 
Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office 
for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, Commerce.

ACTION: Solicitation of Comments; Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed 
Amendment to Puerto Rico Coastal Management Program.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) 
Office for Coastal Management is soliciting comments on a program 
change amendment to the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program 
(PRCZMP). This notice describes the opportunities for public comment on 
the program change.

DATES: The hearing on the program amendment to the PRCMP will be held 
on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 9 a.m. local time at the 
Environmental Agencies Building, PR-8838 Km. 6.3, Auditorium 4th Floor, 
El Cinco, Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to Joelle Gore, Stewardship 
Division Chief (Acting), NOAA Office for Coastal Management, NOS/OCM/
SD, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, Room 10622, N/OCM6, Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910, or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jackie Rolleri, at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The federal Coastal Zone Management Act provides incentives to 
encourage and assist states, commonwealths and territories to develop 
and implement programs to manage land and water uses which may affect 
coastal land and water resources. The PRCZMP was approved by NOAA in 
1978. Since that time, statutory and regulatory changes have been made 
to the organizational structure of the land use agencies which comprise 
the PRCZMP, the land use authority of local governments, and permit 
review process. These changes are in force and being implemented as 
laws of the Commonwealth pursuant to the Puerto Rico Permit Process 
Reform Act of 2009 (Law 161), as amended by Law 151 of 2013, and 
pursuant to the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991 (Law 81). In 
order to demonstrate that the program continues to meet the 
requirements for program approval established under the Coastal Zone 
Management Act and its implementing regulations, the Department of 
Natural and Environmental Resources has submitted these changes to NOAA 
for approval. Copies of the proposed changes are available by 
navigating from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources 
homepage at http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/.
    NOAA's Office for Coastal Management has determined that these 
changes are a program amendment. As such, NOAA is required to hold a 
public hearing on the amendment. The focus of the hearing is whether 
the PRCZMP continues to meet the requirements for program approval as 
specified in the Coastal Zone Management Program regulations at 15 CFR 
part 923. For those interested in making oral statements at the public 
hearing, the submission of supplemental written comments is encouraged.
    In addition to the hearing, NOAA is soliciting written comments 
from the public on the amendment. Written comments will be accepted 
before and after the public hearing through September 23, 2015.

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419
Coastal Zone Management Program Administration

     Dated: July 9, 2015.
Christopher C. Cartwright,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, Ocean 
Services and Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-17426 Filed 7-16-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P