[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 59138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25090]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Mission-Aransas, Texas National Estuarine Research Reserve 
Management Plan Revision; Notice of Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Stewardship Division, Office 
for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing a 
thirty day public comment period for the Mission-Aransas, Texas 
National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision. Pursuant 
to 15 CFR 921.33(c), the revised plan will bring the reserve into 
compliance. The Mission-Aransas Reserve revised plan will replace the 
plan approved in 2006.
    The revised management plan outlines the administrative structure; 
the research/monitoring, stewardship, education, and training programs 
of the reserve; and the plans for future land acquisition and facility 
development to support reserve operations.
    The Mission-Aransas Reserve takes an integrated approach to 
management, linking research, education, coastal training, and 
stewardship functions. The Reserve has outlined how it will manage 
administration and its core program providing detailed actions that 
will enable it to accomplish specific goals and objectives. Since the 
last management plan, the Reserve has built out its core programs and 
monitoring infrastructure; constructed several facilities including a 
L.E.E.D. certified Estuarine Research Center that serves as the reserve 
headquarters and includes laboratories, offices, classrooms, 
interpretative areas and dormitories; and built new partnerships with 
organizations along the Coastal Bend of Texas.
    With the approval of this management plan, the Mission-Aransas 
Reserve will increase their total acreage from 185,708 acres to 
186,189. The change is attributable to the recent acquisitions of 
several parcels by Reserve partners, totaling 481 acres. All of the 
proposed additions are owned by existing Reserve partners and will be 
managed for long-term protection and conservation value. These parcels 
have high ecological value and will enhance the Reserve's ability to 
provide increased opportunities for research, education, and 
stewardship. The revised management plan will serve as the guiding 
document for the expanded 186,189 acre Mission-Aransas Reserve for the 
next five years.
    View the Mission-Aransas, Texas Reserve Management Plan revision at 
(https://sites.cns.utexas.edu/manerr/about/management-plan) and provide 
comments to ([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Chasse at (301) 563-1198 or Erica 
Seiden at (301) 563-1172 of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Stewardship 
Division, Office for Coastal Management, 1305 East-West Highway, N/
ORM5, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

    Dated: September 23, 2015.
John King,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-25090 Filed 9-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P