[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 65987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27425]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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

ACTION: Notice of approval of the Apalachicola, Florida National 
Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision.

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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 approves the 
Apalachicola, Florida National Estuarine Research Reserve Management 
Plan revision. The revised management plan outlines the administrative 
structure; the research & monitoring, education, training, and 
stewardship goals of the reserve; and the plans for future land 
acquisition and facility development to support reserve operations. The 
Apalachicola Reserve revised plan will replace the plan approved in 
2003.
    The Apalachicola Reserve management plan emphasizes a fully 
integrated approach that links ongoing research, education, training 
and stewardship programs together. This integrated approach, in 
coordination with strategic partnerships addresses high priority 
reserve issues including public use and access, changing land use 
patterns, the loss of cultural resources, impacts of global and 
regional processes on ecosystems and communities, engagement with local 
communities, and changes in reserve habitats. Since the last management 
plan, the reserve has expanded its monitoring and geographic 
information system programs; increased staff resources; completed a 
site profile, established a Coastal Training Program; expanded 
educational programs; and constructed a new nature center and 
headquarters complex in the town of Eastpoint that includes 
laboratories, offices, classrooms, interpretative areas, and are 
planning interpretive trails.
    There is a boundary change associated with this management plan 
revision that will decrease their total acreage from 246,766 acres to 
234,715. 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 234,715 acre 
Apalachicola Reserve for the next five years. View the Apalachicola, 
Florida Reserve Management Plan revision at (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/apalachicola/publications.htm).

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: October 20, 2015.
John King,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-27425 Filed 10-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-08-P