[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 47358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17216]


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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 for the Padilla Bay, Washington National 
Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision.

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SUMMARY: Under 15 CFR 921.33(d), 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 revised Management Plan for Padilla 
Bay, Washington National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan. In 
accordance with 15 CFR 921.33(c), the Padilla Bay Reserve revised its 
Management Plan, which will replace the plan previously approved in 
2008.
    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 Padilla Bay 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; conducted an educational market analysis and needs 
assessment to better meet teacher needs and underserved audiences; 
developed a Reserve Disaster Response Plan; and improved public access 
to the Reserve through construction of a new boat launch ramp and 
enhanced trails.
    On March 10, 2016, NOAA issued a notice of a thirty day public 
comment period for the Padilla Bay Reserve revised plan (81 FR 12716). 
Responses to the written and oral comments received, and an explanation 
of how comments were incorporated into the final revised plan, are 
available in Appendix G of the revised plan.
    Since the last management plan was approved in 2008, the Padilla 
Bay Reserve has acquired an additional 110 acres of tidelands inside 
the Reserve boundary. With the approval of this management plan, the 
Padilla Bay Reserve will increase their total acreage to 11,966. The 
change is attributable to the recent acquisitions of several parcels by 
the Reserve state agency, totaling 110 acres. All of the proposed 
additions are owned by the Washington Department of Ecology 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 11,966 acre Padilla Bay Reserve. View the 
Padilla Bay, Washington Reserve Management Plan at http://www.padillabay.gov/pdfs/ManagementPlan_2016-2020.pdf.
    The impacts of the revised management plan have not changed and the 
initial Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared at the time of 
designation is still valid. NOAA determined that the revision of the 
management plan will not have a significant effect on the human 
environment and therefore qualifies for a categorical exclusion under 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6. An environmental assessment will not 
be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bree Turner at (206) 526-4641 or Erica 
Seiden at (301) 563-1172 of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Office for 
Coastal Management, Stewardship Division, 1305 East-West Highway, N/
ORM5, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

    Dated: July 14, 2016.
John King,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-17216 Filed 7-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-08-P