[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 71 (Friday, April 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17973-17974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07560]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Approval for the Weeks Bay, Alabama National Estuarine 
Research Reserve Management Plan Revision

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

ACTION: Public 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 (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce approves 
the Revised Management Plan for the Weeks Bay National Estuarine 
Research Reserve (NERR) located in Alabama. Refer to SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Chasse, Stewardship Division, 
Office for Coastal Management at 240-533-0808 or via email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Estuarine Research Reserve 
System (NERRS) is a federal-state partnership administered by NOAA. The 
system protects more than 1.3 million acres of estuarine habitat for 
long-term research, monitoring, education and stewardship throughout 
the coastal United States. Established by the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972, as amended, each reserve is managed by a lead state agency 
or university, with input from local partners. NOAA provides funding 
and national programmatic guidance.
    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 Weeks Bay Reserve takes an integrated approach to management, 
linking research, education, coastal training, and stewardship 
functions. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 
has outlined how it will administer the Reserve and its core programs 
by providing detailed actions that will enable it to accomplish 
specific goals and objectives. Under the previous management plan, the 
Reserve built out its core programs and monitoring infrastructure; 
constructed several facilities including a Resource Center that 
supports education, training, and outreach events; participated in more 
than 35 research projects and conducted over 100 coastal training 
program events; convened a permanent Restoration Advisory Board; and 
built new partnerships with organizations within the Mobile Bay of 
Alabama.
    With the approval of this management plan, the Weeks Bay Reserve 
will increase their total acreage from 6,594 acres to 9,317 acres. The 
change is attributable to acquisition of seven tracts acquired by the 
State of Alabama totaling 933 acres of land and 1,790

[[Page 17974]]

acres of water bottoms adjacent to the newly acquired land, totaling 
2,723 acres. 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 
9,317-acre Weeks Bay Reserve for the next five years.
    On December 29, 2016, NOAA issued notice of a public meeting and a 
thirty-day public comment period for the Weeks Bay Reserve Management 
Plan revision (81 FR 94964). The Weeks Bay, Alabama Reserve Management 
Plan revision is available at: (http://www.outdooralabama.com/weeks-bay-reserve), and at https://coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/reserves/weeks-bay.html.

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.420, Coastal Zone Management 
Program Administration.

    Dated: April 7, 2017.
Donna Rivelli,
Deputy Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, 
Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-07560 Filed 4-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-08-P