[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39569-39570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17615]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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

ACTION: Notice of public comment period for the Jobos Bay National

[[Page 39570]]

Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office for Coastal Management, 
National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing a 30-day 
public comment period for the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research 
Reserve Management Plan revision. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), the 
revised plan will bring the reserve into compliance. The Jobos Bay 
Reserve revised plan will replace the plan approved in 2000.
    The revised management plan outlines the administrative structure; 
the research/monitoring, stewardship, education, and training programs 
and priorities of the reserve; plans for a proposed boundary expansion 
through future land acquisition; and facility development priorities to 
support reserve operations.
    The Jobos Bay Reserve takes an integrated approach to management, 
linking research and education, coastal training, and stewardship 
functions. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental 
Resources (PRDNER) 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. Since the last management 
plan, the reserve has: developed core programs; expanded monitoring 
programs within Jobos Bay and its watershed; expanded its dorm, and 
remodeled the historic train depot and visitor center; conducted 
training workshops; implemented K-12 education programs; and built new 
and innovative partnerships with local, Commonwealth, and U.S. 
organizations and universities.
    The total number of acres within the boundary is 2800 acres, which 
is a slight modification of the original 2883 acres identified in the 
previous management plan. The revised acreage is a result of survey 
contracted by the PRDNER to clarify the boundary. The revised 
management plan will serve as the guiding document for the Jobos Bay 
Reserve for the next five years. View the Jobos Bay Reserve Management 
Plan revision at (http://drna.pr.gov/jbnerr/) and provide comments to 
the Reserve's Manager, Aitza Pabon ([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nina Garfield at (240) 533-0817 or 
Erica Seiden at (240) 533-0781 of NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, 
1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

    Dated: July 27, 2017.
Paul M. Scholz,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-17615 Filed 8-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-08-P