[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10739-10747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04889]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0004; FF09E15000-FXES111609B0000-189]


John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System; Hurricane Sandy 
Remapping Project for Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New 
Jersey

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments; notice of public 
meetings via webcast and teleconference.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2006 
requires the Secretary of the Interior to prepare digital versions of 
the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) maps. We, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have prepared proposed digital 
boundaries for the first batch of CBRS units included in the Hurricane 
Sandy Remapping Project. This first batch of the project includes a 
total of 148 CBRS units (112 existing units and 36 proposed new units) 
located in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. This 
notice announces the availability of the proposed boundaries for public 
review and comment, and also advises the public of upcoming public 
meetings that will be held via webcast and teleconference.

DATES: 
    Comment Period: To ensure consideration, we must receive your 
written comments by July 10, 2018.
    Public Meetings: We will hold public meetings via webcast and 
teleconference on May 8, 2018, and May 9, 2018; see Virtual Public 
Meetings and Meeting Participation Information under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for meeting dates, times, and registration information.
    Pre-Meeting Public Registration: If you are planning to participate 
in one of the virtual public meetings (being offered via webcast and 
telephone only), we request that participants register by emailing by 
May 1, 2018 (see Meeting Participation Information under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by one of the following 
methods:
     Electronically: Go to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov. Search for FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0004, which is 
the docket number for this notice.
     By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: 
Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0004; 
Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC; Falls Church, VA 22041-
3808.
    We request that you send comments by only one of the methods 
described above. We will post all information received on http://www.regulations.gov. If you provide personal identifying information in 
your comment, you may request at the top of your document that we 
withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers 
Coordinator, (703) 358-2071 (telephone); or [email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coastal Barrier Resources 
Reauthorization Act of 2006 (section 4 of Pub. L. 109-226; CBRRA) 
requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to prepare digital 
versions of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) 
maps. We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have prepared 
proposed digital boundaries for the first batch of CBRS units included 
in the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project. This first batch of the 
project includes a total of 148 CBRS units (112 existing units and 36 
proposed new units) located in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 
and New Jersey. This notice announces the availability of the proposed 
boundaries for public review and comment, and also advises the public 
of upcoming public meetings that will be held via webcast and 
teleconference.

Background on the Coastal Barrier Resources System

    Coastal barrier ecosystems are inherently dynamic systems located 
at the interface of land and sea. Coastal barriers and their associated 
aquatic habitat (wetlands and open water) provide important habitat for 
fish and wildlife, and serve as the mainland's first line of defense 
against the impacts of severe storms. With the passage of the CBRA in 
1982 (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), Congress recognized that certain actions 
and programs of the Federal Government have historically subsidized and 
encouraged development on storm-prone and highly dynamic coastal 
barriers, and the result has been the loss of natural resources; 
threats to human life, health, and property; and the expenditure of 
millions of tax dollars each year.
    The CBRA established the CBRS which originally comprised 186 
geographic units encompassing approximately 453,000 acres of relatively 
undeveloped lands and associated aquatic habitat along the Atlantic and 
Gulf of Mexico coasts. The CBRS was expanded by the Coastal Barrier 
Improvement Act of 1990 (CBIA; Pub. L. 101-591) to include additional 
areas along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, as well as areas 
along the coasts of the Great Lakes, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 
Puerto Rico. The CBRS now comprises a total of 862 geographic units, 
encompassing approximately 3.5 million acres of land and associated 
aquatic habitat. These areas are depicted on a series of maps known as 
the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System maps.
    Most new Federal expenditures and financial assistance that would 
have the effect of encouraging development are prohibited within the 
CBRS. Development can still occur within the CBRS, provided that 
private developers or other non-Federal parties bear the full cost. In 
his signing statement, President Reagan stated that the CBRA ``simply 
adopts the sensible approach that risk associated with new private 
development in these sensitive areas should be borne by the private 
sector, not underwritten by the American taxpayer.''
    The CBRS includes two types of units, System Units and Otherwise 
Protected Areas (OPAs). System Units contain areas that were relatively 
undeveloped and predominantly privately owned at the time of 
designation, though they may also contain areas held for conservation 
and/or recreation. Most new Federal expenditures and financial 
assistance, including Federal flood insurance, are prohibited within 
System Units. OPAs are predominantly comprised of conservation and/or 
recreation areas such as national wildlife refuges, state and national 
parks, and local and private conservation areas, though they may also 
contain private areas not held for conservation and/or recreation. OPAs 
are denoted with a ``P'' at the end of the unit number. The only 
Federal spending prohibition within OPAs is the prohibition related to 
Federal flood insurance.
    The Secretary, through the Service, is responsible for 
administering the CBRA, which includes maintaining the official

[[Page 10740]]

maps of the CBRS, consulting with Federal agencies that propose to 
spend funds within the CBRS, preparing updated maps of the CBRS, and 
making recommendations to Congress regarding changes to the CBRS. Aside 
from three minor exceptions, only Congress--through legislation--can 
modify the maps of the CBRS to add or remove land. These exceptions, 
which allow the Secretary to make limited modifications to the CBRS (16 
U.S.C. 3503(c)-(e)), are for: (1) Changes that have occurred to the 
CBRS as a result of natural forces, (2) voluntary additions to the CBRS 
by property owners, and (3) additions of excess Federal property to the 
CBRS.
    When assessing potential removals from and additions to the CBRS, 
the Service considers a set of guiding principles and criteria which 
are further described in the Types of Boundary Changes section below. 
In cases where mapping errors are found, the Service supports changes 
to the maps and works with Congress and other interested parties to 
create comprehensively revised maps using modern digital technology.

Background on the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project

    Following Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall along the North 
Atlantic coast in October 2012, the Department of the Interior 
(Department) funded a project to modernize the maps of approximately 
370 CBRS units in the nine states most affected by the storm: 
Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New 
Jersey, New York (Long Island), Rhode Island, and Virginia (comprising 
approximately 44 percent of the total units and 16 percent of the total 
acreage within the CBRS). This project makes significant progress 
towards fulfilling a statutory requirement (section 4 of Pub. L. 109-
226) to modernize the entire set of CBRS maps. The public review for 
this project will be conducted in two separate batches. The first batch 
includes Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. The 
second batch will include Connecticut, Maryland, New York (Long 
Island), Rhode Island, and Virginia.
    A list of all 148 CBRS units (112 existing units and 36 proposed 
new units) included in this first batch is attached to this notice as 
Appendix A. If adopted by Congress, the revised maps produced through 
this project would remove areas that were previously included within 
the CBRS in error and add new qualifying areas to the CBRS. This map 
modernization effort would also provide more accurate and accessible 
CBRS data for planning coastal infrastructure projects, habitat 
conservation efforts, and flood risk mitigation measures.

Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project Methodology

Digital Conversion of the Existing Boundaries

    The boundaries of the CBRS were originally hand-drawn on paper 
maps. The existing CBRS maps for Delaware and New Jersey underwent a 
digital conversion process between 2013 and 2015 (79 FR 21787 (April 
17, 2014) and 80 FR 25314 (May 4, 2015), respectively), which replaced 
the underlying base maps with aerial imagery and updated the boundaries 
to a digital format to make them compatible with modern Geographic 
Information Systems (GIS). The existing CBRS unit boundaries for 
Massachusetts were digitally converted as part of this project in 
accordance with the methodology described in a notice the Service 
published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2013 (78 FR 53467), 
though the existing boundaries for Massachusetts do not incorporate 
modifications to account for natural changes, voluntary additions, and 
additions of excess Federal property (such changes are instead 
reflected in the proposed boundaries). Digital conversion was not 
necessary for New Hampshire because it does not have any existing CBRS 
units.

Data Mining and Research

    The Service began conducting data mining and research for this 
project in January of 2015. The Service procured and assessed the 
quality and accuracy of the data necessary to: (1) Determine whether 
the existing CBRS unit boundaries appropriately follow the features 
they were intended to follow on-the-ground, (2) determine the level of 
development that was on-the-ground when the areas were originally 
included within the CBRS (e.g., dates of construction and density of 
development), (3) identify qualifying additions, and (4) evaluate unit 
type classifications (i.e., System Unit or OPA).
    The Service reviewed historical background records of the CBRS 
units, reports to Congress, public laws, legislative history, testimony 
from Congressional hearings, Federal Register notices, current and 
historical CBRS maps, the 1982 and 1994 CBRS Photographic Atlases (a 
set of aerial photography maintained by the Service with the CBRS unit 
boundaries overlaid), materials submitted by interested parties and 
their representatives in Congress, and an assortment of other data and 
information.
    We also obtained and assessed both geospatial and non-geospatial 
data from a variety of Federal sources (e.g., the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey), as 
well as State, local, and non-governmental sources. These data include 
but are not limited to current and historical aerial imagery, natural 
resource and natural hazard data (e.g., wetlands data, shoreline change 
data, and flood hazard data), land ownership and development data 
(e.g., property parcel data and date of construction information), and 
conservation and recreation area data (e.g., park and wildlife refuge 
parcel boundaries, conservation easement data, and parcel acquisition 
dates). Some of these data sets were available for download on the 
internet or through specific requests to the data steward, while others 
were reviewed online through mappers, websites, and/or databases.
    The proposed boundaries are based upon the best available 
information that the Service was able to obtain within the data mining 
and research timeframe for the project. There were many challenges 
associated with the data mining and research process. In some cases, 
data was unavailable, unattainable within a reasonable time frame, 
incomplete, outdated, and/or in conflict with other data of the same 
type from a different source. Dates of construction and both present 
and historical land ownership information were difficult to obtain and 
validate for certain areas (in particular, ownership information for 
undeveloped wetland areas). It was also difficult in some cases to 
determine structure type and use (e.g., residential, commercial, or 
other).

Initial Stakeholder Outreach

    During the data mining and research phase of the project, the 
Service conducted outreach with certain landowners and/or managers of 
coastal barrier areas that are ``otherwise protected'' (as defined by 
the CBIA), meaning within the boundaries of an area established under 
Federal, State, or local law, or held by a qualified organization 
(defined under the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 170(h)(3)), 
primarily for wildlife refuge, sanctuary, recreational, or natural 
resource conservation purposes. Such outreach was generally not 
conducted with the

[[Page 10741]]

landowners and/or managers of areas that do not meet the CBIA 
definition of ``otherwise protected.'' This includes areas zoned or 
regulated by State or local governments for the purpose of restricting 
the nature or density of development, but where such regulation does 
not necessarily reflect the intent of the property owners to protect 
the area for conservation and/or recreation in perpetuity. Examples of 
such areas include privately owned areas that are not held for 
conservation and/or recreation; local zoning categories such as dune 
districts, inlet hazard areas, and setback zones; and areas subject to 
conservation easements or leases that have limited restrictions.
    Conservation/recreation area landowners and/or managers were 
contacted in cases where the following information was necessary to 
prepare the initial proposed boundaries: (1) The location of 
conservation and/or recreation area boundaries (primarily in cases 
where the CBRS unit boundary was intended to be coincident with that 
boundary and there was conflicting information about the parcel 
boundary location), (2) the acquisition date(s) of the conservation 
and/or recreation area, and/or (3) the CBRS unit type classification 
(i.e., System Unit or OPA) for a particular conservation and/or 
recreation area.
    Given the large number of conservation and/or recreation area 
stakeholders within the project area and complexities associated with 
mapping numerous small parcels, we generally limited our initial 
outreach to those stakeholders that own and/or manage conservation and/
or recreation areas that are greater than approximately 10 acres in 
size within the existing and/or proposed System Units. See the Types of 
Boundary Changes section below for additional information about the 
mapping of conservation/recreation areas within the CBRS.
    The Service reached out to approximately 90 different stakeholders 
in Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, including but not limited 
to state natural resource management agencies, state parks and 
recreation agencies, private conservation organizations, and local 
governments. Some of these organizations, due to a variety of 
circumstances, were unable to provide input during the initial 
stakeholder outreach process. Additional outreach to these groups and a 
broader group of stakeholders (including the State of New Hampshire, 
which has no existing CBRS units and only one proposed new OPA) is 
being conducted as part of the public review process; see the Request 
for Comments section below for further information.

Acreage Calculations

    The Service calculates the acreage of the CBRS units to help assess 
the areal extent of the units and to quantify proposed changes. The 
total acreage of a CBRS unit is comprised of fastland (land above mean 
high tide) and associated aquatic habitat (wetlands and open water). 
For the purpose of calculating acreage for this project, the wetland/
fastland acreage breakdown of the units was derived from the Service's 
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) data. A shoreline was delineated (as 
described below) to be used in conjunction with the boundaries of the 
unit to calculate acreage, and only areas landward of this shoreline 
were included in the calculation. The associated aquatic habitat 
acreage numbers include open water landward of the coastal barrier, but 
not nearshore or offshore waters seaward of the shoreline. The offshore 
acreage of the units is not calculated because a fixed seaward boundary 
for the units is generally not drawn due to the highly dynamic nature 
of the littoral zone.
    Although acreage for offshore areas is not calculated, the entire 
sand sharing system on the seaward side, including the beach and 
nearshore area, is included within the CBRS units. The sand sharing 
system of coastal barriers is normally defined by the 30-foot 
bathymetric contour. In the Great Lakes and in large coastal embayments 
(e.g., Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and Narragansett Bay), the sand 
sharing system is more limited in extent. In these cases, the sand 
sharing system is defined by the 20-foot bathymetric contour or a line 
approximately 1 mile seaward of the shoreline, whichever is nearer the 
coastal barrier.

Shoreline Calculations

    The Service calculates the shoreline of the units to help assess 
the linear extent of the CBRS and to facilitate the calculation of the 
acreage of the units as described above. For the purposes of this 
project, the Service digitized a shoreline boundary to artificially 
close off the units along the seaward shoreline. This shoreline 
boundary generally follows the wet/dry sand line along the seaward side 
of the unit as interpreted from the base imagery. Additionally, the 
shoreline boundary spans any inlets and/or other dividing water bodies 
within each unit. In some cases, highly convoluted shorelines were 
generalized. Due to the complexities of shoreline delineations, acreage 
numbers (rather than shoreline miles) are the most reliable way to 
quantify proposed changes to the CBRS for individual units.

Types of Boundary Changes

    The Service applied objective mapping protocols in the preparation 
of proposed boundaries for the CBRS units included in this project. The 
Service also applied a set of guiding principles and criteria for 
assessing additions to and removals from the CBRS. In 1982 and 1985, 
the Department published guidance in the Federal Register (47 FR 35696 
(August 16, 1982) and 50 FR 8698 (March 4, 1985)) for delineating CBRS 
unit boundaries. The Department's 1982 Undeveloped Coastal Barriers: 
Report to Congress, 1988 Report to Congress: Coastal Barrier Resources 
System and the Service's 2016 Final Report to Congress: John H. Chafee 
Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project also 
contain protocols, criteria, and guiding principles for CBRS mapping.
    The different types of changes proposed through this project 
include modifications to reflect geomorphic change; alignment with 
geomorphic, development, and cultural features; additions to and 
removals from the CBRS; and modifications to CBRS boundaries in 
channels. Additionally, CBRS unit type classifications (and 
reclassifications) were determined according to a standard protocol 
described below.

Modifications To Reflect Geomorphic Change

    The CBRA requires that at least once every 5 years the Service 
review the maps of the CBRS and make modifications to the boundaries of 
the units to account for changes caused by natural forces such as 
accretion and erosion (16 U.S.C. 3503(c)). This type of change can be 
made by the Service administratively; however, it is also incorporated 
into ongoing CBRS mapping efforts like this project for efficiency and 
cost-saving purposes. The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been 
modified where appropriate to account for natural changes that have 
occurred since the maps were last updated.

Alignment With Geomorphic Features

    CBRS boundaries are often intended to follow geomorphic features 
such as a shoreline or the interface between wetlands and fastlands. 
This applies mostly to System Units, though there are many cases where 
OPA boundaries follow geomorphic features. The boundaries of System 
Units and OPAs have been modified where appropriate

[[Page 10742]]

to align with underlying geomorphic features.

Alignment With Development Features

    CBRS boundaries are often intended to follow development features, 
such as the edge of a road, a bridge, or the ``break-in-development'' 
that existed on-the-ground when the area was included within the CBRS. 
The break-in-development is where development ended, immediately 
adjacent to the last structure in a cluster or row of structures, or at 
the property parcel boundary of the last structure. This applies mostly 
to System Units, though there are cases where OPA boundaries follow 
development features. The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been 
modified where appropriate to align with development features.

Alignment With Cultural Features

    CBRS boundaries are often intended to follow cultural features such 
as roads and political boundaries (e.g., state, county, and town 
boundaries) or conservation/recreation area boundaries. Both System 
Units and OPAs follow cultural features; however, this applies 
especially to OPAs, which often coincide with the boundaries of the 
underlying conservation and/or recreation areas (although there are 
exceptions). The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been modified 
where appropriate to align with cultural features.

Additions to the CBRS

    In carrying out this project, the Service found areas of 
undeveloped fastland and associated aquatic habitat that are not 
currently within the CBRS but are appropriate for inclusion (either as 
additions to existing units or as entirely new units). When assessing 
whether an area may be appropriate for addition to the CBRS, the 
Service considered the following guiding principles:
    (1) Whether the area may reasonably be considered to be a coastal 
barrier feature, or related to a coastal barrier ecosystem (this 
generally includes areas that are inherently vulnerable to coastal 
hazards such as flooding, storm surge, wind, erosion, and sea level 
rise) and
    (2) whether inclusion of the area within the CBRS is rationally 
related to the purposes of the CBRA (i.e., to minimize the loss of 
human life, wasteful expenditure of Federal revenues, and damage to 
fish, wildlife, and other natural resources).

When assessing potential additions to the CBRS, the Service also 
considers the following criteria:
    (1) The level of development on-the-ground (i.e., whether the 
number of structures or complement of infrastructure on-the-ground 
exceed the threshold for the area to be considered undeveloped) (16 
U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)) and/or
    (2) in the case of certain additions to existing units, the 
location of geomorphic, cultural, and development features on-the-
ground at the time the adjacent area was included within the CBRS 
(i.e., whether the CBRS boundary lines on the maps precisely follow the 
underlying features they were intended to follow on-the-ground).

The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been modified where 
appropriate to add undeveloped fastland and associated aquatic habitat 
to the CBRS (either as additions to existing units or as entirely new 
units). Such additions to the CBRS are consistent with Section 4(c)(3) 
of the 2006 CBRRA which directs the Secretary to make recommendations 
for expansion of the CBRS. The unit type classification (i.e., System 
Unit versus OPA) was determined according to the protocol described 
below in the section entitled ``CBRS Unit Type Classification.''
    Additionally, the Service accommodates requests from landowners for 
voluntary additions to the CBRS or reclassifications of conservation/
recreation areas from OPA to System Unit status. Voluntary additions to 
the CBRS can be made by the Service administratively (16 U.S.C. 
3503(d)); however they are also incorporated into ongoing CBRS mapping 
efforts like this project for efficiency and cost-saving purposes.

Removals From the CBRS

    In carrying out this project, the Service found areas that were 
inappropriately included within the CBRS and constitute technical 
mapping errors. When assessing whether an area may be appropriate for 
removal from the CBRS, the Service considered the following guiding 
principles:
    (1) Whether the area may reasonably be considered to be a coastal 
barrier feature, or related to a coastal barrier ecosystem (this 
generally includes areas that are inherently vulnerable to coastal 
hazards such as flooding, storm surge, wind, erosion, and sea level 
rise); and
    (2) whether inclusion of the area within the CBRS is rationally 
related to the purposes of the CBRA (i.e., to minimize the loss of 
human life, wasteful expenditure of Federal revenues, and damage to 
fish, wildlife, and other natural resources).

The Service considers a technical mapping error to be a mistake in the 
delineation of the CBRS boundaries that was made as a result of 
incorrect, outdated, or incomplete information (often stemming from 
inaccuracies on the original base maps). When assessing whether an area 
may be appropriate for removal, the Service also considers the 
following criteria:
    (1) The level of development on-the-ground at the time the area was 
included within the CBRS (i.e., the number of structures or complement 
of infrastructure on-the-ground exceeded the threshold for the area to 
be considered undeveloped) (16 U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)); and/or
    (2) the location of geomorphic, cultural, and development features 
on-the-ground at the time the area was included within the CBRS (i.e., 
the CBRS boundary lines on the maps do not precisely follow the 
underlying features they were intended to follow on-the-ground).

The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been modified where 
appropriate to remove areas that were inappropriately included within 
the CBRS and constitute technical mapping errors.

Modifications to CBRS Boundaries in Channels

    In carrying out this project, the Service noted that the CBRS unit 
boundaries following channels in some cases include the entire channel 
and in other cases include none of the channel within the unit. The 
boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been modified where 
appropriate to include the entire extent of the channel within the 
unit. In cases where a System Unit and an OPA share a coincident 
boundary that follows a channel located between the two units, the 
entire channel is generally included within the System Unit. In cases 
where two System Units or two OPAs fall within a channel, the 
coincident boundary is placed at the center of the channel. A buffer 
(of about 20 feet) has generally been applied along developed 
shorelines (i.e., where structures and/or infrastructure such as 
bulkheads and roads are very close to and run parallel to or are 
coincident with the shoreline) to ensure that existing development and 
infrastructure located on the shoreline is not inadvertently included 
within the CBRS.

CBRS Unit Type Classification

    In carrying out this project, the Service considered the qualifying 
coastal barrier feature and delineated the unit boundaries in 
accordance with

[[Page 10743]]

the protocols, criteria, and guiding principles identified above, 
regardless of whether the area is (or was previously) owned or managed 
for conservation and/or recreation. In other words, the boundaries of 
both System Units and OPAs were generally drawn using the same 
protocols, criteria, and guiding principles. The Service then 
determined the unit type classification (for proposed additions) and 
reclassification (for existing units) in accordance with the protocols 
below.
    The unit type classification (i.e., System Unit versus OPA) is 
based on whether or not the unit was predominantly held for 
conservation and/or recreation at the time of designation, and has been 
modified where appropriate and practicable. Such unit type 
modifications for areas that are currently within the CBRS are referred 
to as ``reclassifications.'' The reclassified areas are either added to 
an existing adjacent unit of the same type or assigned a new unit 
number. The following considerations were applied for unit type 
classification and reclassification:
    Areas not Held for Conservation/Recreation Within OPAs: Areas that 
are not held for conservation/recreation, but are: (1) Interspersed 
with and/or adjacent to a larger conservation/recreation area, and (2) 
located in coastal barrier areas that were undeveloped according to the 
CBRA's statutory development criteria (16 U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)) at the 
time they were included within the CBRS (or are currently undeveloped 
in the case of proposed additions), may be included within OPAs. 
Additionally, privately held inholdings (developed or undeveloped 
private tracts that are contained within the exterior boundaries of the 
conservation and/or recreation area) may also be included within OPAs.
    Conservation/Recreation Areas Within System Units:

Held for Conservation/Recreation Prior to CBRS Designation

    Areas that are held for conservation/recreation and are: (1) 
Interspersed with and/or adjacent to a larger area that is not held for 
conservation/recreation, and (2) were undeveloped according to the 
CBRA's statutory development criteria (16 U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)) at the 
time they were included within the CBRS (or are currently undeveloped 
in the case of proposed additions), may be included within System 
Units.
    For conservation/recreation areas greater than 10 acres, the 
Service coordinated with the landowners (or managers) to seek their 
concurrence on inclusion of their area within the System Unit. If the 
owners do not concur with System Unit status, the Service classifies 
such areas as OPA to the extent practicable. However, minor 
conservation/recreation areas (i.e., fastland and wetlands smaller than 
10 acres) and certain areas of open water would be impractical from a 
mapping perspective to delineate separately as an OPA and therefore may 
be included within System Units. Outreach was generally not conducted 
for these minor areas during the initial stakeholder outreach phase of 
the project (described in the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project 
Methodology section above). Descriptions of such ``minor'' areas within 
System Units are included in the set of unit summaries that describe 
the Service's proposed changes to the CBRS. See the Availability of 
Proposed CBRS Boundaries and Related Information section below for 
information on where to access the unit summaries.
    The Service's records indicate that some conservation/recreation 
areas were intentionally added to the CBRS as System Units in the past. 
The Service generally did not seek concurrence from conservation/
recreation area owners (regardless of size) when there is evidence of 
such prior intent, including letters from the stakeholder in the 
Service's records indicating that the organization supported inclusion 
of the property within the System Unit in the past, or records of 
specific changes to the Department's recommended maps made by the 
Congressional committees that reviewed them prior to their enactment.

Held for Conservation/Recreation After Area Designated as CBRS

    If an area is dedicated to conservation and/or recreation after its 
initial inclusion within a System Unit, it is generally not 
reclassified to an OPA.

Proposed Modifications to the CBRS

    The Service has prepared draft revised boundaries that propose 
modifications to the CBRS in Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, 
as well as the designation of a new unit in New Hampshire. This first 
batch of the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project includes a total of 148 
CBRS units (112 existing units and 36 proposed new units) which are 
listed in Appendix A. The breakdown of units by state is as follows: 8 
existing units and 3 proposed new units in Delaware, 86 existing units 
and 23 proposed new units in Massachusetts, 1 proposed new unit in New 
Hampshire, and 18 existing units and 9 proposed new units in New 
Jersey. Three of the existing units have no proposed changes. Ten of 
the 36 proposed new units are comprised either partially or mostly of 
areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are proposed 
for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa. Twenty-six 
of the 36 proposed new units are comprised entirely of areas that are 
not currently contained within the CBRS. Nine of the existing 112 units 
are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-
versa, and therefore their current unit numbers are retired, resulting 
in 139 total proposed units.
    If adopted by Congress, the proposed boundaries would remove 557 
acres from the CBRS (371 acres of fastland and 186 acres of associated 
aquatic habitat) and add approximately 136,268 acres to the CBRS (6,051 
acres of fastland and 130,217 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The 
proposed boundaries would remove 271 structures from the CBRS and add 
199 structures to the CBRS. A summary of metrics associated with the 
proposed changes for each state is below. More detailed information 
regarding the specific proposed changes to each unit is available in a 
set of unit summaries. See the Availability of Proposed CBRS Boundaries 
and Related Information section below for information on where to 
access the unit summaries.

Delaware

    The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed 
boundaries for 8 of the 10 existing CBRS units in Delaware. A final 
recommended map for the remaining two existing units (Units DE-07P and 
H01) was submitted to Congress in 2016 as part of the Service's Digital 
Mapping Pilot Project. One existing unit in Delaware has no proposed 
changes. The Service identified three proposed new units in Delaware, 
which are comprised entirely of areas that are not currently contained 
within the CBRS. There are 11 total proposed units in Delaware.
    The proposed boundaries for Delaware would remove 113 acres from 
the CBRS (84 acres of fastland and 29 acres of associated aquatic 
habitat) and add approximately 31,216 acres to the CBRS (996 acres of 
fastland and 30,220 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed 
boundaries would remove 41 structures from the CBRS and add 
approximately 10 structures to the CBRS.

Massachusetts

    The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed 
boundaries for all of the 86 existing CBRS units in Massachusetts. Two

[[Page 10744]]

existing units in Massachusetts have no proposed changes. The Service 
identified 23 proposed new units in Massachusetts. Nine of the 23 
proposed new units in Massachusetts are comprised either partially or 
mostly of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are 
proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa. 
Fourteen of the 23 proposed new units in Massachusetts are comprised 
entirely of areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS. 
Four of the existing 86 units are proposed for reclassification from 
System Unit to OPA or vice-versa, and therefore their current unit 
numbers are retired, resulting in 105 total proposed units.
    The proposed boundaries for Massachusetts would remove 304 acres 
from the CBRS (162 acres of fastland and 142 acres of associated 
aquatic habitat) and add 32,881 acres to the CBRS (2,778 acres of 
fastland and 30,103 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed 
boundaries would remove 168 structures from the CBRS and add 80 
structures to the CBRS.

New Hampshire

    There are currently no existing CBRS units in New Hampshire. The 
Service identified one proposed new unit in New Hampshire. The proposed 
boundaries for this unit would add 679 acres to the CBRS (121 acres of 
fastland and 558 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed 
boundaries would add five structures to the CBRS (these structures are 
all park-related).

New Jersey

    The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed 
boundaries for 18 of the 24 existing CBRS units in New Jersey. The map 
for the remaining six New Jersey units (Units NJ-02/NJ-02P, NJ-03P, NJ-
04, NJ-15P, and NJ-16P) was comprehensively reviewed and revised by the 
Service and adopted by Congress in 2016. The Service identified nine 
proposed new units in New Jersey. One of the nine proposed new units is 
comprised mostly of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, 
but are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-
versa. Eight of the nine proposed new units are comprised entirely of 
areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS. Five of the 
existing 18 units are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to 
OPA or vice-versa, and therefore their current unit numbers are 
retired, resulting in 22 total proposed units.
    The proposed boundaries for New Jersey would remove 140 acres from 
the CBRS (125 acres of fastland and 15 acres of associated aquatic 
habitat) and add 71,492 acres to the CBRS (2,156 acres of fastland and 
69,336 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed boundaries 
remove 62 structures from the CBRS and add 104 structures to the CBRS.

Proposed Additions to the CBRS

    The draft revised boundaries for Delaware, Massachusetts, and New 
Jersey, and the proposed new unit in New Hampshire, would make 
additions to the CBRS, including the creation of 36 new units that are 
consistent with a directive in section 4 of Public Law 109-226 
concerning recommendations for expansion of the CBRS. The proposed 
boundaries are based upon the best data available to the Service at the 
time the areas were reviewed. Our assessment indicated that any new 
areas proposed for addition to the CBRS were relatively undeveloped at 
the time the proposed boundaries were created.
    Section 2 of Public Law 106-514 requires that we consider the 
following criteria when assessing the development status of a potential 
addition to the CBRS: (1) Whether the density of development is less 
than one structure per 5 acres of land above mean high tide (which 
generally suggests eligibility for inclusion within the CBRS); and (2) 
whether there is existing infrastructure consisting of a road, with a 
reinforced road bed, to each lot or building site in the area; a 
wastewater disposal system sufficient to serve each lot or building 
site in the area; electric service for each lot or building site in the 
area; and a fresh water supply for each lot or building site in the 
area (which generally suggests ineligibility for inclusion within the 
CBRS).
    If, upon review of the proposed boundaries, interested parties find 
that any areas proposed for addition to the CBRS are currently 
developed (according to the criteria codified by section 2 of Pub. L. 
106-514), they may submit supporting documentation of such development 
to the Service during this public comment period. For any areas 
proposed for addition to the CBRS, we will consider the density of 
development and level of infrastructure on-the-ground as of the close 
of the comment period on the date listed in the DATES section.

Request for Comments

    Section 4 of Public Law 109-226 requires the Secretary to provide 
an opportunity for the submission of public comments. We invite the 
public to review and comment on the proposed CBRS boundaries for the 
Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey units listed in 
Appendix A. The Service is specifically notifying the following 
stakeholders concerning the availability of the proposed boundaries: 
The Chair and Ranking Member of the House of Representatives Committee 
on Natural Resources; the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate 
Committee on Environment and Public Works; the members of the Senate 
and House of Representatives for the affected areas; the Governors of 
Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey; organizations 
that own land held for conservation and/or recreation within the 
existing and proposed units (where such ownership information and 
mailing addresses were publicly available); and other appropriate 
Federal, State, and local officials, and nongovernmental organizations.
    Interested parties may submit written comments and accompanying 
data as described in the ADDRESSES section. Comments regarding specific 
CBRS unit(s) should reference the appropriate unit number(s) and unit 
name(s) as listed in Appendix A. We must receive comments on or before 
the date listed in the DATES section.
    Following the close of the comment period, we will review all 
comments received on the proposed boundaries and make adjustments to 
the boundaries, as appropriate, based on information received through 
public comments, updated aerial imagery, CBRA criteria, and objective 
mapping protocols. We will then prepare final recommended boundaries to 
be submitted to Congress. The final recommended boundaries will become 
effective only if they are adopted by Congress through legislation.

Availability of Proposed CBRS Boundaries and Related Information

    In the past, the Service has produced static PDFs of draft maps 
depicting proposed changes to the CBRS. However, in an effort to reduce 
costs, increase efficiency, and provide a more user-friendly interface 
for the public to view the proposed changes, the Service has created an 
online ``CBRS Projects Mapper'' to display the proposed CBRS boundaries 
in lieu of static PDFs of the draft maps. The online mapper creates 
greater transparency in the public review process, allowing users to 
zoom in further and obtain more detailed information about the type of 
change that is proposed for a specific area (e.g., additions, removals, 
and reclassifications).

[[Page 10745]]

    The CBRS Projects Mapper and unit summaries (containing historical 
changes and proposed changes to the individual units) can be accessed 
from the Service's website at http://www.fws.gov/cbra, or via http://www.regulations.gov. Public comments should be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES). A shapefile of the proposed CBRS 
boundaries, which can be used with GIS software, is also available for 
download. The shapefile is best viewed using the base imagery to which 
the boundaries were drawn; the base imagery sources and dates are 
included in the metadata for the shapefile. The Service is not 
responsible for any misuse or misinterpretation of the shapefile.
    Additionally, a stakeholder outreach toolkit (comprised of project 
fact sheets, flyers for the virtual public meetings, and other 
information about the project) will be made available to local 
officials upon request. Local officials may use this toolkit to 
increase awareness of the project and the virtual public meetings 
within the community. Local officials may contact the individual 
identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section for further 
information regarding the toolkit.
    Interested parties who are unable to access the proposed boundaries 
or other information online may contact the individual identified in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, and reasonable 
accommodations will be made.

Virtual Public Meetings

    We will hold the following public meetings via webcast and 
teleconference only. The purpose of the meetings is to give the public 
an overview of the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project and to offer an 
opportunity for questions and answers regarding the proposed changes to 
the CBRS units listed in Appendix A.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Date                Time  (eastern time)                           States
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 8, 2018......................  10 a.m.-12 p.m......  Delaware and New Jersey.
May 9, 2018......................  10 a.m.-12 p.m......  Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meeting Participation Information

    These webcast meetings are open to the public. To ensure that 
enough call-in lines are available, we request that participants 
register by emailing [email protected] by close of business on May 1, 2018. 
Registrants will be provided with instructions for participation via 
email. Members of the public requesting reasonable accommodations, such 
as interpretive services, should notify the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 1 week prior to the meeting.

Appendix A--Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project Units

    Below are the affected units for each state, including unit 
number, unit name, county, and the status of the unit (i.e., 
existing unit, existing unit reclassified and unit number retired, 
and new unit).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          State                           County                    Unit No.       Unit name       Unit status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware.................  Kent................................  DE-01          Little Creek...  Existing Unit.
Delaware.................  Kent................................  DE-01P         Little Creek...  Existing Unit.
Delaware.................  Sussex..............................  DE-02P         Beach Plum       Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Island.
Delaware.................  Sussex..............................  DE-03P         Cape Henlopen..  Existing Unit.
Delaware.................  Sussex..............................  DE-06          Silver Lake....  Existing Unit.
Delaware.................  Sussex..............................  DE-08P         Fenwick Island.  Existing Unit.
Delaware.................  Kent, New Castle....................  DE-09P         Woodland Beach.  New Unit.
Delaware.................  Kent................................  DE-10          Fraland Beach..  New Unit.
Delaware.................  Kent................................  DE-11P         Bombay Hook....  New Unit.
Delaware.................  Kent, Sussex........................  H00            Broadkill Beach  Existing Unit.
Delaware.................  Kent, Sussex........................  H00P           Broadkill Beach  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  C00            Clark Pond.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  C01            Wingersheek....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  C01A           Good Harbor      Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Beach/Milk
                                                                                 Island.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  C01AP          Cape Hedge       New Unit.
                                                                                 Beach.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  C01B           Brace Cove.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Suffolk.............................  C01C           West Head Beach  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Suffolk.............................  C01CP          West Head Beach  New Unit.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  C02            North Scituate.  Existing Unit
                                                                                                  Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  C02P           North Scituate.  New Unit--
                                                                                                  Partially
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  C03            Rivermoor......  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  C03A           Rexhame........  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  C04            Plymouth Bay...  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  C06            Center Hill      Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Complex.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C08            Scorton........  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C09            Sandy Neck.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C09P           Sandy Neck.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C10            Freemans Pond..  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C11            Namskaket Spits  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C11A           Boat Meadow....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C11AP          Boat Meadow....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C11P           Namskaket Spits  New Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C12            Chatham Roads..  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C12P           Chatham Roads..  New Unit--
                                                                                                  Mostly
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C13            Lewis Bay......  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C13P           Lewis Bay......  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C14            Squaw Island...  Existing Unit.

[[Page 10746]]

 
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C15            Centerville....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C15P           Centerville....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C16            Dead Neck......  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C17            Popponesset      Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Spit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C18            Waquoit Bay....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C18A           Falmouth Ponds.  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C18P           Waquoit Bay....  Existing Unit
                                                                                                  Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C19            Black Beach....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  C19A           Buzzards Bay     Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Complex.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  C19AP          Buzzards Bay     New Unit--
                                                                                 Complex.         Mostly
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  C19P           Little           New Unit.
                                                                                 Sippewisset
                                                                                 Marsh.
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C20            Coatue.........  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C20P           Coatue.........  New Unit--
                                                                                                  Mostly
                                                                                                  Reclassified
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C21            Sesachacha Pond  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C22            Cisco Beach....  Existing Unit
                                                                                                  Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C22P           Cisco Beach....  New Unit--
                                                                                                  Mostly
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C23            Esther Island    Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Complex.
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C23P           Esther Island    New Unit--
                                                                                 Complex.         Mostly
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C24            Tuckernuck       Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Island.
Massachusetts............  Nantucket...........................  C25            Muskeget Island  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  C26            Eel Pond Beach.  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  C27            Cape Poge......  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  C28            South Beach....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  C29            Squibnocket      Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Complex.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  C29A           James Pond.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  C29B           Mink Meadows...  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  C29P           Squibnocket      Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Complex.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  C31            Elizabeth        Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Islands.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C31A           West Sconticut   Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Neck.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C31AP          West Sconticut   New Unit.
                                                                                 Neck.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C31B           Harbor View....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C32            Mishaum Point..  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C33            Little Beach...  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C34            Horseneck Beach  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C34A           Cedar Cove.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C34P           Horseneck Beach  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  C35            Richmond/        Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Cockeast Ponds.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  MA-01P         Salisbury Beach  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  MA-02P         Plum Island....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  MA-03          Castle Neck....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  MA-04          West Beach.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Essex...............................  MA-06          Phillips Beach.  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Suffolk.............................  MA-08P         Snake Island...  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Norfolk.............................  MA-09P         Squantum.......  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Norfolk.............................  MA-10P         Merrymount Park  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth, Suffolk...................  MA-11          Peddocks/        Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Rainsford
                                                                                 Islands.
Massachusetts............  Norfolk, Plymouth...................  MA-12          Cohasset Harbor  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  MA-13          Duxbury Beach..  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  MA-13P         Duxbury Beach..  New Unit--
                                                                                                  Mostly
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-14P         Town Neck......  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-15P         Chapin Beach...  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-16          Nobscusset.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-17AP        Lieutenant       Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Island.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-17P         Griffin/Great    Existing Unit
                                                                                 Islands
                                                                                 Complex.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-18          Pamet Harbor...  Existing Unit
                                                                                                  Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-18AP        Pamet Harbor...  New Unit--
                                                                                                  Mostly
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-18P         Ballston Beach.  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-19P         Provincetown...  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-20P         Nauset Beach/    Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Monomoy.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-23P         Davis Beach....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  MA-24          Naushon Island   Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Complex.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  MA-25P         Penikese Island  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  MA-26          Harthaven......  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  MA-27          Edgartown Beach  New Unit--
                                                                                                  Partially
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  MA-27P         Edgartown Beach  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  MA-28P         Norton Point...  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Dukes...............................  MA-29P         Nomans Land....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-30          Herring Brook..  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-31          Squeteague       Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Harbor.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-32          Bassetts Island  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-33          Phinneys Harbor  Existing Unit.

[[Page 10747]]

 
Massachusetts............  Plymouth............................  MA-35          Planting Island  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  MA-36          Round Hill.....  Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  MA-37P         Demarest Lloyd   Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Park.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-38P         Scusset Beach..  New Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-40P         Harding Beach..  New Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-41P         Red River Beach  New Unit.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-42P         Quissett Beach/  New Unit.
                                                                                 Falmouth Beach.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-43          Chapoquoit       New Unit.
                                                                                 Beach.
Massachusetts............  Barnstable..........................  MA-43P         Chapoquoit       New Unit.
                                                                                 Beach.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  MA-45P         Round Hill       New Unit.
                                                                                 Point.
Massachusetts............  Bristol.............................  MA-46          Teal Pond......  New Unit.
Massachusetts............  Bristol, Plymouth...................  MA-47P         Little Bay.....  New Unit.
New Hampshire............  Rockingham..........................  NH-01P         Odiorne Point..  New Unit.
New Jersey...............  Monmouth............................  NJ-01P         Sandy Hook.....  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Monmouth............................  NJ-04A         Navesink/        Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Shrewsbury
                                                                                 Complex.
New Jersey...............  Ocean...............................  NJ-04B         Metedeconk Neck  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Ocean...............................  NJ-04BP        Metedeconk Neck  Existing Unit
                                                                                                  Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
New Jersey...............  Ocean...............................  NJ-05P         Island Beach...  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Ocean...............................  NJ-06          Cedar Bonnet     Existing Unit.
                                                                                 Island.
New Jersey...............  Ocean...............................  NJ-06P         Cedar Bonnet     Existing Unit
                                                                                 Island.          Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
New Jersey...............  Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean.........  NJ-07P         Brigantine.....  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-08          Corson's Inlet.  New Unit--
                                                                                                  Mostly
                                                                                                  Reclassified.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-08P         Corson's Inlet.  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-09          Stone Harbor...  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-09P         Stone Harbor...  Existing Unit
                                                                                                  Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-10P         Cape May.......  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-11P         Higbee Beach...  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-12          Del Haven......  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-12P         Del Haven......  Existing Unit
                                                                                                  Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-13          Kimbles Beach..  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May, Cumberland................  NJ-14          Moores Beach...  Existing Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May, Cumberland................  NJ-14P         Moores Beach...  Existing Unit
                                                                                                  Reclassified
                                                                                                  and Unit
                                                                                                  Number
                                                                                                  Retired.
New Jersey...............  Monmouth............................  NJ-17P         Monmouth Cove..  New Unit.
New Jersey...............  Monmouth............................  NJ-18          Ware Creek.....  New Unit.
New Jersey...............  Atlantic, Cape May..................  NJ-19P         Malibu Beach...  New Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-20P         Two Mile Beach.  New Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cape May............................  NJ-21P         Sunray Beach...  New Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cumberland..........................  NJ-22P         Egg Island.....  New Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cumberland..........................  NJ-23P         Dix............  New Unit.
New Jersey...............  Cumberland, Salem...................  NJ-24P         Greenwich......  New Unit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: December 4, 2017.
Gary Frazer,
Assistant Director for Ecological Services.

    Editorial Note: This document was received for publication by 
the Office of the Federal Register on March 7, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-04889 Filed 3-9-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P