[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35375-35376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15565]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Management Plan for National Estuarine Research Reserve Program

AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management (OCM), National Ocean Service 
(NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of public comment period for the Wells National 
Estuarine Research Reserve management plan revision.

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

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 is announcing a 
thirty (30) day public comment period for the revised management plan 
for Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve management plan revision.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the draft management plan by any 
of the following methods:
    Written Comments: Please submit written comments to Paul Dest, 
Reserve Manager, Wells Reserve, 342 Laudholm Farms Road, Wells, Maine 
04090, or email comments to [email protected]. Comments that the 
Office for Coastal Management receives are considered part of the 
public record and may be publicly accessible. Any personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender 
may also be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrianne Harrison at (603) 862-4272 or 
Erica Seiden at (240) 533-0781 of NOAA's National Ocean Service, 
Stewardship Division, Office for Coastal Management, 1305 East-West 
Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must 
update their management plan. The Wells Reserve revised plan will 
replace the plan previously approved in 2013.

[[Page 35376]]

    The revised management plan outlines a strategic plan; 
administrative structure; research and monitoring, education, 
stewardship, wetland science and training programs of the reserve; 
resource protection and manipulation plans, restoration management 
plan; public access and visitor use plan; considerations for future 
land acquisition; and facility development to support reserve 
operations.
    The Wells Reserve takes an integrated approach to management, 
linking research, education, coastal training, and resource management 
functions. The reserve has outlined how it will manage administration 
and its core programs, providing detailed actions that will enable it 
to accomplish specific goals and objectives. Since the last management 
plan, the reserve has implemented its core and system-wide programs; 
secured science, education, and conservation grants to serve southern 
Maine communities; made significant repairs and improvements to 
buildings including installed solar arrays to generate electricity and 
renovated the water tower; designed and installed climate change 
exhibit components in Visitor Center; added a fully accessible trail at 
Wells Harbor; restored riverine and fisheries habitats in southern 
Maine watersheds; and helped partners acquire priority conservation 
lands.
    There will be no boundary change with the approval of the revised 
management plan. The management plan will serve as the guiding document 
for the 2,250-acre Wells Reserve.
    NOAA's Office Coastal Management will be conducting an 
environmental analysis in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act on the proposed approval of the Reserve's revised management 
plan. The public is invited to provide comment or information about any 
potential environmental impacts of the proposed action, and these 
comments will be used to inform the decision making.
    View the Wells Reserve management plan revision on their website, 
at https://www.wellsreserve.org/writable/files/DraftPlan19.pdf, and 
provide comments to Paul Dest, [email protected].

Nkolika Ndubisi,
Management and Program Analyst, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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

[FR Doc. 2019-15565 Filed 7-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-08-P