[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 46 (Monday, March 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13633-13634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04758]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice of Approval: Final Management Plan for the Wells National
Estuarine Research Reserve
AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of approval of the final management plan for the Wells
National Estuarine Research Reserve.
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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, approves the revised
management plan for the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in
Wells, Maine. In accordance with applicable federal regulations, the
revised management plan will replace the plan previously approved in
2013. View the approved management plan at https://www.wellsreserve.org/writable/files/WellsNERR_ManagementPlan_2019-2024.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrianne Harrison of NOAA's Office for
Coastal Management, by email at [email protected], phone at
603-862-4272, or mail at: University of New Hampshire Gregg Hall Suite
148, 35 Colovos Rd, Durham NH 03824.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33, a state must
periodically revise its research reserve's management plan. Changes may
be made only after written approval by NOAA; NOAA will approve
amendments to management plans by notice in the Federal Register.
On July 23, 2019, NOAA issued a notice in the Federal Register
announcing a thirty day public comment period for the revised
management plan for the Wells Research Reserve. (84.141 FR page 35375).
Responses to the written and oral comments, and an explanation of how
comments were incorporated into the final revised plan, are available
in appendix C of the revised plan. The Wells Research Reserve outlined
how it will manage administration of its core program, and provided
details regarding steps to be taken to enable the reserve to accomplish
specific goals and objectives. Since December 2013, the reserve has
implemented its core and system-wide programs; secured science,
education, and conservation grants to
[[Page 13634]]
serve southern Maine communities; made significant repairs and
improvements to buildings including the installation of solar arrays to
generate electricity; renovated the water tower; designed and installed
climate change exhibit components in the 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. The revised management plan will serve as
the guiding document for the 2,250-acre research reserve for the next
five years.
NOAA has reviewed the impacts of the revised management plan and
determined the revisions will not have a significant effect on the
human environment and therefore qualifies for a categorical exclusion
under NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.)
Keelin S. Kuipers,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-04758 Filed 3-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P