[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 81454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27603]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Final Management Plan for the North Carolina 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 revised management plan for the North 
Carolina 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 North Carolina National Estuarine Research 
Reserve. In accordance with applicable Federal regulations, the North 
Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Coastal 
Management revised the reserve's management plan, which replaces the 
plan previously approved in 2009.

ADDRESSES: The approved management plan can be downloaded or viewed at 
https://coast.noaa.gov/data/docs/nerrs/Reserves_NOC_MgmtPlan.pdf. The 
document is also available by sending a written request to the point of 
contact identified below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Robinson of NOAA's Office 
for Coastal Management, by email at [email protected], phone at 
843-740-1174, or mail at 2234 South Hobson Ave., Charleston, SC 29405.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must 
revise the management plan for a research reserve at least every five 
years. Changes to a reserve's management plan may be made only after 
receiving written approval from NOAA. NOAA approves changes to 
management plans via notice in the Federal Register. On October 28, 
2019, NOAA issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing a 30-day 
public comment period for the proposed revision of the management plan 
for the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve (Federal 
Register, Volume 84, No. 208, pg. 57701). No comments were received; 
however, a summary of the public input process is available in Appendix 
U of the plan.
    The management plan outlines the reserve's strategic goals and 
objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting research 
and monitoring, education, and training; resource protection, 
restoration, and manipulation plans; public access and visitor use 
plans; consideration for future land acquisition; and facility 
development to support reserve operations. Since 2009, the reserve has 
completed its habitat map and added marsh vegetation and surface 
elevation monitoring; conducted a habitat vulnerability assessment to 
understand marsh vulnerability; led a number of research and training 
initiatives related to living shorelines; increased education 
programming at the Masonboro Island component of the reserve; begun 
implementing Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) training; expanded use of 
volunteers to conduct citizen science regarding sensitive species and 
site conditions; and implemented training focused on informing real 
estate professionals about coastal issues. The revised management plan 
will serve as the guiding document for the 10,568-acre research reserve 
for the next five years.
    NOAA reviewed the environmental impacts of the revised management 
plan and determined that this action is categorically excluded from 
further analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, 
consistent with NOAA Administrative Order 216-6.]

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.; 15 CFR 921.33.

Keelin S. Kuipers,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-27603 Filed 12-15-20; 8:45 am]
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