[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43790-43791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15709]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Draft Revised Management Plan for the He`eia National Estuarine 
Research Reserve

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

ACTION: Request for comments on draft revised management plan.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
soliciting comments from the public regarding a proposed revision of 
the management plan for the He`eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. 
A management plan provides a framework for the direction and timing of 
a reserve's programs; allows reserve managers to assess a reserve's 
success in meeting its goals and to identify any necessary changes in 
direction; and is used to guide programmatic evaluations of the 
reserve. Plan revisions are required at least every five years. This 
revised plan is intended to replace the plan approved in 2016.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) on or before 30 days after the publication date of the 
Federal Register Notice.

ADDRESSES: The draft revised management plan can be downloaded or 
viewed at: https://heeianerr.org/request-for-comments-on-draft-revised-management-plan/. The document is also available by sending a written 
request to the point of contact identified below (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).
    You may submit comments by:
    Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments by 
email to [email protected]. Include ``Comments on Draft He`eia 
National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan'' in the subject 
line of the message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Tanimoto of NOAA's Office for 
Coastal Management by email at [email protected], phone at (808) 
725-5253, or mail--1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg 176 Honolulu, HI 96816.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a State must 
revise the management plan for the research reserve at least every five 
years. If approved by NOAA, the He`eia National Estuarine Research 
Reserve's revised plan will replace the plan previously approved in 
2016.
    A management plan outlines the reserve's strategic goals and 
objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting research 
and monitoring, education, and training; programs that address resource 
protection and restoration; public access and visitor use plans; 
consideration for future land acquisition; and facility development.
    This draft revised management plan is a minor update of the prior 
plan, and maintains a strong foundation that honors the past by using 
indigenous resource management practices to support the sustainable co-
management of the He`eia estuary. Core to the plan is the ahupua`a--the 
Hawaiian conceptualization of community that extends from mountain to 
oceans; and `[amacr]ina momona--using indigenous approaches to manage 
resources toward a state of sustainable abundance. Changes outlined in 
the plan relate to updated strategies and goals for the reserve's 
education, research, stewardship, and coastal training programs; 
staffing and organizational needs; and planned facilities and 
infrastructure development.
    Since its designation in 2016, this reserve has supported 
community-led ahupua`a scale restoration in the He`eia estuary with the 
removal of 20 acres (80,000 square meters) of invasive mangroves and 
plants replacing them with native plant species; agroforestry and lo`i 
cultivation; produced publications on Native Hawaiian land and sea 
management practices; and restored the He`eia fishpond. As a newly 
established reserve, the reserve hired a staff team consisting of a 
reserve manager, research coordinator, education coordinator, coastal 
training program coordinator, and research technician. These staff play 
an important role in building community-

[[Page 43791]]

supported education, research, stewardship, and training programming 
across the He`eia community. The reserve also installed and launched 
monitoring equipment across the ahupua`a to monitor water quality and 
abiotic and biotic features and changes related to sea level rise and 
coastal inundation; completed needs assessments for education and 
training needs in He`eia; and supported various graduate assistants, 
fellows, and research interns. The revised management plan, once 
approved, would serve as the guiding document for the 1,385-acre (5.6 
square kilometers) research reserve for the next five years.
    NOAA's Office for Coastal Management analyzes the environmental 
impacts of the proposed approval of this draft revised management plan 
in accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and the Council 
on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 1500 through 1508). The public is invited to 
comment on the draft revised management plan. NOAA will take these 
comments into consideration in deciding whether to approve the draft 
revised management plan in whole or in part.

(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. 2022-15709 Filed 7-21-22; 8:45 am]
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