[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 170 (Friday, September 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54199-54200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19006]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Final Management Plan for the Chesapeake Bay Virginia National 
Estuarine Research Reserve

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

ACTION: Notice of approval for the revised management plan for the 
Chesapeake Bay Virginia 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 Chesapeake Bay Virginia Reserve. In accordance 
with applicable Federal regulations, the Virginia Institute of Marine 
Science revised the reserve's management plan, which replaces the plan 
previously approved in 2008.

ADDRESSES: The approved management plan can be downloaded or viewed at 
https://www.vims.edu/cbnerr/resources/resources_annual_reports.php. The 
document is also available by sending a written email request to Tricia 
Hooper, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tricia Hooper, NOAA's Office for 
Coastal Management, [email protected], (617) 921-1998.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a State must 
revise the management plan for its 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 March 1, 2022, 
NOAA issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing a thirty-day 
public comment period for the proposed revision of the Chesapeake Bay 
Virginia management plan (87 FR 11418).
    Appendix J of the plan contains a summary of written and oral 
comments received, and an explanation of how comments were incorporated 
into the final version of the management 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 2008, the reserve has 
made notable investments in programs and infrastructure, which include 
launching the new Margaret A. Davidson Fellowship, reinvigorating the 
York River and Small Coastal Basin Roundtable, and establishing the 
Environmental Data Center and the Virginia Scientists and Educators 
Alliance with partners at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The 
reserve installed a floating dock at Taskinas Creek and Catlett Islands 
components, and maintained extensive Sentinel Site infrastructure, 
including boardways, sediment elevation tables, tide gauges, and survey 
benchmarks. The reserve also navigated changes in ownership and 
management at the Catlett Islands and Sweet Hall Marsh components, 
conducted an internal reorganization, and developed a comprehensive 
communications plan. The revised management plan will serve as the 
guiding document for the 3,072 acre (12 km\2\) research reserve for the 
next five years.
    NOAA reviewed the environmental impacts of the revised management 
plan and determined that this action is

[[Page 54200]]

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. 2022-19006 Filed 9-1-22; 8:45 am]
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