[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 54675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19255]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Final Management Plan for the Rookery Bay 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 of the revised management plan Rookery Bay 
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 Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve 
in Florida. In accordance with applicable Federal regulations, the 
Florida Department of Environmental Protection revised the Rookery Bay 
Reserve's management plan, which replaces the plan previously approved 
in 2012.

ADDRESSES: The approved Rookery Bay Reserve management plan can be 
downloaded or viewed at http://publicfiles.dep.state.fl.us/DSL/OES/Management_Plans/October_2022_MPlans/RookeryBayNERR_Draft_MP.pdf. These 
documents are also available by sending a written request to Matt 
Chasse of NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, by email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Chasse of NOAA's Office for 
Coastal Management, by email at [email protected], phone at 240-628-
5417.

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 March 14, 2022, 
NOAA issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing a thirty-day 
public comment period for the proposed revision of the management plan 
for the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (87 FR 14254). 
Responses to written and oral comments received, and an explanation of 
how comments were incorporated into the final versions of the revised 
management plans, are available in appendix C of the final plan.
    The revised management plan outlines the reserve's strategic goals 
and objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting 
research and monitoring, education, and training; resource protection, 
restoration, volunteer, and communications plans; prescribed fire and 
invasive species plans; consideration for future land acquisition; and 
facility development to support reserve operations.
    The Rookery Bay revised management plan focuses on building upon 
past successes and accomplishments. Research and monitoring will focus 
on habitat mapping, wildlife communities, resource management and 
restoration, coastal change and resilience, and ecosystem services. 
Reserve education programming will focus on informed community and 
individual action as related to ecosystems, human connections, 
resilience, and outreach. The reserve is also planning on enhancing the 
use of technology in education programming and on building a robust 
interpretation program with volunteer staff. Coastal training will 
continue offering programs to professional audiences and conduct an 
updated needs assessment. The plan also includes the reserve monitoring 
the health of fish and bird communities, invasive species control 
efforts, and the use of prescribed fire as a management tool. In 
addition, the reserve is expecting to expand its strategic partnership 
with Florida International University.
    Furthermore, no reserve boundary or acreage changes are 
incorporated into the revised management plan.
    NOAA reviewed the environmental impacts of the Rookery Bay revised 
management plans and determined that these actions are 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. 2022-19255 Filed 9-6-22; 8:45 am]
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