[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71839-71840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22583]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Boundary Expansion for the South Slough National 
Estuarine Research Reserve

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed boundary expansion and availability of a 
draft environmental assessment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
considering a request to expand the boundary of the South Slough 
National

[[Page 71840]]

Estuarine Research Reserve (SSNERR or the Reserve) and is soliciting 
comments from the public on the proposed boundary expansion. The public 
is also invited to comment on the draft environmental assessment for 
the proposed boundary expansion.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) on or before November 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The draft environmental assessment describing the proposed 
boundary expansion can be downloaded or viewed at coast.noaa.gov/czm/compliance/. The document is also available by sending a written 
request to the point of contact identified below (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Comments may be submitted by the following method:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal and search for 
Docket Number NOAA-NOS-2023-0132. Enter N/A in the required fields to 
remain anonymous).
    Mail: Submit written comments to John King, Office for Coastal 
Management, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910.
    Comments submitted by any other method or after the comment period 
may not be considered. NOAA will accept anonymous comments; however, 
the written comments NOAA receives are a part of the public record, and 
the entirety of the comment, including the name of the commenter, email 
address, attachments, and other supporting materials, will be publicly 
accessible. Sensitive personally identifiable information, such as 
account numbers and Social Security numbers, should not be included 
with the comment. Comments that are not related to the proposed 
boundary expansion of the South Slough National Estuarine Research 
Reserve or that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other 
inappropriate language will not be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Bloodworth, NOAA Office for 
Coastal Management, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring MD 20910, or 
[email protected], 1-304-279-1460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Oregon Department of State Lands, as lead agency for managing 
the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, has requested 
approval to modify the Reserve's geographic boundary by adding eight 
new parcels, including 1,771 acres (approximately 7.17 square km), 
which comprises the addition of: 30 acres (0.12 sq. km) to correct for 
the use of current GIS-based technology in calculating updated acreage 
for the boundary area since it was established in 1974; 1,541 acres 
(6.24 sq. km) of lands acquired since 2008 that are owned and managed 
by the Reserve outside of the SSNERR boundary; and 200 acres (0.81 
sq.km) of State-owned waters in South Slough that connect the lands 
acquired since 2008. In addition, SSNERR is also exploring two proposed 
future acquisitions totaling 105 acres (0.42 sq. km), and a land-swap 
for an entrance parcel expansion. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(a), NOAA 
may require public notice, including notice in the Federal Register and 
an opportunity for public comment, before approving a boundary or 
management plan change. In addition, boundary changes involving the 
acquisition of properties not listed in the Reserve's management plan 
or final environmental impact statement require public notice and the 
opportunity for comment. Since the new parcels were not evaluated in 
the Reserve's original environmental impact statement, NOAA has 
developed an environmental assessment pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq., and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for 
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), to 
analyze the effects of the requested change, and is publishing notice 
of the availability of this draft environmental assessment for public 
review and comment on the proposed boundary change and associated 
environmental assessment.

II. NOAA Proposed Action and Alternatives

    In accordance with NEPA and the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations, NOAA is releasing a draft environmental assessment. NOAA's 
proposed action would be to approve a change in the boundary of the 
SSNERR to add 1,771 acres (7.17 sq. km) to the current boundary.
    The draft environmental assessment identifies and assesses 
potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed boundary 
expansion, and identifies a preferred alternative and a no action 
alternative. The preferred alternative would add 1,771 acres (7.17 sq. 
km) to the SSNERR's boundary, which would result in a net increase in 
size to 6,542 acres (26.47 sq. km), and 6,647 acres (26.90 sq. km) if 
all proposed future land acquisitions are made. As a result, NOAA 
believes the proposed boundary expansion would formally incorporate 
land parcels within the SSNERR, which would protect lands of biological 
importance, allow the SSNERR to further its research and stewardship 
mission, provide additional lands/uses for public use, and provide an 
opportunity for more integrated ecosystem management. Therefore, NOAA 
prefers the proposed boundary expansion over the no action alternative.
    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. 2023-22583 Filed 10-17-23; 8:45 am]
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