[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66687-66688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18333]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Final Management Plan for the Apalachicola 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 Apalachicola
National Estuarine Research Reserves.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office for Coastal Management,
National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce approves the revised management
plan for the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve in
Florida. In accordance with applicable Federal regulations, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection revised the Apalachicola
Reserve's management plan, which replaces the plan previously approved
in 2015.
ADDRESSES: The approved Apalachicola Reserve management plan can be
downloaded or viewed at https://floridadep.gov/rcp/nerr-apalachicola/documents/apalachicola-nerr-management-plan. These documents are also
available by sending a written request to the point of contact
identified below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
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), Florida must
revise the management plan for the Apalachicola 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
December 27, 2023, 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 Apalachicola National Estuarine Research
Reserve (87 FR 89406). Appendix C 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 revised management plan outlines the reserve's: strategic goals
and objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting
research and monitoring, education, and training; resource management,
restoration and public use and access; volunteer support, and
communications plans; consideration for future land acquisition; and
facility development and improvement to support reserve operations.
The Apalachicola's revised management plan will focus on addressing
specific coastal management issues including hydrological changes in
the Apalachicola River and floodplain; coastal development; and climate
change and extreme events. Research and monitoring aims to expand
understanding of the ecological processes related to the Apalachicola
River and watershed and develop new research initiatives and monitoring
projects to fill gaps in our understanding of key ecosystem functions
related to pollutants, habitats, and diversity. Reserve education
programming prioritizes in-field studies for students and teachers.
Programming for K-12 students will be provided for a continuity of
content across the entire academic experience of local students.
Reserve outreach efforts will target participants from all ages and
walks of life while recognizing the local community as key
stakeholders. Coastal training will deliver formal trainings, skill-
building opportunities, tools and technical assistance that enable
audiences to continue to implement sound policies based on science that
protect the environment. In addition, the reserve's regular engagement
with decision makers strengthens partnerships, furthers assessments of
audience needs and forges positive
[[Page 66688]]
working relationships with decision makers to increase stewardship and
resilience throughout the reserve.
Furthermore, no reserve boundary or acreage changes are
incorporated into the revised management plan. The revised management
plan will serve as the guiding document for the 234,715 acre
Apalachicola National Estuarine 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 (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 (2022), consistent with NOAA Administrative Order
216-6A.
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. 2024-18333 Filed 8-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P