Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project, 15743-15746 [E9-7772]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 7, 2009 / Notices
Description of Need: The Government
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of
1995 (Pub. L. 103–62) and the National
Park Service (NPS) Strategic Plan
require that the NPS develop goals to
improve program effectiveness and
public accountability. GPRA also
requires Federal agencies to prepare
annual performance reports
documenting the progress made toward
achieving long-term goals. Surveys for
the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation
Assistance Program (RTCA) and the
Federal Lands to Parks Program (FLP)
will measure performance and suggest
improvements towards these goals. Data
from these studies are needed to meet
the requirement of GPRA and the NPS
Strategic Plan. The two programs are to
meet Long-term Goal IIIb2. This goal
states: 95% of communities served are
satisfied with NPS partnership
assistance in providing recreational
conservation benefits on lands and
waters. The NPS needs the information
in these collections to assess the annual
progress being made toward meeting
Long-term Goal IIIb2 of the NPS
Strategic Plan.
The proposed surveys will provide
the NPS with data from its partners.
Partners are those individuals or
organizations that seek NPS assistance
through these two programs. NPS will
obtain critical information to determine
if it’s meeting the diverse needs of its
constituency and how to respond to
future changes. The information sought
is not collected elsewhere by the
Federal Government. The NPS needs
this information to help evaluate and
improve its partnership assistance
programs. NPS’ RTCA Program and FLP
Program will conduct surveys to assess
client satisfaction with the services
received and to identify needed program
improvements. The NPS goal in
conducting these surveys is to use the
information to identify areas of strength
and weakness in its recreation and
conservation assistance programs, to
provide an information base for
improving those programs, and to
provide a required performance
measurement (Goal IIIb2 of the National
Park Service Strategic Plan) under
GPRA. The obligation to respond is
voluntary.
Automated Data Collection: The
information will be collected primarily
through the use of an electronic survey.
Description of respondents: This is a
census survey of all principal
cooperating organizations and agencies
which have received substantial
assistance from the Rivers, Trails and
Conservation Assistance Program or the
Federal Lands to Parks Program during
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the prior Fiscal Year (October 1 through
September 30).
Estimated average number of
responses: 150 per year.
Frequency of response: 1 per
respondent.
Estimated average time burden per
respondent: 10 minutes.
Estimated total annual reporting
burden: 25 hours per year.
Comments are invited on: (1) The
practical utility of the information being
gathered; (2) the accuracy of the burden
hour estimate; (3) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information being collected; and (4)
ways to minimize the burden to
respondents, including use of
automated information collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology. Before including your
address, phone number, e-mail address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment—including your personal
identifying information—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Dated: March 31, 2009.
Cartina A. Miller,
Information Collection Clearance Officer,
National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9–7717 Filed 4–6–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R9–FHC–2008–N0328; 94300–1124–
0000–T5]
Coastal Barrier Resources System
Digital Mapping Pilot Project
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of the Report to Congress:
John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier
Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot
Project and draft maps for public review
and comment. This notice also advises
the public where the report and draft
maps may be obtained and where
comments should be sent.
DATES: We must receive comments on or
before July 6, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-deliver
(during normal business hours)
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15743
comments to Katie Niemi, Coastal
Barriers Coordinator, Division of Habitat
and Resource Conservation, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, Room 860A, Arlington, VA 22203
or send comments by electronic mail (email) to CBRAcomments@fws.gov. For
information about how to get copies of
the pilot project report and maps or
where to go to view them, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers
Coordinator, (703) 358–2161.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Coastal Barrier Resources Act
(CBRA) of 1982 (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
established the John H. Chafee Coastal
Barrier Resources System (CBRS) to
minimize the loss of human life; reduce
wasteful Federal expenditures; and
minimize the damage to fish, wildlife,
and other natural resources associated
with coastal barriers. Most new Federal
expenditures and financial assistance
that have the effect of encouraging
development are prohibited within the
CBRS. In the Coastal Barrier
Improvement Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101–
591), Congress amended CBRA to add
new units, enlarge some previously
designated units, add Otherwise
Protected Areas (OPAs) as a new
category of lands, and approve a series
of maps entitled ‘‘John H. Chafee
Coastal Barrier Resources System’’ and
dated October 24, 1990. These maps
identify and depict those coastal
barriers located on the coasts of the
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Great
Lakes, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico
that are subject to the Federal funding
limitations outlined in CBRA.
The Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary), through the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), is responsible
for administering CBRA, which
includes: maintaining the official maps
of the CBRS; consulting with Federal
agencies that propose spending funds
within the CBRS; and making
recommendations to Congress regarding
whether certain areas were
appropriately included in the CBRS.
Aside from three minor exceptions, only
Congress through new legislation, can
modify the CBRS boundaries to add or
remove land. These exceptions include:
(1) The CBRA 5-year review
requirement that solely considers
changes that have occurred to the CBRS
by natural forces such as erosion and
accretion; (2) voluntary additions to the
CBRS by property owners; and (3)
additions of excess Federal property to
the CBRS.
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Digital Mapping Pilot Project
Section 6 of the Coastal Barrier
Resources Reauthorization Act of 2000
(CBRRA of 2000; Pub. L. 106–514)
directs the Secretary, in consultation
with the Director of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, to
carry out a pilot project to determine the
feasibility and cost of creating digital
versions of the CBRS maps. CBRRA of
2000 specifies that the pilot project
consist of the creation of digital maps
for no more than 75 units and no fewer
than 50 units of the CBRS, one-third of
which shall be OPAs. CBRRA of 2000
directs the Secretary to submit to the
Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate, and the Committee
on Resources of the House of
Representatives, a report that describes
the results of the pilot project and the
feasibility, data needs, and costs of
completing digital maps for the entire
CBRS. CBRRA of 2000 specifies that the
report shall include a description of: (1)
The cooperative agreements that would
be necessary to complete digital
mapping of the entire CBRS; (2) the
extent to which the data necessary to
complete digital mapping of the entire
CBRS are available; (3) the need for
additional data to complete digital
mapping of the entire CBRS; (4) the
extent to which the boundary lines on
the digital maps differ from the
boundary lines on the original maps;
and (5) the amount of funding necessary
to complete digital mapping of the
entire CBRS.
In September 2008, the Secretary,
through the Service, submitted the
report required by CBRRA of 2000 to the
Congress. The report contains draft
revised maps for 70 units, comprising
approximately 10 percent of the entire
CBRS, and a framework for modernizing
the remainder of the CBRS maps. The
pilot project units are located in
Delaware, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. A list
of all 70 pilot project units is attached
to this notice as Appendix A.
The Service’s proposed pilot project
boundary changes are described in the
report to Congress and are depicted in
Appendix D of the report, which
includes draft maps and accompanying
unit summaries for each of the pilot
project units. The different types of
proposed boundary changes reflected in
the draft pilot project maps include:
alignment with geomorphic features
(e.g., shorelines), development features
(e.g., edge of a road, property parcel
boundaries), and cultural features (e.g.,
park boundaries); adjustment to reflect
geomorphic change; adjustment to map
channel boundaries consistently;
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addition of associated aquatic habitat;
addition of conservation or recreation
area to existing OPAs; addition of new
OPAs; addition of undeveloped fastland
(land above mean high tide) not
currently within the CBRS; removal of
private land that was inadvertently
included within an OPA; and
reclassification from System unit to
OPA and vice-versa. In cases where we
found no compelling evidence to
propose a revised boundary, the existing
boundary remains unchanged.
Digital Mapping Pilot Project
Finalization
The draft pilot project maps will not
become effective until they are enacted
by Congress through new legislation.
Before the Service presents Congress
with final recommended maps for its
consideration and enactment, we are
soliciting, through this notice, public
review of and comment on the draft
pilot project maps. Section 3 of the
Coastal Barrier Resources
Reauthorization Act of 2005 (CBRRA of
2005; Pub. L. 109–226) directs the
Secretary to submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the
Senate and the Committee on Resources
of the House of Representatives, a report
that contains: (1) The final
recommended maps created under the
digital mapping pilot project; (2)
recommendations for the adoption of
the digital maps by Congress; (3) a
summary of the comments received
from the Governors of the States, other
government officials, and the public
regarding the digital maps; (4) a
summary and update of the protocols
and findings of the report required
under section 6(d) of the CBRRA of
2000; and (5) an analysis of any benefits
that the public would receive by using
digital mapping technology for all
System units and OPAs. CBRRA of 2005
requires the Secretary to prepare the
report in consultation with the
Governors of the States in which any
System units and OPAs are located and
after providing an opportunity for the
submission and consideration of public
comments.
This notice announces the availability
of the pilot project report and draft
maps for public review and comment.
Following the close of the comment
period on the date listed in the DATES
section of this document, we will
review all public comments received
and make adjustments to the draft pilot
project maps, as appropriate, based on
CBRA’s criteria and objective mapping
protocols. We will create a set of final
recommended maps to address the
comments made during the public
comment period and to update the
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underlying base maps with newer aerial
imagery where practicable. The final
recommended maps will be included in
a report to Congress, per the directives
of CBRRA of 2005.
Proposed Additions to the CBRS
The proposed boundaries depicted on
the pilot project maps are based upon
the best data available to the Service at
the time the draft maps were created. In
general, our assessment indicated that
any new areas proposed to be added to
the CBRS were undeveloped at the time
the pilot project maps were created. We
provide the following explanation
concerning our development assessment
for any new areas proposed to be added
to the CBRS.
Section 2 of the CBRRA of 2000
codified guidelines for what the
Secretary shall consider when making
recommendations to the Congress
regarding the addition of any area to the
CBRS and in determining whether, at
the time of inclusion of a System unit
within the CBRS, a coastal barrier is
undeveloped. We are not aware of any
existing structures located on lands
proposed for addition to the CBRS as
System units. If, however, a full
complement of infrastructure currently
exists on the ground for any areas
proposed for addition to the CBRS as
System units, interested parties may
submit documentation of such
infrastructure to the Service for
consideration during this public
comment period. A full complement of
infrastructure includes: (1) A road, with
a reinforced road bed, to each lot or
building site in the area; (2) a
wastewater disposal system sufficient to
serve each lot or building site in the
area; (3) electric service for each lot or
building site in the area; and (4) a fresh
water supply for each lot or building
site in the area. For any pilot project
areas proposed for addition to the CBRS
as System units, we will consider the
level of infrastructure on the ground as
of the publication date of this notice.
This guidance related to infrastructure
will be considered in areas being
proposed for addition to the CBRS as
System units. We will not consider the
presence of infrastructure in areas that
are currently located within the CBRS,
but are being proposed in the pilot
project for reclassification from OPA to
System unit status.
Unit FL–64P, Clam Pass, Florida
We note that the proposed pilot
project map for Unit FL–64P, Clam Pass,
was enacted into law by Public Law
110–419 on October 15, 2008, and is
now the controlling map for that unit.
We will accept public comments related
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to this map during the public comment
period and include a summary of any
comments received in the report to the
Congress required by CBRRA of 2005.
Request for Comments
We invite the public to review and
comment on the digital mapping pilot
project report to Congress and draft
maps created for the 70 CBRS units
through the pilot project. The Service is
distributing copies of pilot project
report and draft maps to the House of
Representatives Committee on Natural
Resources, the Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works, the
members of Congress of each affected
area, the Governors of the States in
which any System units and OPAs are
located, other Federal agencies, local
officials, and numerous other
stakeholders.
The pilot project report to Congress,
draft maps, unit summaries, and digital
boundary data can all be accessed and
downloaded from the Service’s Internet
site: https://www.fws.gov/
habitatconservation/
coastal_barrier.html. The public may
also contact the Service offices listed in
Appendix B of this notice to make
arrangements to view the maps.
Interested parties may submit written
comments and accompanying data to
the individual and location identified in
the ADDRESSES section above. Comments
regarding specific maps should
reference the appropriate CBRS unit
number and unit name. Appendix A of
this notice provides a listing of the pilot
project units by State, unit number, unit
name, and county. We must receive
comments on or before the date listed in
the DATES section of this document.
Below is a description of the materials
associated with the pilot project that are
being made available to the public.
(1) Report to Congress—describes the
results of the pilot project and the
feasibility, data needs, and costs of
completing digital maps for the entire
CBRS. The draft maps and unit
summaries for each of the 70 pilot
project units are included in Appendix
D of the report.
(2) Draft maps—for each of the 70
pilot project units depict: (1) The
existing CBRS boundary and (2) the
proposed boundary which represents
the Service’s recommendation for the
boundary placement.
(3) Unit summaries—for each of the
70 pilot project units describe the
existing boundaries and proposed
changes to the boundaries as well as the
associated acreage and shoreline mile
changes.
(4) Digital boundary data—for each of
the 70 pilot project units are being made
available in shapefile format for
reference purposes only. The Service is
not responsible for any misuse or
misinterpretation of this digital data.
During the public comment period, the
Service will accept digital GIS data files
that are accompanied by written
comments.
(5) Background records—for each of
the 70 pilot project units contain the
historical background for each unit,
including previously enacted maps,
documents referenced during the
State of Delaware (1 Map):
DE–07 ........................................................................
DE–07P .....................................................................
H01 ............................................................................
State of North Carolina (9 Maps):
NC–01 ........................................................................
NC–05P .....................................................................
NC–06 ........................................................................
NC–06P .....................................................................
L05 .............................................................................
L06 .............................................................................
L07 .............................................................................
L08 .............................................................................
L09 .............................................................................
State of South Carolina (1 Map):
M02 ............................................................................
M03 ............................................................................
State of Florida (27 Maps):
FL–01 .........................................................................
FL–01P ......................................................................
P04A ..........................................................................
P05 ............................................................................
P05P ..........................................................................
P08 ............................................................................
P08P ..........................................................................
FL–13P ......................................................................
P09A ..........................................................................
P09AP ........................................................................
P10A ..........................................................................
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boundary intent assessment phase,
maps showing different data types used
to assess boundary intent, signed maps
for stakeholder concurrence on OPA
boundaries, and any other
documentation that describes the
placement of the proposed boundaries.
These records are maintained by the
Service and, upon request, may be
viewed by the public at the Service’s
headquarters office.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Digital Mapping Project for the
Remaining Units of the CBRS
Section 4 of the CBRRA of 2005
directs the Secretary to carry out a
project to create digital versions of all of
the CBRS maps that were not included
in the pilot project. We plan to continue
modernizing the maps of the CBRS as
resources are made available for this
effort.
Appendix A—Pilot Project Units
Below is a listing of the pilot project units
by State, unit number, unit name, and
county.
Delaware Seashore .........................................................
Delaware Seashore .........................................................
North Bethany Beach ......................................................
Sussex
Sussex
Sussex
Pine Island Bay ...............................................................
Roosevelt Natural Area ...................................................
Hammocks Beach ...........................................................
Hammocks Beach ...........................................................
Onslow Beach .................................................................
Topsail .............................................................................
Lea Island Complex ........................................................
Wrightsville Beach ...........................................................
Masonboro Island ............................................................
Currituck, Dare
Carteret
Onslow
Onslow, Carteret
Onslow
Onslow
Pender, New Hanover
New Hanover
New Hanover
Litchfield Beach ...............................................................
Pawleys Inlet ...................................................................
Georgetown
Georgetown
Fort Clinch .......................................................................
Fort Clinch .......................................................................
Usinas Beach ..................................................................
Conch Island ...................................................................
Conch Island ...................................................................
Ponce Inlet ......................................................................
Ponce Inlet ......................................................................
Spessard Holland Park ...................................................
Coconut Point ..................................................................
Coconut Point ..................................................................
Blue Hole .........................................................................
Nassau
Nassau
St. Johns
St. Johns
St. Johns
Volusia
Volusia
Brevard
Brevard
Brevard
Indian River, St. Lucie
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FL–14P ......................................................................
P11 ............................................................................
P11P ..........................................................................
FL–15 .........................................................................
FL–16P ......................................................................
FL–17P ......................................................................
FL–18P ......................................................................
FL–19 .........................................................................
FL–19P ......................................................................
FL–20P ......................................................................
P14A ..........................................................................
FL–39 .........................................................................
FL–40 .........................................................................
FL–43 .........................................................................
FL–44 .........................................................................
FL–45 .........................................................................
FL–46 .........................................................................
FL–64P ......................................................................
P17A ..........................................................................
FL–67 .........................................................................
FL–67P ......................................................................
P21 ............................................................................
P21P ..........................................................................
P22 ............................................................................
FL–72P ......................................................................
FL–73P ......................................................................
FL–78 .........................................................................
FL–78P ......................................................................
FL–82 .........................................................................
FL–80P ......................................................................
FL–81 .........................................................................
FL–81P ......................................................................
FL–83 .........................................................................
FL–85P ......................................................................
P26 ............................................................................
FL–89 .........................................................................
FL–93 .........................................................................
FL–93P ......................................................................
FL–94 .........................................................................
State of Louisiana (13 Maps):
LA–01 ........................................................................
LA–02 ........................................................................
S04 ............................................................................
S05 ............................................................................
S06 ............................................................................
S07 ............................................................................
Pepper Beach .................................................................
Hutchinson Island ............................................................
Hutchinson Island ............................................................
Blowing Rocks .................................................................
Jupiter Beach ..................................................................
Carlin ...............................................................................
MacArthur Beach ............................................................
Birch Park ........................................................................
Birch Park ........................................................................
Lloyd Beach ....................................................................
North Beach ....................................................................
Tavernier Key ..................................................................
Snake Creek ...................................................................
Channel Key ....................................................................
Toms Harbor Keys ..........................................................
Deer/Long Point Keys .....................................................
Boot Key ..........................................................................
Clam Pass .......................................................................
Bowditch Point ................................................................
Bunche Beach .................................................................
Bunche Beach .................................................................
Bocilla Island ...................................................................
Bocilla Island ...................................................................
Casey Key .......................................................................
Lido Key ..........................................................................
De Soto ...........................................................................
Rattlesnake Key ..............................................................
Rattlesnake Key ..............................................................
Bishop Harbor .................................................................
Passage Key ...................................................................
Egmont Key .....................................................................
Egmont Key .....................................................................
Cockroach Bay ................................................................
Sand Key .........................................................................
Pepperfish Keys ..............................................................
Peninsula Point ...............................................................
Phillips Inlet .....................................................................
Phillips Inlet .....................................................................
Deer Lake ........................................................................
St. Lucie
St. Lucie
St. Lucie
Martin, Palm Beach
Palm Beach
Palm Beach
Palm Beach
Broward
Broward
Broward
Broward
Monroe
Monroe
Monroe
Monroe
Monroe
Monroe
Collier
Lee
Lee
Lee
Charlotte
Charlotte
Sarasota
Sarasota
Manatee
Manatee
Manatee
Manatee
Manatee
Hillsborough
Hillsborough
Hillsborough
Pinellas
Dixie
Franklin
Bay
Bay
Walton
Isle Au Pitre .....................................................................
Grand Island ....................................................................
Timbalier Bay ..................................................................
Timbalier Islands .............................................................
Isle Dernieres ..................................................................
Point au Fer ....................................................................
St. Bernard
St. Bernard
Lafourche
Terrebonne, Lafourche
Terrebonne
Terrebonne, St. Mary
Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office—
Pilot project maps for NC
Appendix B—U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Offices Where Pilot Project
Maps May Be Inspected
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 551F Pylon
Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 856–4520.
Washington Office—All pilot project maps
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of
Habitat and Resource Conservation, 4401
N. Fairfax Dr., Room 860A, Arlington, VA
22203; (703) 358–2161.
Northeast Regional Office—Pilot project
maps for DE
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate
Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035–9589;
(413) 253–8200.
Southeast Regional Office—Pilot project
maps for FL, NC, SC, LA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century
Boulevard, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30345;
(404) 679–4000.
Chesapeake Bay Field Office—Pilot project
maps for DE
Charleston Ecological Services Office—Pilot
project maps for SC
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 176 Croghan
Spur Road, Suite 200, Charleston, SC
29407; (843) 727–4707.
North Florida Field Office—Pilot project
maps for North/North Central FL
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915
Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville,
FL 32256–7517; (904) 731–3336.
South Florida Ecological Services Office—
Pilot project maps for South FL
Panama City Ecological Services and
Fisheries Resources Office—Pilot project
maps for Northwest FL
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa
Avenue, Panama City, FL 32405–3721;
(850) 769–0552.
Lafayette Ecological Services Field Office—
Pilot project maps for LA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 646
Cajundome Boulevard, Suite 400,
Lafayette, LA 70506; (337) 291–3100.
Rowan W. Gould,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. E9–7772 Filed 4–6–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th
Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960–3559; (772)
562–3909.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 177 Admiral
Cochrane Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401;
(410) 573–4500.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15743-15746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7772]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R9-FHC-2008-N0328; 94300-1124-0000-T5]
Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Report to
Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital
Mapping Pilot Project and draft maps for public review and comment.
This notice also advises the public where the report and draft maps may
be obtained and where comments should be sent.
DATES: We must receive comments on or before July 6, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-deliver (during normal business hours) comments
to Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers Coordinator, Division of Habitat and
Resource Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, Room 860A, Arlington, VA 22203 or send comments by electronic
mail (e-mail) to CBRAcomments@fws.gov. For information about how to get
copies of the pilot project report and maps or where to go to view
them, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers
Coordinator, (703) 358-2161.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) of 1982 (16 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.) established the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System
(CBRS) to minimize the loss of human life; reduce wasteful Federal
expenditures; and minimize the damage to fish, wildlife, and other
natural resources associated with coastal barriers. Most new Federal
expenditures and financial assistance that have the effect of
encouraging development are prohibited within the CBRS. In the Coastal
Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-591), Congress amended
CBRA to add new units, enlarge some previously designated units, add
Otherwise Protected Areas (OPAs) as a new category of lands, and
approve a series of maps entitled ``John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier
Resources System'' and dated October 24, 1990. These maps identify and
depict those coastal barriers located on the coasts of the Atlantic
Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico
that are subject to the Federal funding limitations outlined in CBRA.
The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (Service), is responsible for administering CBRA,
which includes: maintaining the official maps of the CBRS; consulting
with Federal agencies that propose spending funds within the CBRS; and
making recommendations to Congress regarding whether certain areas were
appropriately included in the CBRS. Aside from three minor exceptions,
only Congress through new legislation, can modify the CBRS boundaries
to add or remove land. These exceptions include: (1) The CBRA 5-year
review requirement that solely considers changes that have occurred to
the CBRS by natural forces such as erosion and accretion; (2) voluntary
additions to the CBRS by property owners; and (3) additions of excess
Federal property to the CBRS.
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Digital Mapping Pilot Project
Section 6 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of
2000 (CBRRA of 2000; Pub. L. 106-514) directs the Secretary, in
consultation with the Director of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, to carry out a pilot project to determine the feasibility and
cost of creating digital versions of the CBRS maps. CBRRA of 2000
specifies that the pilot project consist of the creation of digital
maps for no more than 75 units and no fewer than 50 units of the CBRS,
one-third of which shall be OPAs. CBRRA of 2000 directs the Secretary
to submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
Senate, and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives,
a report that describes the results of the pilot project and the
feasibility, data needs, and costs of completing digital maps for the
entire CBRS. CBRRA of 2000 specifies that the report shall include a
description of: (1) The cooperative agreements that would be necessary
to complete digital mapping of the entire CBRS; (2) the extent to which
the data necessary to complete digital mapping of the entire CBRS are
available; (3) the need for additional data to complete digital mapping
of the entire CBRS; (4) the extent to which the boundary lines on the
digital maps differ from the boundary lines on the original maps; and
(5) the amount of funding necessary to complete digital mapping of the
entire CBRS.
In September 2008, the Secretary, through the Service, submitted
the report required by CBRRA of 2000 to the Congress. The report
contains draft revised maps for 70 units, comprising approximately 10
percent of the entire CBRS, and a framework for modernizing the
remainder of the CBRS maps. The pilot project units are located in
Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. A
list of all 70 pilot project units is attached to this notice as
Appendix A.
The Service's proposed pilot project boundary changes are described
in the report to Congress and are depicted in Appendix D of the report,
which includes draft maps and accompanying unit summaries for each of
the pilot project units. The different types of proposed boundary
changes reflected in the draft pilot project maps include: alignment
with geomorphic features (e.g., shorelines), development features
(e.g., edge of a road, property parcel boundaries), and cultural
features (e.g., park boundaries); adjustment to reflect geomorphic
change; adjustment to map channel boundaries consistently; addition of
associated aquatic habitat; addition of conservation or recreation area
to existing OPAs; addition of new OPAs; addition of undeveloped
fastland (land above mean high tide) not currently within the CBRS;
removal of private land that was inadvertently included within an OPA;
and reclassification from System unit to OPA and vice-versa. In cases
where we found no compelling evidence to propose a revised boundary,
the existing boundary remains unchanged.
Digital Mapping Pilot Project Finalization
The draft pilot project maps will not become effective until they
are enacted by Congress through new legislation. Before the Service
presents Congress with final recommended maps for its consideration and
enactment, we are soliciting, through this notice, public review of and
comment on the draft pilot project maps. Section 3 of the Coastal
Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2005 (CBRRA of 2005; Pub. L.
109-226) directs the Secretary to submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on
Resources of the House of Representatives, a report that contains: (1)
The final recommended maps created under the digital mapping pilot
project; (2) recommendations for the adoption of the digital maps by
Congress; (3) a summary of the comments received from the Governors of
the States, other government officials, and the public regarding the
digital maps; (4) a summary and update of the protocols and findings of
the report required under section 6(d) of the CBRRA of 2000; and (5) an
analysis of any benefits that the public would receive by using digital
mapping technology for all System units and OPAs. CBRRA of 2005
requires the Secretary to prepare the report in consultation with the
Governors of the States in which any System units and OPAs are located
and after providing an opportunity for the submission and consideration
of public comments.
This notice announces the availability of the pilot project report
and draft maps for public review and comment. Following the close of
the comment period on the date listed in the DATES section of this
document, we will review all public comments received and make
adjustments to the draft pilot project maps, as appropriate, based on
CBRA's criteria and objective mapping protocols. We will create a set
of final recommended maps to address the comments made during the
public comment period and to update the underlying base maps with newer
aerial imagery where practicable. The final recommended maps will be
included in a report to Congress, per the directives of CBRRA of 2005.
Proposed Additions to the CBRS
The proposed boundaries depicted on the pilot project maps are
based upon the best data available to the Service at the time the draft
maps were created. In general, our assessment indicated that any new
areas proposed to be added to the CBRS were undeveloped at the time the
pilot project maps were created. We provide the following explanation
concerning our development assessment for any new areas proposed to be
added to the CBRS.
Section 2 of the CBRRA of 2000 codified guidelines for what the
Secretary shall consider when making recommendations to the Congress
regarding the addition of any area to the CBRS and in determining
whether, at the time of inclusion of a System unit within the CBRS, a
coastal barrier is undeveloped. We are not aware of any existing
structures located on lands proposed for addition to the CBRS as System
units. If, however, a full complement of infrastructure currently
exists on the ground for any areas proposed for addition to the CBRS as
System units, interested parties may submit documentation of such
infrastructure to the Service for consideration during this public
comment period. A full complement of infrastructure includes: (1) A
road, with a reinforced road bed, to each lot or building site in the
area; (2) a wastewater disposal system sufficient to serve each lot or
building site in the area; (3) electric service for each lot or
building site in the area; and (4) a fresh water supply for each lot or
building site in the area. For any pilot project areas proposed for
addition to the CBRS as System units, we will consider the level of
infrastructure on the ground as of the publication date of this notice.
This guidance related to infrastructure will be considered in areas
being proposed for addition to the CBRS as System units. We will not
consider the presence of infrastructure in areas that are currently
located within the CBRS, but are being proposed in the pilot project
for reclassification from OPA to System unit status.
Unit FL-64P, Clam Pass, Florida
We note that the proposed pilot project map for Unit FL-64P, Clam
Pass, was enacted into law by Public Law 110-419 on October 15, 2008,
and is now the controlling map for that unit. We will accept public
comments related
[[Page 15745]]
to this map during the public comment period and include a summary of
any comments received in the report to the Congress required by CBRRA
of 2005.
Request for Comments
We invite the public to review and comment on the digital mapping
pilot project report to Congress and draft maps created for the 70 CBRS
units through the pilot project. The Service is distributing copies of
pilot project report and draft maps to the House of Representatives
Committee on Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Environment and
Public Works, the members of Congress of each affected area, the
Governors of the States in which any System units and OPAs are located,
other Federal agencies, local officials, and numerous other
stakeholders.
The pilot project report to Congress, draft maps, unit summaries,
and digital boundary data can all be accessed and downloaded from the
Service's Internet site: https://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/coastal_barrier.html. The public may also contact the Service offices
listed in Appendix B of this notice to make arrangements to view the
maps. Interested parties may submit written comments and accompanying
data to the individual and location identified in the ADDRESSES section
above. Comments regarding specific maps should reference the
appropriate CBRS unit number and unit name. Appendix A of this notice
provides a listing of the pilot project units by State, unit number,
unit name, and county. We must receive comments on or before the date
listed in the DATES section of this document.
Below is a description of the materials associated with the pilot
project that are being made available to the public.
(1) Report to Congress--describes the results of the pilot project
and the feasibility, data needs, and costs of completing digital maps
for the entire CBRS. The draft maps and unit summaries for each of the
70 pilot project units are included in Appendix D of the report.
(2) Draft maps--for each of the 70 pilot project units depict: (1)
The existing CBRS boundary and (2) the proposed boundary which
represents the Service's recommendation for the boundary placement.
(3) Unit summaries--for each of the 70 pilot project units describe
the existing boundaries and proposed changes to the boundaries as well
as the associated acreage and shoreline mile changes.
(4) Digital boundary data--for each of the 70 pilot project units
are being made available in shapefile format for reference purposes
only. The Service is not responsible for any misuse or
misinterpretation of this digital data. During the public comment
period, the Service will accept digital GIS data files that are
accompanied by written comments.
(5) Background records--for each of the 70 pilot project units
contain the historical background for each unit, including previously
enacted maps, documents referenced during the boundary intent
assessment phase, maps showing different data types used to assess
boundary intent, signed maps for stakeholder concurrence on OPA
boundaries, and any other documentation that describes the placement of
the proposed boundaries. These records are maintained by the Service
and, upon request, may be viewed by the public at the Service's
headquarters office.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Digital Mapping Project for the Remaining Units of the CBRS
Section 4 of the CBRRA of 2005 directs the Secretary to carry out a
project to create digital versions of all of the CBRS maps that were
not included in the pilot project. We plan to continue modernizing the
maps of the CBRS as resources are made available for this effort.
Appendix A--Pilot Project Units
Below is a listing of the pilot project units by State, unit
number, unit name, and county.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State of Delaware (1 Map):
DE-07............................ Delaware Seashore............ Sussex
DE-07P........................... Delaware Seashore............ Sussex
H01.............................. North Bethany Beach.......... Sussex
State of North Carolina (9 Maps):
NC-01............................ Pine Island Bay.............. Currituck, Dare
NC-05P........................... Roosevelt Natural Area....... Carteret
NC-06............................ Hammocks Beach............... Onslow
NC-06P........................... Hammocks Beach............... Onslow, Carteret
L05.............................. Onslow Beach................. Onslow
L06.............................. Topsail...................... Onslow
L07.............................. Lea Island Complex........... Pender, New Hanover
L08.............................. Wrightsville Beach........... New Hanover
L09.............................. Masonboro Island............. New Hanover
State of South Carolina (1 Map):
M02.............................. Litchfield Beach............. Georgetown
M03.............................. Pawleys Inlet................ Georgetown
State of Florida (27 Maps):
FL-01............................ Fort Clinch.................. Nassau
FL-01P........................... Fort Clinch.................. Nassau
P04A............................. Usinas Beach................. St. Johns
P05.............................. Conch Island................. St. Johns
P05P............................. Conch Island................. St. Johns
P08.............................. Ponce Inlet.................. Volusia
P08P............................. Ponce Inlet.................. Volusia
FL-13P........................... Spessard Holland Park........ Brevard
P09A............................. Coconut Point................ Brevard
P09AP............................ Coconut Point................ Brevard
P10A............................. Blue Hole.................... Indian River, St. Lucie
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FL-14P........................... Pepper Beach................. St. Lucie
P11.............................. Hutchinson Island............ St. Lucie
P11P............................. Hutchinson Island............ St. Lucie
FL-15............................ Blowing Rocks................ Martin, Palm Beach
FL-16P........................... Jupiter Beach................ Palm Beach
FL-17P........................... Carlin....................... Palm Beach
FL-18P........................... MacArthur Beach.............. Palm Beach
FL-19............................ Birch Park................... Broward
FL-19P........................... Birch Park................... Broward
FL-20P........................... Lloyd Beach.................. Broward
P14A............................. North Beach.................. Broward
FL-39............................ Tavernier Key................ Monroe
FL-40............................ Snake Creek.................. Monroe
FL-43............................ Channel Key................. Monroe
FL-44............................ Toms Harbor Keys............. Monroe
FL-45............................ Deer/Long Point Keys......... Monroe
FL-46............................ Boot Key..................... Monroe
FL-64P........................... Clam Pass.................... Collier
P17A............................. Bowditch Point............... Lee
FL-67............................ Bunche Beach................. Lee
FL-67P........................... Bunche Beach................. Lee
P21.............................. Bocilla Island............... Charlotte
P21P............................. Bocilla Island............... Charlotte
P22.............................. Casey Key.................... Sarasota
FL-72P........................... Lido Key..................... Sarasota
FL-73P........................... De Soto...................... Manatee
FL-78............................ Rattlesnake Key.............. Manatee
FL-78P........................... Rattlesnake Key.............. Manatee
FL-82............................ Bishop Harbor................ Manatee
FL-80P........................... Passage Key.................. Manatee
FL-81............................ Egmont Key................... Hillsborough
FL-81P........................... Egmont Key................... Hillsborough
FL-83............................ Cockroach Bay................ Hillsborough
FL-85P........................... Sand Key..................... Pinellas
P26.............................. Pepperfish Keys.............. Dixie
FL-89............................ Peninsula Point.............. Franklin
FL-93............................ Phillips Inlet............... Bay
FL-93P........................... Phillips Inlet............... Bay
FL-94............................ Deer Lake.................... Walton
State of Louisiana (13 Maps):
LA-01............................ Isle Au Pitre................ St. Bernard
LA-02............................ Grand Island................. St. Bernard
S04.............................. Timbalier Bay................ Lafourche
S05.............................. Timbalier Islands............ Terrebonne, Lafourche
S06.............................. Isle Dernieres............... Terrebonne
S07.............................. Point au Fer................. Terrebonne, St. Mary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B--U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices Where Pilot Project
Maps May Be Inspected
Washington Office--All pilot project maps
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Habitat and Resource
Conservation, 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Room 860A, Arlington, VA 22203;
(703) 358-2161.
Northeast Regional Office--Pilot project maps for DE
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley,
MA 01035-9589; (413) 253-8200.
Southeast Regional Office--Pilot project maps for FL, NC, SC, LA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 400,
Atlanta, GA 30345; (404) 679-4000.
Chesapeake Bay Field Office--Pilot project maps for DE
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 177 Admiral Cochrane Drive,
Annapolis, MD 21401; (410) 573-4500.
Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office--Pilot project maps for NC
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 551F Pylon Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606;
(919) 856-4520.
Charleston Ecological Services Office--Pilot project maps for SC
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 176 Croghan Spur Road, Suite 200,
Charleston, SC 29407; (843) 727-4707.
North Florida Field Office--Pilot project maps for North/North
Central FL
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200,
Jacksonville, FL 32256-7517; (904) 731-3336.
South Florida Ecological Services Office--Pilot project maps for
South FL
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL
32960-3559; (772) 562-3909.
Panama City Ecological Services and Fisheries Resources Office--
Pilot project maps for Northwest FL
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, FL
32405-3721; (850) 769-0552.
Lafayette Ecological Services Field Office--Pilot project maps for
LA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 646 Cajundome Boulevard, Suite 400,
Lafayette, LA 70506; (337) 291-3100.
Rowan W. Gould,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. E9-7772 Filed 4-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
