Evaluation of State Coastal Management Programs and National Estuarine Research Reserves, 31948 [2017-14488]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 31948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14488]



[[Page 31948]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Evaluation of State Coastal Management Programs and National 
Estuarine Research Reserves

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Office for Coastal Management will hold three public meetings to 
solicit comments on the performance evaluation of the U.S. Virgin 
Islands Coastal Management Program. Notice is also hereby given of the 
availability of the final evaluation findings for the Oregon and 
Alabama Coastal Management Programs and Tijuana River National 
Estuarine Research Reserve.

DATES: U.S. Virgin Islands Coastal Management Program Evaluation: The 
public meetings will be held on August 29, August 30, and August 31, 
2017, and written comments must be received on or before September 8, 
2017.
    For specific dates, times, and locations of the public meetings, 
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the coastal program or reserve 
NOAA intends to evaluate by any of the following methods:
    Public Meeting and Oral Comments: Public meetings will be held on 
St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. For the specific location, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Written Comments: Please direct written comments to Susie Holst, 
Evaluator, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, 35 Colovos Road, 
University of New Hampshire, Gregg Hall, Room 142, Durham, New 
Hampshire 03824, or email comments Susie.Holst@noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susie Holst, Evaluator, NOAA Office 
for Coastal Management, 35 Colovos Road, University of New Hampshire, 
Gregg Hall, Room 142, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, (603) 862-1205 or 
Susie.Holst@noaa.gov. Copies of the previous evaluation findings may be 
viewed and downloaded on the Internet at https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/evaluations. A copy of the evaluation notification letter and most 
recent progress report may be obtained upon request by contacting the 
person identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management 
Act (CZMA) requires NOAA to conduct periodic evaluations of federally 
approved state and territorial coastal programs. The process includes 
one or more public meetings, consideration of written public comments 
and consultations with interested Federal, state, and local agencies 
and members of the public. During the evaluation, NOAA will consider 
the extent to which the state has met the national objectives, adhered 
to the management program approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and 
adhered to the terms of financial assistance under the CZMA. When the 
evaluation is completed, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management will 
place a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of 
the Final Evaluation Findings.
    Specific information on the periodic evaluation of the state and 
territorial coastal program that is the subject of this notice is 
detailed below as follows:

U.S. Virgin Islands Coastal Management Program Evaluation

    You may participate or submit oral comments at the public meeting 
scheduled as follows:

    Date: August 29, 2017.
    Time: 6:00 p.m., local time.
    Location: Cyril E. King Airport Terminal Building, Second Floor, 
Department of Planning and Natural Resources Conference Room, 8100 
Lindberg Bay, St. Thomas.

    Date: August 30, 2017.
    Time: 6:00 p.m., local time.
    Location: St. Croix Curriculum Center, 3 Vicorps Land, Kingshill, 
St. Croix.

    Date: August 31, 2017.
    Time: 6:00 p.m., local time.
    Location: St. John Legislature Conference Room, 18-15 Estate 
Enighed, Cruz Bay, St. John.

    Written public comments must be received on or before September 8, 
2017.

Availability of Final Evaluation Findings of Other State and 
Territorial Coastal Programs

    The NOAA Office for Coastal Management has completed review of the 
Coastal Zone Management Program evaluations for the states of Oregon 
and Alabama. Both states were found to be implementing and enforcing 
their federally approved coastal management programs, addressing the 
national coastal management objectives identified in CZMA Section 
303(2)(A)-(K), and adhering to the programmatic terms of their 
financial assistance awards.
    The NOAA Office for Coastal Management has completed review of the 
National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation for the Tijuana River 
reserve and the reserve was found to be adhering to programmatic 
requirements of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Copies 
of the final evaluation findings may be downloaded at https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/evaluations/evaluation_findings/ or by 
submitting a written request to the person identified under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419, Coastal Zone Management 
Program Administration.

    Dated: June 29, 2017.
Paul M. Scholz,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-14488 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-08-P