John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System; Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project for Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey, 10739-10747 [2018-04889]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 48 / Monday, March 12, 2018 / Notices
Dated: March 2, 2018.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2018–04886 Filed 3–9–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–ES–2018–0004; FF09E15000–
FXES111609B0000–189]
John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier
Resources System; Hurricane Sandy
Remapping Project for Delaware,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
New Jersey
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments; notice of public meetings
via webcast and teleconference.
AGENCY:
The Coastal Barrier Resources
Reauthorization Act of 2006 requires the
Secretary of the Interior to prepare
digital versions of the John H. Chafee
Coastal Barrier Resources System
(CBRS) maps. We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, have prepared
proposed digital boundaries for the first
batch of CBRS units included in the
Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project.
This first batch of the project includes
a total of 148 CBRS units (112 existing
units and 36 proposed new units)
located in Delaware, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, and New Jersey. This
notice announces the availability of the
proposed boundaries for public review
and comment, and also advises the
public of upcoming public meetings that
will be held via webcast and
teleconference.
DATES:
Comment Period: To ensure
consideration, we must receive your
written comments by July 10, 2018.
Public Meetings: We will hold public
meetings via webcast and teleconference
on May 8, 2018, and May 9, 2018; see
Virtual Public Meetings and Meeting
Participation Information under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting
dates, times, and registration
information.
Pre-Meeting Public Registration: If you
are planning to participate in one of the
virtual public meetings (being offered
via webcast and telephone only), we
request that participants register by
emailing by May 1, 2018 (see Meeting
Participation Information under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by one of the following
methods:
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SUMMARY:
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• Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Search for FWS–
HQ–ES–2018–0004, which is the docket
number for this notice.
• By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail
or hand-delivery to: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–HQ–
ES–2018–0004; Division of Policy,
Performance, and Management
Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC;
Falls Church, VA 22041–3808.
We request that you send comments
by only one of the methods described
above. We will post all information
received on https://www.regulations.gov.
If you provide personal identifying
information in your comment, you may
request at the top of your document that
we withhold this information from
public review. However, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers
Coordinator, (703) 358–2071
(telephone); or CBRA@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Coastal Barrier Resources
Reauthorization Act of 2006 (section 4
of Pub. L. 109–226; CBRRA) requires the
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to
prepare digital versions of the John H.
Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System
(CBRS) maps. We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), have
prepared proposed digital boundaries
for the first batch of CBRS units
included in the Hurricane Sandy
Remapping Project. This first batch of
the project includes a total of 148 CBRS
units (112 existing units and 36
proposed new units) located in
Delaware, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, and New Jersey. This notice
announces the availability of the
proposed boundaries for public review
and comment, and also advises the
public of upcoming public meetings that
will be held via webcast and
teleconference.
Background on the Coastal Barrier
Resources System
Coastal barrier ecosystems are
inherently dynamic systems located at
the interface of land and sea. Coastal
barriers and their associated aquatic
habitat (wetlands and open water)
provide important habitat for fish and
wildlife, and serve as the mainland’s
first line of defense against the impacts
of severe storms. With the passage of the
CBRA in 1982 (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.),
Congress recognized that certain actions
and programs of the Federal
Government have historically
subsidized and encouraged
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development on storm-prone and highly
dynamic coastal barriers, and the result
has been the loss of natural resources;
threats to human life, health, and
property; and the expenditure of
millions of tax dollars each year.
The CBRA established the CBRS
which originally comprised 186
geographic units encompassing
approximately 453,000 acres of
relatively undeveloped lands and
associated aquatic habitat along the
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. The
CBRS was expanded by the Coastal
Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (CBIA;
Pub. L. 101–591) to include additional
areas along the Atlantic and Gulf of
Mexico coasts, as well as areas along the
coasts of the Great Lakes, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and Puerto Rico. The CBRS now
comprises a total of 862 geographic
units, encompassing approximately 3.5
million acres of land and associated
aquatic habitat. These areas are depicted
on a series of maps known as the John
H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources
System maps.
Most new Federal expenditures and
financial assistance that would have the
effect of encouraging development are
prohibited within the CBRS.
Development can still occur within the
CBRS, provided that private developers
or other non-Federal parties bear the full
cost. In his signing statement, President
Reagan stated that the CBRA ‘‘simply
adopts the sensible approach that risk
associated with new private
development in these sensitive areas
should be borne by the private sector,
not underwritten by the American
taxpayer.’’
The CBRS includes two types of units,
System Units and Otherwise Protected
Areas (OPAs). System Units contain
areas that were relatively undeveloped
and predominantly privately owned at
the time of designation, though they
may also contain areas held for
conservation and/or recreation. Most
new Federal expenditures and financial
assistance, including Federal flood
insurance, are prohibited within System
Units. OPAs are predominantly
comprised of conservation and/or
recreation areas such as national
wildlife refuges, state and national
parks, and local and private
conservation areas, though they may
also contain private areas not held for
conservation and/or recreation. OPAs
are denoted with a ‘‘P’’ at the end of the
unit number. The only Federal spending
prohibition within OPAs is the
prohibition related to Federal flood
insurance.
The Secretary, through the Service, is
responsible for administering the CBRA,
which includes maintaining the official
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maps of the CBRS, consulting with
Federal agencies that propose to spend
funds within the CBRS, preparing
updated maps of the CBRS, and making
recommendations to Congress regarding
changes to the CBRS. Aside from three
minor exceptions, only Congress—
through legislation—can modify the
maps of the CBRS to add or remove
land. These exceptions, which allow the
Secretary to make limited modifications
to the CBRS (16 U.S.C. 3503(c)–(e)), are
for: (1) Changes that have occurred to
the CBRS as a result of natural forces,
(2) voluntary additions to the CBRS by
property owners, and (3) additions of
excess Federal property to the CBRS.
When assessing potential removals
from and additions to the CBRS, the
Service considers a set of guiding
principles and criteria which are further
described in the Types of Boundary
Changes section below. In cases where
mapping errors are found, the Service
supports changes to the maps and works
with Congress and other interested
parties to create comprehensively
revised maps using modern digital
technology.
Background on the Hurricane Sandy
Remapping Project
Following Hurricane Sandy, which
made landfall along the North Atlantic
coast in October 2012, the Department
of the Interior (Department) funded a
project to modernize the maps of
approximately 370 CBRS units in the
nine states most affected by the storm:
Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York (Long Island), Rhode
Island, and Virginia (comprising
approximately 44 percent of the total
units and 16 percent of the total acreage
within the CBRS). This project makes
significant progress towards fulfilling a
statutory requirement (section 4 of Pub.
L. 109–226) to modernize the entire set
of CBRS maps. The public review for
this project will be conducted in two
separate batches. The first batch
includes Delaware, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, and New Jersey. The second
batch will include Connecticut,
Maryland, New York (Long Island),
Rhode Island, and Virginia.
A list of all 148 CBRS units (112
existing units and 36 proposed new
units) included in this first batch is
attached to this notice as Appendix A.
If adopted by Congress, the revised
maps produced through this project
would remove areas that were
previously included within the CBRS in
error and add new qualifying areas to
the CBRS. This map modernization
effort would also provide more accurate
and accessible CBRS data for planning
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coastal infrastructure projects, habitat
conservation efforts, and flood risk
mitigation measures.
Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project
Methodology
Digital Conversion of the Existing
Boundaries
The boundaries of the CBRS were
originally hand-drawn on paper maps.
The existing CBRS maps for Delaware
and New Jersey underwent a digital
conversion process between 2013 and
2015 (79 FR 21787 (April 17, 2014) and
80 FR 25314 (May 4, 2015),
respectively), which replaced the
underlying base maps with aerial
imagery and updated the boundaries to
a digital format to make them
compatible with modern Geographic
Information Systems (GIS). The existing
CBRS unit boundaries for Massachusetts
were digitally converted as part of this
project in accordance with the
methodology described in a notice the
Service published in the Federal
Register on August 29, 2013 (78 FR
53467), though the existing boundaries
for Massachusetts do not incorporate
modifications to account for natural
changes, voluntary additions, and
additions of excess Federal property
(such changes are instead reflected in
the proposed boundaries). Digital
conversion was not necessary for New
Hampshire because it does not have any
existing CBRS units.
Data Mining and Research
The Service began conducting data
mining and research for this project in
January of 2015. The Service procured
and assessed the quality and accuracy of
the data necessary to: (1) Determine
whether the existing CBRS unit
boundaries appropriately follow the
features they were intended to follow
on-the-ground, (2) determine the level of
development that was on-the-ground
when the areas were originally included
within the CBRS (e.g., dates of
construction and density of
development), (3) identify qualifying
additions, and (4) evaluate unit type
classifications (i.e., System Unit or
OPA).
The Service reviewed historical
background records of the CBRS units,
reports to Congress, public laws,
legislative history, testimony from
Congressional hearings, Federal
Register notices, current and historical
CBRS maps, the 1982 and 1994 CBRS
Photographic Atlases (a set of aerial
photography maintained by the Service
with the CBRS unit boundaries
overlaid), materials submitted by
interested parties and their
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representatives in Congress, and an
assortment of other data and
information.
We also obtained and assessed both
geospatial and non-geospatial data from
a variety of Federal sources (e.g., the
Federal Emergency Management
Agency, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, and the U.S.
Geological Survey), as well as State,
local, and non-governmental sources.
These data include but are not limited
to current and historical aerial imagery,
natural resource and natural hazard data
(e.g., wetlands data, shoreline change
data, and flood hazard data), land
ownership and development data (e.g.,
property parcel data and date of
construction information), and
conservation and recreation area data
(e.g., park and wildlife refuge parcel
boundaries, conservation easement data,
and parcel acquisition dates). Some of
these data sets were available for
download on the internet or through
specific requests to the data steward,
while others were reviewed online
through mappers, websites, and/or
databases.
The proposed boundaries are based
upon the best available information that
the Service was able to obtain within
the data mining and research timeframe
for the project. There were many
challenges associated with the data
mining and research process. In some
cases, data was unavailable,
unattainable within a reasonable time
frame, incomplete, outdated, and/or in
conflict with other data of the same type
from a different source. Dates of
construction and both present and
historical land ownership information
were difficult to obtain and validate for
certain areas (in particular, ownership
information for undeveloped wetland
areas). It was also difficult in some cases
to determine structure type and use
(e.g., residential, commercial, or other).
Initial Stakeholder Outreach
During the data mining and research
phase of the project, the Service
conducted outreach with certain
landowners and/or managers of coastal
barrier areas that are ‘‘otherwise
protected’’ (as defined by the CBIA),
meaning within the boundaries of an
area established under Federal, State, or
local law, or held by a qualified
organization (defined under the Internal
Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 170(h)(3)),
primarily for wildlife refuge, sanctuary,
recreational, or natural resource
conservation purposes. Such outreach
was generally not conducted with the
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landowners and/or managers of areas
that do not meet the CBIA definition of
‘‘otherwise protected.’’ This includes
areas zoned or regulated by State or
local governments for the purpose of
restricting the nature or density of
development, but where such regulation
does not necessarily reflect the intent of
the property owners to protect the area
for conservation and/or recreation in
perpetuity. Examples of such areas
include privately owned areas that are
not held for conservation and/or
recreation; local zoning categories such
as dune districts, inlet hazard areas, and
setback zones; and areas subject to
conservation easements or leases that
have limited restrictions.
Conservation/recreation area
landowners and/or managers were
contacted in cases where the following
information was necessary to prepare
the initial proposed boundaries: (1) The
location of conservation and/or
recreation area boundaries (primarily in
cases where the CBRS unit boundary
was intended to be coincident with that
boundary and there was conflicting
information about the parcel boundary
location), (2) the acquisition date(s) of
the conservation and/or recreation area,
and/or (3) the CBRS unit type
classification (i.e., System Unit or OPA)
for a particular conservation and/or
recreation area.
Given the large number of
conservation and/or recreation area
stakeholders within the project area and
complexities associated with mapping
numerous small parcels, we generally
limited our initial outreach to those
stakeholders that own and/or manage
conservation and/or recreation areas
that are greater than approximately 10
acres in size within the existing and/or
proposed System Units. See the Types
of Boundary Changes section below for
additional information about the
mapping of conservation/recreation
areas within the CBRS.
The Service reached out to
approximately 90 different stakeholders
in Delaware, Massachusetts, and New
Jersey, including but not limited to state
natural resource management agencies,
state parks and recreation agencies,
private conservation organizations, and
local governments. Some of these
organizations, due to a variety of
circumstances, were unable to provide
input during the initial stakeholder
outreach process. Additional outreach
to these groups and a broader group of
stakeholders (including the State of New
Hampshire, which has no existing CBRS
units and only one proposed new OPA)
is being conducted as part of the public
review process; see the Request for
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Comments section below for further
information.
Acreage Calculations
The Service calculates the acreage of
the CBRS units to help assess the areal
extent of the units and to quantify
proposed changes. The total acreage of
a CBRS unit is comprised of fastland
(land above mean high tide) and
associated aquatic habitat (wetlands and
open water). For the purpose of
calculating acreage for this project, the
wetland/fastland acreage breakdown of
the units was derived from the Service’s
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
data. A shoreline was delineated (as
described below) to be used in
conjunction with the boundaries of the
unit to calculate acreage, and only areas
landward of this shoreline were
included in the calculation. The
associated aquatic habitat acreage
numbers include open water landward
of the coastal barrier, but not nearshore
or offshore waters seaward of the
shoreline. The offshore acreage of the
units is not calculated because a fixed
seaward boundary for the units is
generally not drawn due to the highly
dynamic nature of the littoral zone.
Although acreage for offshore areas is
not calculated, the entire sand sharing
system on the seaward side, including
the beach and nearshore area, is
included within the CBRS units. The
sand sharing system of coastal barriers
is normally defined by the 30-foot
bathymetric contour. In the Great Lakes
and in large coastal embayments (e.g.,
Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and
Narragansett Bay), the sand sharing
system is more limited in extent. In
these cases, the sand sharing system is
defined by the 20-foot bathymetric
contour or a line approximately 1 mile
seaward of the shoreline, whichever is
nearer the coastal barrier.
Shoreline Calculations
The Service calculates the shoreline
of the units to help assess the linear
extent of the CBRS and to facilitate the
calculation of the acreage of the units as
described above. For the purposes of
this project, the Service digitized a
shoreline boundary to artificially close
off the units along the seaward
shoreline. This shoreline boundary
generally follows the wet/dry sand line
along the seaward side of the unit as
interpreted from the base imagery.
Additionally, the shoreline boundary
spans any inlets and/or other dividing
water bodies within each unit. In some
cases, highly convoluted shorelines
were generalized. Due to the
complexities of shoreline delineations,
acreage numbers (rather than shoreline
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miles) are the most reliable way to
quantify proposed changes to the CBRS
for individual units.
Types of Boundary Changes
The Service applied objective
mapping protocols in the preparation of
proposed boundaries for the CBRS units
included in this project. The Service
also applied a set of guiding principles
and criteria for assessing additions to
and removals from the CBRS. In 1982
and 1985, the Department published
guidance in the Federal Register (47 FR
35696 (August 16, 1982) and 50 FR 8698
(March 4, 1985)) for delineating CBRS
unit boundaries. The Department’s 1982
Undeveloped Coastal Barriers: Report to
Congress, 1988 Report to Congress:
Coastal Barrier Resources System and
the Service’s 2016 Final Report to
Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal
Barrier Resources System Digital
Mapping Pilot Project also contain
protocols, criteria, and guiding
principles for CBRS mapping.
The different types of changes
proposed through this project include
modifications to reflect geomorphic
change; alignment with geomorphic,
development, and cultural features;
additions to and removals from the
CBRS; and modifications to CBRS
boundaries in channels. Additionally,
CBRS unit type classifications (and
reclassifications) were determined
according to a standard protocol
described below.
Modifications To Reflect Geomorphic
Change
The CBRA requires that at least once
every 5 years the Service review the
maps of the CBRS and make
modifications to the boundaries of the
units to account for changes caused by
natural forces such as accretion and
erosion (16 U.S.C. 3503(c)). This type of
change can be made by the Service
administratively; however, it is also
incorporated into ongoing CBRS
mapping efforts like this project for
efficiency and cost-saving purposes. The
boundaries of System Units and OPAs
have been modified where appropriate
to account for natural changes that have
occurred since the maps were last
updated.
Alignment With Geomorphic Features
CBRS boundaries are often intended
to follow geomorphic features such as a
shoreline or the interface between
wetlands and fastlands. This applies
mostly to System Units, though there
are many cases where OPA boundaries
follow geomorphic features. The
boundaries of System Units and OPAs
have been modified where appropriate
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to align with underlying geomorphic
features.
Alignment With Development Features
CBRS boundaries are often intended
to follow development features, such as
the edge of a road, a bridge, or the
‘‘break-in-development’’ that existed onthe-ground when the area was included
within the CBRS. The break-indevelopment is where development
ended, immediately adjacent to the last
structure in a cluster or row of
structures, or at the property parcel
boundary of the last structure. This
applies mostly to System Units, though
there are cases where OPA boundaries
follow development features. The
boundaries of System Units and OPAs
have been modified where appropriate
to align with development features.
Alignment With Cultural Features
CBRS boundaries are often intended
to follow cultural features such as roads
and political boundaries (e.g., state,
county, and town boundaries) or
conservation/recreation area
boundaries. Both System Units and
OPAs follow cultural features; however,
this applies especially to OPAs, which
often coincide with the boundaries of
the underlying conservation and/or
recreation areas (although there are
exceptions). The boundaries of System
Units and OPAs have been modified
where appropriate to align with cultural
features.
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Additions to the CBRS
In carrying out this project, the
Service found areas of undeveloped
fastland and associated aquatic habitat
that are not currently within the CBRS
but are appropriate for inclusion (either
as additions to existing units or as
entirely new units). When assessing
whether an area may be appropriate for
addition to the CBRS, the Service
considered the following guiding
principles:
(1) Whether the area may reasonably
be considered to be a coastal barrier
feature, or related to a coastal barrier
ecosystem (this generally includes areas
that are inherently vulnerable to coastal
hazards such as flooding, storm surge,
wind, erosion, and sea level rise) and
(2) whether inclusion of the area
within the CBRS is rationally related to
the purposes of the CBRA (i.e., to
minimize the loss of human life,
wasteful expenditure of Federal
revenues, and damage to fish, wildlife,
and other natural resources).
When assessing potential additions to
the CBRS, the Service also considers the
following criteria:
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(1) The level of development on-theground (i.e., whether the number of
structures or complement of
infrastructure on-the-ground exceed the
threshold for the area to be considered
undeveloped) (16 U.S.C. 3503(g)(1))
and/or
(2) in the case of certain additions to
existing units, the location of
geomorphic, cultural, and development
features on-the-ground at the time the
adjacent area was included within the
CBRS (i.e., whether the CBRS boundary
lines on the maps precisely follow the
underlying features they were intended
to follow on-the-ground).
The boundaries of System Units and
OPAs have been modified where
appropriate to add undeveloped
fastland and associated aquatic habitat
to the CBRS (either as additions to
existing units or as entirely new units).
Such additions to the CBRS are
consistent with Section 4(c)(3) of the
2006 CBRRA which directs the
Secretary to make recommendations for
expansion of the CBRS. The unit type
classification (i.e., System Unit versus
OPA) was determined according to the
protocol described below in the section
entitled ‘‘CBRS Unit Type
Classification.’’
Additionally, the Service
accommodates requests from
landowners for voluntary additions to
the CBRS or reclassifications of
conservation/recreation areas from OPA
to System Unit status. Voluntary
additions to the CBRS can be made by
the Service administratively (16 U.S.C.
3503(d)); however they are also
incorporated into ongoing CBRS
mapping efforts like this project for
efficiency and cost-saving purposes.
Removals From the CBRS
In carrying out this project, the
Service found areas that were
inappropriately included within the
CBRS and constitute technical mapping
errors. When assessing whether an area
may be appropriate for removal from the
CBRS, the Service considered the
following guiding principles:
(1) Whether the area may reasonably
be considered to be a coastal barrier
feature, or related to a coastal barrier
ecosystem (this generally includes areas
that are inherently vulnerable to coastal
hazards such as flooding, storm surge,
wind, erosion, and sea level rise); and
(2) whether inclusion of the area
within the CBRS is rationally related to
the purposes of the CBRA (i.e., to
minimize the loss of human life,
wasteful expenditure of Federal
revenues, and damage to fish, wildlife,
and other natural resources).
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The Service considers a technical
mapping error to be a mistake in the
delineation of the CBRS boundaries that
was made as a result of incorrect,
outdated, or incomplete information
(often stemming from inaccuracies on
the original base maps). When assessing
whether an area may be appropriate for
removal, the Service also considers the
following criteria:
(1) The level of development on-theground at the time the area was
included within the CBRS (i.e., the
number of structures or complement of
infrastructure on-the-ground exceeded
the threshold for the area to be
considered undeveloped) (16 U.S.C.
3503(g)(1)); and/or
(2) the location of geomorphic,
cultural, and development features onthe-ground at the time the area was
included within the CBRS (i.e., the
CBRS boundary lines on the maps do
not precisely follow the underlying
features they were intended to follow
on-the-ground).
The boundaries of System Units and
OPAs have been modified where
appropriate to remove areas that were
inappropriately included within the
CBRS and constitute technical mapping
errors.
Modifications to CBRS Boundaries in
Channels
In carrying out this project, the
Service noted that the CBRS unit
boundaries following channels in some
cases include the entire channel and in
other cases include none of the channel
within the unit. The boundaries of
System Units and OPAs have been
modified where appropriate to include
the entire extent of the channel within
the unit. In cases where a System Unit
and an OPA share a coincident
boundary that follows a channel located
between the two units, the entire
channel is generally included within the
System Unit. In cases where two System
Units or two OPAs fall within a
channel, the coincident boundary is
placed at the center of the channel. A
buffer (of about 20 feet) has generally
been applied along developed
shorelines (i.e., where structures and/or
infrastructure such as bulkheads and
roads are very close to and run parallel
to or are coincident with the shoreline)
to ensure that existing development and
infrastructure located on the shoreline is
not inadvertently included within the
CBRS.
CBRS Unit Type Classification
In carrying out this project, the
Service considered the qualifying
coastal barrier feature and delineated
the unit boundaries in accordance with
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the protocols, criteria, and guiding
principles identified above, regardless
of whether the area is (or was
previously) owned or managed for
conservation and/or recreation. In other
words, the boundaries of both System
Units and OPAs were generally drawn
using the same protocols, criteria, and
guiding principles. The Service then
determined the unit type classification
(for proposed additions) and
reclassification (for existing units) in
accordance with the protocols below.
The unit type classification (i.e.,
System Unit versus OPA) is based on
whether or not the unit was
predominantly held for conservation
and/or recreation at the time of
designation, and has been modified
where appropriate and practicable. Such
unit type modifications for areas that are
currently within the CBRS are referred
to as ‘‘reclassifications.’’ The
reclassified areas are either added to an
existing adjacent unit of the same type
or assigned a new unit number. The
following considerations were applied
for unit type classification and
reclassification:
Areas not Held for Conservation/
Recreation Within OPAs: Areas that are
not held for conservation/recreation, but
are: (1) Interspersed with and/or
adjacent to a larger conservation/
recreation area, and (2) located in
coastal barrier areas that were
undeveloped according to the CBRA’s
statutory development criteria (16
U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)) at the time they were
included within the CBRS (or are
currently undeveloped in the case of
proposed additions), may be included
within OPAs. Additionally, privately
held inholdings (developed or
undeveloped private tracts that are
contained within the exterior
boundaries of the conservation and/or
recreation area) may also be included
within OPAs.
Conservation/Recreation Areas
Within System Units:
Held for Conservation/Recreation Prior
to CBRS Designation
Areas that are held for conservation/
recreation and are: (1) Interspersed with
and/or adjacent to a larger area that is
not held for conservation/recreation,
and (2) were undeveloped according to
the CBRA’s statutory development
criteria (16 U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)) at the time
they were included within the CBRS (or
are currently undeveloped in the case of
proposed additions), may be included
within System Units.
For conservation/recreation areas
greater than 10 acres, the Service
coordinated with the landowners (or
managers) to seek their concurrence on
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inclusion of their area within the
System Unit. If the owners do not
concur with System Unit status, the
Service classifies such areas as OPA to
the extent practicable. However, minor
conservation/recreation areas (i.e.,
fastland and wetlands smaller than 10
acres) and certain areas of open water
would be impractical from a mapping
perspective to delineate separately as an
OPA and therefore may be included
within System Units. Outreach was
generally not conducted for these minor
areas during the initial stakeholder
outreach phase of the project (described
in the Hurricane Sandy Remapping
Project Methodology section above).
Descriptions of such ‘‘minor’’ areas
within System Units are included in the
set of unit summaries that describe the
Service’s proposed changes to the CBRS.
See the Availability of Proposed CBRS
Boundaries and Related Information
section below for information on where
to access the unit summaries.
The Service’s records indicate that
some conservation/recreation areas were
intentionally added to the CBRS as
System Units in the past. The Service
generally did not seek concurrence from
conservation/recreation area owners
(regardless of size) when there is
evidence of such prior intent, including
letters from the stakeholder in the
Service’s records indicating that the
organization supported inclusion of the
property within the System Unit in the
past, or records of specific changes to
the Department’s recommended maps
made by the Congressional committees
that reviewed them prior to their
enactment.
Held for Conservation/Recreation After
Area Designated as CBRS
If an area is dedicated to conservation
and/or recreation after its initial
inclusion within a System Unit, it is
generally not reclassified to an OPA.
Proposed Modifications to the CBRS
The Service has prepared draft
revised boundaries that propose
modifications to the CBRS in Delaware,
Massachusetts, and New Jersey, as well
as the designation of a new unit in New
Hampshire. This first batch of the
Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project
includes a total of 148 CBRS units (112
existing units and 36 proposed new
units) which are listed in Appendix A.
The breakdown of units by state is as
follows: 8 existing units and 3 proposed
new units in Delaware, 86 existing units
and 23 proposed new units in
Massachusetts, 1 proposed new unit in
New Hampshire, and 18 existing units
and 9 proposed new units in New
Jersey. Three of the existing units have
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10743
no proposed changes. Ten of the 36
proposed new units are comprised
either partially or mostly of areas that
are currently contained within the
CBRS, but are proposed for
reclassification from System Unit to
OPA or vice-versa. Twenty-six of the 36
proposed new units are comprised
entirely of areas that are not currently
contained within the CBRS. Nine of the
existing 112 units are proposed for
reclassification from System Unit to
OPA or vice-versa, and therefore their
current unit numbers are retired,
resulting in 139 total proposed units.
If adopted by Congress, the proposed
boundaries would remove 557 acres
from the CBRS (371 acres of fastland
and 186 acres of associated aquatic
habitat) and add approximately 136,268
acres to the CBRS (6,051 acres of
fastland and 130,217 acres of associated
aquatic habitat). The proposed
boundaries would remove 271
structures from the CBRS and add 199
structures to the CBRS. A summary of
metrics associated with the proposed
changes for each state is below. More
detailed information regarding the
specific proposed changes to each unit
is available in a set of unit summaries.
See the Availability of Proposed CBRS
Boundaries and Related Information
section below for information on where
to access the unit summaries.
Delaware
The Service has prepared
comprehensively revised proposed
boundaries for 8 of the 10 existing CBRS
units in Delaware. A final recommended
map for the remaining two existing
units (Units DE–07P and H01) was
submitted to Congress in 2016 as part of
the Service’s Digital Mapping Pilot
Project. One existing unit in Delaware
has no proposed changes. The Service
identified three proposed new units in
Delaware, which are comprised entirely
of areas that are not currently contained
within the CBRS. There are 11 total
proposed units in Delaware.
The proposed boundaries for
Delaware would remove 113 acres from
the CBRS (84 acres of fastland and 29
acres of associated aquatic habitat) and
add approximately 31,216 acres to the
CBRS (996 acres of fastland and 30,220
acres of associated aquatic habitat). The
proposed boundaries would remove 41
structures from the CBRS and add
approximately 10 structures to the
CBRS.
Massachusetts
The Service has prepared
comprehensively revised proposed
boundaries for all of the 86 existing
CBRS units in Massachusetts. Two
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existing units in Massachusetts have no
proposed changes. The Service
identified 23 proposed new units in
Massachusetts. Nine of the 23 proposed
new units in Massachusetts are
comprised either partially or mostly of
areas that are currently contained
within the CBRS, but are proposed for
reclassification from System Unit to
OPA or vice-versa. Fourteen of the 23
proposed new units in Massachusetts
are comprised entirely of areas that are
not currently contained within the
CBRS. Four of the existing 86 units are
proposed for reclassification from
System Unit to OPA or vice-versa, and
therefore their current unit numbers are
retired, resulting in 105 total proposed
units.
The proposed boundaries for
Massachusetts would remove 304 acres
from the CBRS (162 acres of fastland
and 142 acres of associated aquatic
habitat) and add 32,881 acres to the
CBRS (2,778 acres of fastland and
30,103 acres of associated aquatic
habitat). The proposed boundaries
would remove 168 structures from the
CBRS and add 80 structures to the
CBRS.
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New Hampshire
There are currently no existing CBRS
units in New Hampshire. The Service
identified one proposed new unit in
New Hampshire. The proposed
boundaries for this unit would add 679
acres to the CBRS (121 acres of fastland
and 558 acres of associated aquatic
habitat). The proposed boundaries
would add five structures to the CBRS
(these structures are all park-related).
New Jersey
The Service has prepared
comprehensively revised proposed
boundaries for 18 of the 24 existing
CBRS units in New Jersey. The map for
the remaining six New Jersey units
(Units NJ–02/NJ–02P, NJ–03P, NJ–04,
NJ–15P, and NJ–16P) was
comprehensively reviewed and revised
by the Service and adopted by Congress
in 2016. The Service identified nine
proposed new units in New Jersey. One
of the nine proposed new units is
comprised mostly of areas that are
currently contained within the CBRS,
but are proposed for reclassification
from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa.
Eight of the nine proposed new units are
comprised entirely of areas that are not
currently contained within the CBRS.
Five of the existing 18 units are
proposed for reclassification from
System Unit to OPA or vice-versa, and
therefore their current unit numbers are
retired, resulting in 22 total proposed
units.
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The proposed boundaries for New
Jersey would remove 140 acres from the
CBRS (125 acres of fastland and 15 acres
of associated aquatic habitat) and add
71,492 acres to the CBRS (2,156 acres of
fastland and 69,336 acres of associated
aquatic habitat). The proposed
boundaries remove 62 structures from
the CBRS and add 104 structures to the
CBRS.
Proposed Additions to the CBRS
The draft revised boundaries for
Delaware, Massachusetts, and New
Jersey, and the proposed new unit in
New Hampshire, would make additions
to the CBRS, including the creation of
36 new units that are consistent with a
directive in section 4 of Public Law
109–226 concerning recommendations
for expansion of the CBRS. The
proposed boundaries are based upon the
best data available to the Service at the
time the areas were reviewed. Our
assessment indicated that any new areas
proposed for addition to the CBRS were
relatively undeveloped at the time the
proposed boundaries were created.
Section 2 of Public Law 106–514
requires that we consider the following
criteria when assessing the development
status of a potential addition to the
CBRS: (1) Whether the density of
development is less than one structure
per 5 acres of land above mean high tide
(which generally suggests eligibility for
inclusion within the CBRS); and (2)
whether there is existing infrastructure
consisting of a road, with a reinforced
road bed, to each lot or building site in
the area; a wastewater disposal system
sufficient to serve each lot or building
site in the area; electric service for each
lot or building site in the area; and a
fresh water supply for each lot or
building site in the area (which
generally suggests ineligibility for
inclusion within the CBRS).
If, upon review of the proposed
boundaries, interested parties find that
any areas proposed for addition to the
CBRS are currently developed
(according to the criteria codified by
section 2 of Pub. L. 106–514), they may
submit supporting documentation of
such development to the Service during
this public comment period. For any
areas proposed for addition to the CBRS,
we will consider the density of
development and level of infrastructure
on-the-ground as of the close of the
comment period on the date listed in
the DATES section.
Request for Comments
Section 4 of Public Law 109–226
requires the Secretary to provide an
opportunity for the submission of public
comments. We invite the public to
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
review and comment on the proposed
CBRS boundaries for the Delaware,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
New Jersey units listed in Appendix A.
The Service is specifically notifying the
following stakeholders concerning the
availability of the proposed boundaries:
The Chair and Ranking Member of the
House of Representatives Committee on
Natural Resources; the Chair and
Ranking Member of the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public
Works; the members of the Senate and
House of Representatives for the
affected areas; the Governors of
Delaware, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, and New Jersey;
organizations that own land held for
conservation and/or recreation within
the existing and proposed units (where
such ownership information and
mailing addresses were publicly
available); and other appropriate
Federal, State, and local officials, and
nongovernmental organizations.
Interested parties may submit written
comments and accompanying data as
described in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments regarding specific CBRS
unit(s) should reference the appropriate
unit number(s) and unit name(s) as
listed in Appendix A. We must receive
comments on or before the date listed in
the DATES section.
Following the close of the comment
period, we will review all comments
received on the proposed boundaries
and make adjustments to the
boundaries, as appropriate, based on
information received through public
comments, updated aerial imagery,
CBRA criteria, and objective mapping
protocols. We will then prepare final
recommended boundaries to be
submitted to Congress. The final
recommended boundaries will become
effective only if they are adopted by
Congress through legislation.
Availability of Proposed CBRS
Boundaries and Related Information
In the past, the Service has produced
static PDFs of draft maps depicting
proposed changes to the CBRS.
However, in an effort to reduce costs,
increase efficiency, and provide a more
user-friendly interface for the public to
view the proposed changes, the Service
has created an online ‘‘CBRS Projects
Mapper’’ to display the proposed CBRS
boundaries in lieu of static PDFs of the
draft maps. The online mapper creates
greater transparency in the public
review process, allowing users to zoom
in further and obtain more detailed
information about the type of change
that is proposed for a specific area (e.g.,
additions, removals, and
reclassifications).
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The CBRS Projects Mapper and unit
summaries (containing historical
changes and proposed changes to the
individual units) can be accessed from
the Service’s website at https://
www.fws.gov/cbra, or via https://
www.regulations.gov. Public comments
should be submitted at https://
www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES). A
shapefile of the proposed CBRS
boundaries, which can be used with GIS
software, is also available for download.
The shapefile is best viewed using the
base imagery to which the boundaries
were drawn; the base imagery sources
and dates are included in the metadata
for the shapefile. The Service is not
responsible for any misuse or
misinterpretation of the shapefile.
Additionally, a stakeholder outreach
toolkit (comprised of project fact sheets,
flyers for the virtual public meetings,
and other information about the project)
will be made available to local officials
upon request. Local officials may use
this toolkit to increase awareness of the
project and the virtual public meetings
within the community. Local officials
may contact the individual identified in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section for further information regarding
the toolkit.
Interested parties who are unable to
access the proposed boundaries or other
information online may contact the
individual identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section, and
reasonable accommodations will be
made.
Virtual Public Meetings
We will hold the following public
meetings via webcast and teleconference
only. The purpose of the meetings is to
give the public an overview of the
Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project
and to offer an opportunity for questions
and answers regarding the proposed
changes to the CBRS units listed in
Appendix A.
Date
Time
(eastern time)
May 8, 2018 ..........................................................
May 9, 2018 ..........................................................
10 a.m.–12 p.m ....................................................
10 a.m.–12 p.m ....................................................
Meeting Participation Information
These webcast meetings are open to
the public. To ensure that enough callin lines are available, we request that
participants register by emailing CBRA@
fws.gov by close of business on May 1,
2018. Registrants will be provided with
instructions for participation via email.
Members of the public requesting
reasonable accommodations, such as
interpretive services, should notify the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT at least 1 week
prior to the meeting.
County
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Delaware ................
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
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State
Kent ........................................
Kent ........................................
Sussex ...................................
Sussex ...................................
Sussex ...................................
Sussex ...................................
Kent, New Castle ...................
Kent ........................................
Kent ........................................
Kent, Sussex ..........................
Kent, Sussex ..........................
Essex .....................................
Essex .....................................
Essex .....................................
Essex .....................................
Essex .....................................
Suffolk ....................................
Suffolk ....................................
Plymouth ................................
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Plymouth ................................
Plymouth ................................
Plymouth ................................
Plymouth ................................
Plymouth ................................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
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.......
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.......
.......
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States
Unit No.
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Delaware and New Jersey.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Appendix A—Hurricane Sandy
Remapping Project Units
Below are the affected units for each state,
including unit number, unit name, county,
and the status of the unit (i.e., existing unit,
existing unit reclassified and unit number
retired, and new unit).
Unit name
Unit status
DE–01
DE–01P
DE–02P
DE–03P
DE–06
DE–08P
DE–09P
DE–10
DE–11P
H00
H00P
C00
C01
C01A
C01AP
C01B
C01C
C01CP
C02
Little Creek ........................................
Little Creek ........................................
Beach Plum Island ............................
Cape Henlopen .................................
Silver Lake ........................................
Fenwick Island ..................................
Woodland Beach ...............................
Fraland Beach ...................................
Bombay Hook ....................................
Broadkill Beach .................................
Broadkill Beach .................................
Clark Pond ........................................
Wingersheek .....................................
Good Harbor Beach/Milk Island ........
Cape Hedge Beach ...........................
Brace Cove .......................................
West Head Beach .............................
West Head Beach .............................
North Scituate ...................................
C02P
C03
C03A
C04
C06
C08
C09
C09P
C10
C11
C11A
C11AP
C11P
C12
C12P
C13
C13P
C14
North Scituate ...................................
Rivermoor ..........................................
Rexhame ...........................................
Plymouth Bay ....................................
Center Hill Complex ..........................
Scorton ..............................................
Sandy Neck .......................................
Sandy Neck .......................................
Freemans Pond .................................
Namskaket Spits ...............................
Boat Meadow ....................................
Boat Meadow ....................................
Namskaket Spits ...............................
Chatham Roads ................................
Chatham Roads ................................
Lewis Bay ..........................................
Lewis Bay ..........................................
Squaw Island .....................................
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit.
Existing Unit Reclassified and Unit
Number Retired.
New Unit—Partially Reclassified.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit—Mostly Reclassified.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
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State
County
Unit No.
Unit status
C15
C15P
C16
C17
C18
C18A
C18P
Centerville .........................................
Centerville .........................................
Dead Neck ........................................
Popponesset Spit ..............................
Waquoit Bay ......................................
Falmouth Ponds ................................
Waquoit Bay ......................................
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit Reclassified and Unit
Number Retired.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit—Mostly Reclassified.
New Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit—Mostly Reclassified
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit Reclassified and Unit
Number Retired.
New Unit—Mostly Reclassified.
Existing Unit.
New Unit—Mostly Reclassified.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit—Mostly Reclassified.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit
Existing Unit Reclassified and Unit
Number Retired.
New Unit—Mostly Reclassified.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit—Partially Reclassified.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
Barnstable
Barnstable
Barnstable
Barnstable
Barnstable
Barnstable
Barnstable
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
Barnstable ..............................
Plymouth ................................
Plymouth ................................
Barnstable ..............................
Nantucket ...............................
Nantucket ...............................
Nantucket ...............................
Nantucket ...............................
C19
C19A
C19AP
C19P
C20
C20P
C21
C22
Black Beach ......................................
Buzzards Bay Complex .....................
Buzzards Bay Complex .....................
Little Sippewisset Marsh ...................
Coatue ...............................................
Coatue ...............................................
Sesachacha Pond .............................
Cisco Beach ......................................
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
Nantucket ...............................
Nantucket ...............................
Nantucket ...............................
Nantucket ...............................
Nantucket ...............................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Essex .....................................
Essex .....................................
Essex .....................................
Essex .....................................
Essex .....................................
Suffolk ....................................
Norfolk ....................................
Norfolk ....................................
Plymouth, Suffolk ...................
Norfolk, Plymouth ..................
Plymouth ................................
Plymouth ................................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
C22P
C23
C23P
C24
C25
C26
C27
C28
C29
C29A
C29B
C29P
C31
C31A
C31AP
C31B
C32
C33
C34
C34A
C34P
C35
MA–01P
MA–02P
MA–03
MA–04
MA–06
MA–08P
MA–09P
MA–10P
MA–11
MA–12
MA–13
MA–13P
MA–14P
MA–15P
MA–16
MA–17AP
MA–17P
MA–18
Cisco Beach ......................................
Esther Island Complex ......................
Esther Island Complex ......................
Tuckernuck Island .............................
Muskeget Island ................................
Eel Pond Beach ................................
Cape Poge ........................................
South Beach ......................................
Squibnocket Complex .......................
James Pond ......................................
Mink Meadows ..................................
Squibnocket Complex .......................
Elizabeth Islands ...............................
West Sconticut Neck .........................
West Sconticut Neck .........................
Harbor View ......................................
Mishaum Point ..................................
Little Beach .......................................
Horseneck Beach ..............................
Cedar Cove .......................................
Horseneck Beach ..............................
Richmond/Cockeast Ponds ...............
Salisbury Beach ................................
Plum Island .......................................
Castle Neck .......................................
West Beach .......................................
Phillips Beach ....................................
Snake Island .....................................
Squantum ..........................................
Merrymount Park ...............................
Peddocks/Rainsford Islands ..............
Cohasset Harbor ...............................
Duxbury Beach ..................................
Duxbury Beach ..................................
Town Neck ........................................
Chapin Beach ....................................
Nobscusset ........................................
Lieutenant Island ...............................
Griffin/Great Islands Complex ...........
Pamet Harbor ....................................
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
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Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Dukes .....................................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
MA–18AP
MA–18P
MA–19P
MA–20P
MA–23P
MA–24
MA–25P
MA–26
MA–27
MA–27P
MA–28P
MA–29P
MA–30
MA–31
MA–32
MA–33
Pamet Harbor ....................................
Ballston Beach ..................................
Provincetown .....................................
Nauset Beach/Monomoy ...................
Davis Beach ......................................
Naushon Island Complex ..................
Penikese Island .................................
Harthaven ..........................................
Edgartown Beach ..............................
Edgartown Beach ..............................
Norton Point ......................................
Nomans Land ....................................
Herring Brook ....................................
Squeteague Harbor ...........................
Bassetts Island ..................................
Phinneys Harbor ...............................
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 48 / Monday, March 12, 2018 / Notices
State
County
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
Massachusetts .......
New Hampshire .....
New Jersey ............
New Jersey ............
New Jersey ............
New Jersey ............
Plymouth ................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Barnstable ..............................
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Barnstable ..............................
Barnstable ..............................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol .....................................
Bristol, Plymouth ....................
Rockingham ...........................
Monmouth ..............................
Monmouth ..............................
Ocean ....................................
Ocean ....................................
MA–35
MA–36
MA–37P
MA–38P
MA–40P
MA–41P
MA–42P
MA–43
MA–43P
MA–45P
MA–46
MA–47P
NH–01P
NJ–01P
NJ–04A
NJ–04B
NJ–04BP
Planting Island ...................................
Round Hill ..........................................
Demarest Lloyd Park ........................
Scusset Beach ..................................
Harding Beach ..................................
Red River Beach ...............................
Quissett Beach/Falmouth Beach ......
Chapoquoit Beach .............................
Chapoquoit Beach .............................
Round Hill Point ................................
Teal Pond ..........................................
Little Bay ...........................................
Odiorne Point ....................................
Sandy Hook .......................................
Navesink/Shrewsbury Complex ........
Metedeconk Neck .............................
Metedeconk Neck .............................
New Jersey ............
New Jersey ............
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Ocean ....................................
Ocean ....................................
Ocean ....................................
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Cape May ..............................
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NJ–07P
NJ–08
NJ–08P
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Brigantine ..........................................
Corson’s Inlet ....................................
Corson’s Inlet ....................................
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Del Haven .........................................
New Jersey ............
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Cape May, Cumberland .........
Cape May, Cumberland .........
NJ–13
NJ–14
NJ–14P
Kimbles Beach ..................................
Moores Beach ...................................
Moores Beach ...................................
New
New
New
New
New
New
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New
Monmouth ..............................
Monmouth ..............................
Atlantic, Cape May ................
Cape May ..............................
Cape May ..............................
Cumberland ...........................
Cumberland ...........................
Cumberland, Salem ...............
NJ–17P
NJ–18
NJ–19P
NJ–20P
NJ–21P
NJ–22P
NJ–23P
NJ–24P
Monmouth Cove ................................
Ware Creek .......................................
Malibu Beach ....................................
Two Mile Beach ................................
Sunray Beach ....................................
Egg Island .........................................
Dix .....................................................
Greenwich .........................................
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May
May
May
May
Unit No.
Dated: December 4, 2017.
Gary Frazer,
Assistant Director for Ecological Services.
DATES:
[FR Doc. 2018–04889 Filed 3–9–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
[Investigation Nos. 731–TA–1347–1348
(Final)]
Biodiesel From Argentina and
Indonesia; Supplemental Schedule for
the Subject Investigations
United States International
Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:12 Mar 09, 2018
Jkt 244001
March 1, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Editorial Note: This document was
received for publication by the Office of the
Federal Register on March 7, 2018.
AGENCY:
Unit name
Nathanael Comly (202–205–3174),
Office of Investigations, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.
Hearing-impaired persons can obtain
information on this matter by contacting
the Commission’s TDD terminal on 202–
205–1810. Persons with mobility
impairments who will need special
assistance in gaining access to the
Commission should contact the Office
of the Secretary at 202–205–2000.
General information concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by
accessing its internet server (https://
www.usitc.gov). The public record for
this investigation may be viewed on the
Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)
at https://edis.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective
August 28, 2017, the Commission
PO 00000
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Unit status
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit Reclassified and
Number Retired.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit Reclassified and
Number Retired.
Existing Unit.
New Unit—Mostly Reclassified.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit Reclassified and
Number Retired.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit Reclassified and
Number Retired.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit.
Existing Unit Reclassified and
Number Retired.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
New Unit.
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
established a general schedule for the
conduct of the final phase of its
investigations on biodiesel,1 following
preliminary determinations by the U.S.
Department of Commerce (‘‘Commerce’’)
that imports of the biodiesel were
subsidized by the governments of
Argentina and Indonesia. To date,
Commerce has issued final affirmative
countervailing duty determinations with
respect to the biodiesel from Argentina
and Indonesia 2 and most recently final
affirmative antidumping duty
determinations with respect to
1 Biodiesel From Argentina and Indonesia;
Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing
Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations, 82 FR
43999, September 20, 2017.
2 Biodiesel From the Republic of Argentina: Final
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 82
FR 53477, November 16, 2017 and Biodiesel From
the Republic Indonesia: Final Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination, 82 FR 53471,
November 16, 2017.
E:\FR\FM\12MRN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10739-10747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04889]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0004; FF09E15000-FXES111609B0000-189]
John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System; Hurricane Sandy
Remapping Project for Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New
Jersey
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments; notice of public
meetings via webcast and teleconference.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2006
requires the Secretary of the Interior to prepare digital versions of
the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) maps. We,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have prepared proposed digital
boundaries for the first batch of CBRS units included in the Hurricane
Sandy Remapping Project. This first batch of the project includes a
total of 148 CBRS units (112 existing units and 36 proposed new units)
located in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. This
notice announces the availability of the proposed boundaries for public
review and comment, and also advises the public of upcoming public
meetings that will be held via webcast and teleconference.
DATES:
Comment Period: To ensure consideration, we must receive your
written comments by July 10, 2018.
Public Meetings: We will hold public meetings via webcast and
teleconference on May 8, 2018, and May 9, 2018; see Virtual Public
Meetings and Meeting Participation Information under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for meeting dates, times, and registration information.
Pre-Meeting Public Registration: If you are planning to participate
in one of the virtual public meetings (being offered via webcast and
telephone only), we request that participants register by emailing by
May 1, 2018 (see Meeting Participation Information under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by one of the following
methods:
Electronically: Go to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Search for FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0004, which is
the docket number for this notice.
By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to:
Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0004;
Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs; U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC; Falls Church, VA 22041-
3808.
We request that you send comments by only one of the methods
described above. We will post all information received on https://www.regulations.gov. If you provide personal identifying information in
your comment, you may request at the top of your document that we
withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers
Coordinator, (703) 358-2071 (telephone); or [email protected] (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coastal Barrier Resources
Reauthorization Act of 2006 (section 4 of Pub. L. 109-226; CBRRA)
requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to prepare digital
versions of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS)
maps. We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have prepared
proposed digital boundaries for the first batch of CBRS units included
in the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project. This first batch of the
project includes a total of 148 CBRS units (112 existing units and 36
proposed new units) located in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
and New Jersey. This notice announces the availability of the proposed
boundaries for public review and comment, and also advises the public
of upcoming public meetings that will be held via webcast and
teleconference.
Background on the Coastal Barrier Resources System
Coastal barrier ecosystems are inherently dynamic systems located
at the interface of land and sea. Coastal barriers and their associated
aquatic habitat (wetlands and open water) provide important habitat for
fish and wildlife, and serve as the mainland's first line of defense
against the impacts of severe storms. With the passage of the CBRA in
1982 (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), Congress recognized that certain actions
and programs of the Federal Government have historically subsidized and
encouraged development on storm-prone and highly dynamic coastal
barriers, and the result has been the loss of natural resources;
threats to human life, health, and property; and the expenditure of
millions of tax dollars each year.
The CBRA established the CBRS which originally comprised 186
geographic units encompassing approximately 453,000 acres of relatively
undeveloped lands and associated aquatic habitat along the Atlantic and
Gulf of Mexico coasts. The CBRS was expanded by the Coastal Barrier
Improvement Act of 1990 (CBIA; Pub. L. 101-591) to include additional
areas along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, as well as areas
along the coasts of the Great Lakes, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and
Puerto Rico. The CBRS now comprises a total of 862 geographic units,
encompassing approximately 3.5 million acres of land and associated
aquatic habitat. These areas are depicted on a series of maps known as
the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System maps.
Most new Federal expenditures and financial assistance that would
have the effect of encouraging development are prohibited within the
CBRS. Development can still occur within the CBRS, provided that
private developers or other non-Federal parties bear the full cost. In
his signing statement, President Reagan stated that the CBRA ``simply
adopts the sensible approach that risk associated with new private
development in these sensitive areas should be borne by the private
sector, not underwritten by the American taxpayer.''
The CBRS includes two types of units, System Units and Otherwise
Protected Areas (OPAs). System Units contain areas that were relatively
undeveloped and predominantly privately owned at the time of
designation, though they may also contain areas held for conservation
and/or recreation. Most new Federal expenditures and financial
assistance, including Federal flood insurance, are prohibited within
System Units. OPAs are predominantly comprised of conservation and/or
recreation areas such as national wildlife refuges, state and national
parks, and local and private conservation areas, though they may also
contain private areas not held for conservation and/or recreation. OPAs
are denoted with a ``P'' at the end of the unit number. The only
Federal spending prohibition within OPAs is the prohibition related to
Federal flood insurance.
The Secretary, through the Service, is responsible for
administering the CBRA, which includes maintaining the official
[[Page 10740]]
maps of the CBRS, consulting with Federal agencies that propose to
spend funds within the CBRS, preparing updated maps of the CBRS, and
making recommendations to Congress regarding changes to the CBRS. Aside
from three minor exceptions, only Congress--through legislation--can
modify the maps of the CBRS to add or remove land. These exceptions,
which allow the Secretary to make limited modifications to the CBRS (16
U.S.C. 3503(c)-(e)), are for: (1) Changes that have occurred to the
CBRS as a result of natural forces, (2) voluntary additions to the CBRS
by property owners, and (3) additions of excess Federal property to the
CBRS.
When assessing potential removals from and additions to the CBRS,
the Service considers a set of guiding principles and criteria which
are further described in the Types of Boundary Changes section below.
In cases where mapping errors are found, the Service supports changes
to the maps and works with Congress and other interested parties to
create comprehensively revised maps using modern digital technology.
Background on the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project
Following Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall along the North
Atlantic coast in October 2012, the Department of the Interior
(Department) funded a project to modernize the maps of approximately
370 CBRS units in the nine states most affected by the storm:
Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York (Long Island), Rhode Island, and Virginia (comprising
approximately 44 percent of the total units and 16 percent of the total
acreage within the CBRS). This project makes significant progress
towards fulfilling a statutory requirement (section 4 of Pub. L. 109-
226) to modernize the entire set of CBRS maps. The public review for
this project will be conducted in two separate batches. The first batch
includes Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. The
second batch will include Connecticut, Maryland, New York (Long
Island), Rhode Island, and Virginia.
A list of all 148 CBRS units (112 existing units and 36 proposed
new units) included in this first batch is attached to this notice as
Appendix A. If adopted by Congress, the revised maps produced through
this project would remove areas that were previously included within
the CBRS in error and add new qualifying areas to the CBRS. This map
modernization effort would also provide more accurate and accessible
CBRS data for planning coastal infrastructure projects, habitat
conservation efforts, and flood risk mitigation measures.
Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project Methodology
Digital Conversion of the Existing Boundaries
The boundaries of the CBRS were originally hand-drawn on paper
maps. The existing CBRS maps for Delaware and New Jersey underwent a
digital conversion process between 2013 and 2015 (79 FR 21787 (April
17, 2014) and 80 FR 25314 (May 4, 2015), respectively), which replaced
the underlying base maps with aerial imagery and updated the boundaries
to a digital format to make them compatible with modern Geographic
Information Systems (GIS). The existing CBRS unit boundaries for
Massachusetts were digitally converted as part of this project in
accordance with the methodology described in a notice the Service
published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2013 (78 FR 53467),
though the existing boundaries for Massachusetts do not incorporate
modifications to account for natural changes, voluntary additions, and
additions of excess Federal property (such changes are instead
reflected in the proposed boundaries). Digital conversion was not
necessary for New Hampshire because it does not have any existing CBRS
units.
Data Mining and Research
The Service began conducting data mining and research for this
project in January of 2015. The Service procured and assessed the
quality and accuracy of the data necessary to: (1) Determine whether
the existing CBRS unit boundaries appropriately follow the features
they were intended to follow on-the-ground, (2) determine the level of
development that was on-the-ground when the areas were originally
included within the CBRS (e.g., dates of construction and density of
development), (3) identify qualifying additions, and (4) evaluate unit
type classifications (i.e., System Unit or OPA).
The Service reviewed historical background records of the CBRS
units, reports to Congress, public laws, legislative history, testimony
from Congressional hearings, Federal Register notices, current and
historical CBRS maps, the 1982 and 1994 CBRS Photographic Atlases (a
set of aerial photography maintained by the Service with the CBRS unit
boundaries overlaid), materials submitted by interested parties and
their representatives in Congress, and an assortment of other data and
information.
We also obtained and assessed both geospatial and non-geospatial
data from a variety of Federal sources (e.g., the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey), as
well as State, local, and non-governmental sources. These data include
but are not limited to current and historical aerial imagery, natural
resource and natural hazard data (e.g., wetlands data, shoreline change
data, and flood hazard data), land ownership and development data
(e.g., property parcel data and date of construction information), and
conservation and recreation area data (e.g., park and wildlife refuge
parcel boundaries, conservation easement data, and parcel acquisition
dates). Some of these data sets were available for download on the
internet or through specific requests to the data steward, while others
were reviewed online through mappers, websites, and/or databases.
The proposed boundaries are based upon the best available
information that the Service was able to obtain within the data mining
and research timeframe for the project. There were many challenges
associated with the data mining and research process. In some cases,
data was unavailable, unattainable within a reasonable time frame,
incomplete, outdated, and/or in conflict with other data of the same
type from a different source. Dates of construction and both present
and historical land ownership information were difficult to obtain and
validate for certain areas (in particular, ownership information for
undeveloped wetland areas). It was also difficult in some cases to
determine structure type and use (e.g., residential, commercial, or
other).
Initial Stakeholder Outreach
During the data mining and research phase of the project, the
Service conducted outreach with certain landowners and/or managers of
coastal barrier areas that are ``otherwise protected'' (as defined by
the CBIA), meaning within the boundaries of an area established under
Federal, State, or local law, or held by a qualified organization
(defined under the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 170(h)(3)),
primarily for wildlife refuge, sanctuary, recreational, or natural
resource conservation purposes. Such outreach was generally not
conducted with the
[[Page 10741]]
landowners and/or managers of areas that do not meet the CBIA
definition of ``otherwise protected.'' This includes areas zoned or
regulated by State or local governments for the purpose of restricting
the nature or density of development, but where such regulation does
not necessarily reflect the intent of the property owners to protect
the area for conservation and/or recreation in perpetuity. Examples of
such areas include privately owned areas that are not held for
conservation and/or recreation; local zoning categories such as dune
districts, inlet hazard areas, and setback zones; and areas subject to
conservation easements or leases that have limited restrictions.
Conservation/recreation area landowners and/or managers were
contacted in cases where the following information was necessary to
prepare the initial proposed boundaries: (1) The location of
conservation and/or recreation area boundaries (primarily in cases
where the CBRS unit boundary was intended to be coincident with that
boundary and there was conflicting information about the parcel
boundary location), (2) the acquisition date(s) of the conservation
and/or recreation area, and/or (3) the CBRS unit type classification
(i.e., System Unit or OPA) for a particular conservation and/or
recreation area.
Given the large number of conservation and/or recreation area
stakeholders within the project area and complexities associated with
mapping numerous small parcels, we generally limited our initial
outreach to those stakeholders that own and/or manage conservation and/
or recreation areas that are greater than approximately 10 acres in
size within the existing and/or proposed System Units. See the Types of
Boundary Changes section below for additional information about the
mapping of conservation/recreation areas within the CBRS.
The Service reached out to approximately 90 different stakeholders
in Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, including but not limited
to state natural resource management agencies, state parks and
recreation agencies, private conservation organizations, and local
governments. Some of these organizations, due to a variety of
circumstances, were unable to provide input during the initial
stakeholder outreach process. Additional outreach to these groups and a
broader group of stakeholders (including the State of New Hampshire,
which has no existing CBRS units and only one proposed new OPA) is
being conducted as part of the public review process; see the Request
for Comments section below for further information.
Acreage Calculations
The Service calculates the acreage of the CBRS units to help assess
the areal extent of the units and to quantify proposed changes. The
total acreage of a CBRS unit is comprised of fastland (land above mean
high tide) and associated aquatic habitat (wetlands and open water).
For the purpose of calculating acreage for this project, the wetland/
fastland acreage breakdown of the units was derived from the Service's
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) data. A shoreline was delineated (as
described below) to be used in conjunction with the boundaries of the
unit to calculate acreage, and only areas landward of this shoreline
were included in the calculation. The associated aquatic habitat
acreage numbers include open water landward of the coastal barrier, but
not nearshore or offshore waters seaward of the shoreline. The offshore
acreage of the units is not calculated because a fixed seaward boundary
for the units is generally not drawn due to the highly dynamic nature
of the littoral zone.
Although acreage for offshore areas is not calculated, the entire
sand sharing system on the seaward side, including the beach and
nearshore area, is included within the CBRS units. The sand sharing
system of coastal barriers is normally defined by the 30-foot
bathymetric contour. In the Great Lakes and in large coastal embayments
(e.g., Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and Narragansett Bay), the sand
sharing system is more limited in extent. In these cases, the sand
sharing system is defined by the 20-foot bathymetric contour or a line
approximately 1 mile seaward of the shoreline, whichever is nearer the
coastal barrier.
Shoreline Calculations
The Service calculates the shoreline of the units to help assess
the linear extent of the CBRS and to facilitate the calculation of the
acreage of the units as described above. For the purposes of this
project, the Service digitized a shoreline boundary to artificially
close off the units along the seaward shoreline. This shoreline
boundary generally follows the wet/dry sand line along the seaward side
of the unit as interpreted from the base imagery. Additionally, the
shoreline boundary spans any inlets and/or other dividing water bodies
within each unit. In some cases, highly convoluted shorelines were
generalized. Due to the complexities of shoreline delineations, acreage
numbers (rather than shoreline miles) are the most reliable way to
quantify proposed changes to the CBRS for individual units.
Types of Boundary Changes
The Service applied objective mapping protocols in the preparation
of proposed boundaries for the CBRS units included in this project. The
Service also applied a set of guiding principles and criteria for
assessing additions to and removals from the CBRS. In 1982 and 1985,
the Department published guidance in the Federal Register (47 FR 35696
(August 16, 1982) and 50 FR 8698 (March 4, 1985)) for delineating CBRS
unit boundaries. The Department's 1982 Undeveloped Coastal Barriers:
Report to Congress, 1988 Report to Congress: Coastal Barrier Resources
System and the Service's 2016 Final Report to Congress: John H. Chafee
Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project also
contain protocols, criteria, and guiding principles for CBRS mapping.
The different types of changes proposed through this project
include modifications to reflect geomorphic change; alignment with
geomorphic, development, and cultural features; additions to and
removals from the CBRS; and modifications to CBRS boundaries in
channels. Additionally, CBRS unit type classifications (and
reclassifications) were determined according to a standard protocol
described below.
Modifications To Reflect Geomorphic Change
The CBRA requires that at least once every 5 years the Service
review the maps of the CBRS and make modifications to the boundaries of
the units to account for changes caused by natural forces such as
accretion and erosion (16 U.S.C. 3503(c)). This type of change can be
made by the Service administratively; however, it is also incorporated
into ongoing CBRS mapping efforts like this project for efficiency and
cost-saving purposes. The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been
modified where appropriate to account for natural changes that have
occurred since the maps were last updated.
Alignment With Geomorphic Features
CBRS boundaries are often intended to follow geomorphic features
such as a shoreline or the interface between wetlands and fastlands.
This applies mostly to System Units, though there are many cases where
OPA boundaries follow geomorphic features. The boundaries of System
Units and OPAs have been modified where appropriate
[[Page 10742]]
to align with underlying geomorphic features.
Alignment With Development Features
CBRS boundaries are often intended to follow development features,
such as the edge of a road, a bridge, or the ``break-in-development''
that existed on-the-ground when the area was included within the CBRS.
The break-in-development is where development ended, immediately
adjacent to the last structure in a cluster or row of structures, or at
the property parcel boundary of the last structure. This applies mostly
to System Units, though there are cases where OPA boundaries follow
development features. The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been
modified where appropriate to align with development features.
Alignment With Cultural Features
CBRS boundaries are often intended to follow cultural features such
as roads and political boundaries (e.g., state, county, and town
boundaries) or conservation/recreation area boundaries. Both System
Units and OPAs follow cultural features; however, this applies
especially to OPAs, which often coincide with the boundaries of the
underlying conservation and/or recreation areas (although there are
exceptions). The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been modified
where appropriate to align with cultural features.
Additions to the CBRS
In carrying out this project, the Service found areas of
undeveloped fastland and associated aquatic habitat that are not
currently within the CBRS but are appropriate for inclusion (either as
additions to existing units or as entirely new units). When assessing
whether an area may be appropriate for addition to the CBRS, the
Service considered the following guiding principles:
(1) Whether the area may reasonably be considered to be a coastal
barrier feature, or related to a coastal barrier ecosystem (this
generally includes areas that are inherently vulnerable to coastal
hazards such as flooding, storm surge, wind, erosion, and sea level
rise) and
(2) whether inclusion of the area within the CBRS is rationally
related to the purposes of the CBRA (i.e., to minimize the loss of
human life, wasteful expenditure of Federal revenues, and damage to
fish, wildlife, and other natural resources).
When assessing potential additions to the CBRS, the Service also
considers the following criteria:
(1) The level of development on-the-ground (i.e., whether the
number of structures or complement of infrastructure on-the-ground
exceed the threshold for the area to be considered undeveloped) (16
U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)) and/or
(2) in the case of certain additions to existing units, the
location of geomorphic, cultural, and development features on-the-
ground at the time the adjacent area was included within the CBRS
(i.e., whether the CBRS boundary lines on the maps precisely follow the
underlying features they were intended to follow on-the-ground).
The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been modified where
appropriate to add undeveloped fastland and associated aquatic habitat
to the CBRS (either as additions to existing units or as entirely new
units). Such additions to the CBRS are consistent with Section 4(c)(3)
of the 2006 CBRRA which directs the Secretary to make recommendations
for expansion of the CBRS. The unit type classification (i.e., System
Unit versus OPA) was determined according to the protocol described
below in the section entitled ``CBRS Unit Type Classification.''
Additionally, the Service accommodates requests from landowners for
voluntary additions to the CBRS or reclassifications of conservation/
recreation areas from OPA to System Unit status. Voluntary additions to
the CBRS can be made by the Service administratively (16 U.S.C.
3503(d)); however they are also incorporated into ongoing CBRS mapping
efforts like this project for efficiency and cost-saving purposes.
Removals From the CBRS
In carrying out this project, the Service found areas that were
inappropriately included within the CBRS and constitute technical
mapping errors. When assessing whether an area may be appropriate for
removal from the CBRS, the Service considered the following guiding
principles:
(1) Whether the area may reasonably be considered to be a coastal
barrier feature, or related to a coastal barrier ecosystem (this
generally includes areas that are inherently vulnerable to coastal
hazards such as flooding, storm surge, wind, erosion, and sea level
rise); and
(2) whether inclusion of the area within the CBRS is rationally
related to the purposes of the CBRA (i.e., to minimize the loss of
human life, wasteful expenditure of Federal revenues, and damage to
fish, wildlife, and other natural resources).
The Service considers a technical mapping error to be a mistake in the
delineation of the CBRS boundaries that was made as a result of
incorrect, outdated, or incomplete information (often stemming from
inaccuracies on the original base maps). When assessing whether an area
may be appropriate for removal, the Service also considers the
following criteria:
(1) The level of development on-the-ground at the time the area was
included within the CBRS (i.e., the number of structures or complement
of infrastructure on-the-ground exceeded the threshold for the area to
be considered undeveloped) (16 U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)); and/or
(2) the location of geomorphic, cultural, and development features
on-the-ground at the time the area was included within the CBRS (i.e.,
the CBRS boundary lines on the maps do not precisely follow the
underlying features they were intended to follow on-the-ground).
The boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been modified where
appropriate to remove areas that were inappropriately included within
the CBRS and constitute technical mapping errors.
Modifications to CBRS Boundaries in Channels
In carrying out this project, the Service noted that the CBRS unit
boundaries following channels in some cases include the entire channel
and in other cases include none of the channel within the unit. The
boundaries of System Units and OPAs have been modified where
appropriate to include the entire extent of the channel within the
unit. In cases where a System Unit and an OPA share a coincident
boundary that follows a channel located between the two units, the
entire channel is generally included within the System Unit. In cases
where two System Units or two OPAs fall within a channel, the
coincident boundary is placed at the center of the channel. A buffer
(of about 20 feet) has generally been applied along developed
shorelines (i.e., where structures and/or infrastructure such as
bulkheads and roads are very close to and run parallel to or are
coincident with the shoreline) to ensure that existing development and
infrastructure located on the shoreline is not inadvertently included
within the CBRS.
CBRS Unit Type Classification
In carrying out this project, the Service considered the qualifying
coastal barrier feature and delineated the unit boundaries in
accordance with
[[Page 10743]]
the protocols, criteria, and guiding principles identified above,
regardless of whether the area is (or was previously) owned or managed
for conservation and/or recreation. In other words, the boundaries of
both System Units and OPAs were generally drawn using the same
protocols, criteria, and guiding principles. The Service then
determined the unit type classification (for proposed additions) and
reclassification (for existing units) in accordance with the protocols
below.
The unit type classification (i.e., System Unit versus OPA) is
based on whether or not the unit was predominantly held for
conservation and/or recreation at the time of designation, and has been
modified where appropriate and practicable. Such unit type
modifications for areas that are currently within the CBRS are referred
to as ``reclassifications.'' The reclassified areas are either added to
an existing adjacent unit of the same type or assigned a new unit
number. The following considerations were applied for unit type
classification and reclassification:
Areas not Held for Conservation/Recreation Within OPAs: Areas that
are not held for conservation/recreation, but are: (1) Interspersed
with and/or adjacent to a larger conservation/recreation area, and (2)
located in coastal barrier areas that were undeveloped according to the
CBRA's statutory development criteria (16 U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)) at the
time they were included within the CBRS (or are currently undeveloped
in the case of proposed additions), may be included within OPAs.
Additionally, privately held inholdings (developed or undeveloped
private tracts that are contained within the exterior boundaries of the
conservation and/or recreation area) may also be included within OPAs.
Conservation/Recreation Areas Within System Units:
Held for Conservation/Recreation Prior to CBRS Designation
Areas that are held for conservation/recreation and are: (1)
Interspersed with and/or adjacent to a larger area that is not held for
conservation/recreation, and (2) were undeveloped according to the
CBRA's statutory development criteria (16 U.S.C. 3503(g)(1)) at the
time they were included within the CBRS (or are currently undeveloped
in the case of proposed additions), may be included within System
Units.
For conservation/recreation areas greater than 10 acres, the
Service coordinated with the landowners (or managers) to seek their
concurrence on inclusion of their area within the System Unit. If the
owners do not concur with System Unit status, the Service classifies
such areas as OPA to the extent practicable. However, minor
conservation/recreation areas (i.e., fastland and wetlands smaller than
10 acres) and certain areas of open water would be impractical from a
mapping perspective to delineate separately as an OPA and therefore may
be included within System Units. Outreach was generally not conducted
for these minor areas during the initial stakeholder outreach phase of
the project (described in the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project
Methodology section above). Descriptions of such ``minor'' areas within
System Units are included in the set of unit summaries that describe
the Service's proposed changes to the CBRS. See the Availability of
Proposed CBRS Boundaries and Related Information section below for
information on where to access the unit summaries.
The Service's records indicate that some conservation/recreation
areas were intentionally added to the CBRS as System Units in the past.
The Service generally did not seek concurrence from conservation/
recreation area owners (regardless of size) when there is evidence of
such prior intent, including letters from the stakeholder in the
Service's records indicating that the organization supported inclusion
of the property within the System Unit in the past, or records of
specific changes to the Department's recommended maps made by the
Congressional committees that reviewed them prior to their enactment.
Held for Conservation/Recreation After Area Designated as CBRS
If an area is dedicated to conservation and/or recreation after its
initial inclusion within a System Unit, it is generally not
reclassified to an OPA.
Proposed Modifications to the CBRS
The Service has prepared draft revised boundaries that propose
modifications to the CBRS in Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Jersey,
as well as the designation of a new unit in New Hampshire. This first
batch of the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project includes a total of 148
CBRS units (112 existing units and 36 proposed new units) which are
listed in Appendix A. The breakdown of units by state is as follows: 8
existing units and 3 proposed new units in Delaware, 86 existing units
and 23 proposed new units in Massachusetts, 1 proposed new unit in New
Hampshire, and 18 existing units and 9 proposed new units in New
Jersey. Three of the existing units have no proposed changes. Ten of
the 36 proposed new units are comprised either partially or mostly of
areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are proposed
for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa. Twenty-six
of the 36 proposed new units are comprised entirely of areas that are
not currently contained within the CBRS. Nine of the existing 112 units
are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-
versa, and therefore their current unit numbers are retired, resulting
in 139 total proposed units.
If adopted by Congress, the proposed boundaries would remove 557
acres from the CBRS (371 acres of fastland and 186 acres of associated
aquatic habitat) and add approximately 136,268 acres to the CBRS (6,051
acres of fastland and 130,217 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The
proposed boundaries would remove 271 structures from the CBRS and add
199 structures to the CBRS. A summary of metrics associated with the
proposed changes for each state is below. More detailed information
regarding the specific proposed changes to each unit is available in a
set of unit summaries. See the Availability of Proposed CBRS Boundaries
and Related Information section below for information on where to
access the unit summaries.
Delaware
The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed
boundaries for 8 of the 10 existing CBRS units in Delaware. A final
recommended map for the remaining two existing units (Units DE-07P and
H01) was submitted to Congress in 2016 as part of the Service's Digital
Mapping Pilot Project. One existing unit in Delaware has no proposed
changes. The Service identified three proposed new units in Delaware,
which are comprised entirely of areas that are not currently contained
within the CBRS. There are 11 total proposed units in Delaware.
The proposed boundaries for Delaware would remove 113 acres from
the CBRS (84 acres of fastland and 29 acres of associated aquatic
habitat) and add approximately 31,216 acres to the CBRS (996 acres of
fastland and 30,220 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed
boundaries would remove 41 structures from the CBRS and add
approximately 10 structures to the CBRS.
Massachusetts
The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed
boundaries for all of the 86 existing CBRS units in Massachusetts. Two
[[Page 10744]]
existing units in Massachusetts have no proposed changes. The Service
identified 23 proposed new units in Massachusetts. Nine of the 23
proposed new units in Massachusetts are comprised either partially or
mostly of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are
proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa.
Fourteen of the 23 proposed new units in Massachusetts are comprised
entirely of areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS.
Four of the existing 86 units are proposed for reclassification from
System Unit to OPA or vice-versa, and therefore their current unit
numbers are retired, resulting in 105 total proposed units.
The proposed boundaries for Massachusetts would remove 304 acres
from the CBRS (162 acres of fastland and 142 acres of associated
aquatic habitat) and add 32,881 acres to the CBRS (2,778 acres of
fastland and 30,103 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed
boundaries would remove 168 structures from the CBRS and add 80
structures to the CBRS.
New Hampshire
There are currently no existing CBRS units in New Hampshire. The
Service identified one proposed new unit in New Hampshire. The proposed
boundaries for this unit would add 679 acres to the CBRS (121 acres of
fastland and 558 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed
boundaries would add five structures to the CBRS (these structures are
all park-related).
New Jersey
The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed
boundaries for 18 of the 24 existing CBRS units in New Jersey. The map
for the remaining six New Jersey units (Units NJ-02/NJ-02P, NJ-03P, NJ-
04, NJ-15P, and NJ-16P) was comprehensively reviewed and revised by the
Service and adopted by Congress in 2016. The Service identified nine
proposed new units in New Jersey. One of the nine proposed new units is
comprised mostly of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS,
but are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-
versa. Eight of the nine proposed new units are comprised entirely of
areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS. Five of the
existing 18 units are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to
OPA or vice-versa, and therefore their current unit numbers are
retired, resulting in 22 total proposed units.
The proposed boundaries for New Jersey would remove 140 acres from
the CBRS (125 acres of fastland and 15 acres of associated aquatic
habitat) and add 71,492 acres to the CBRS (2,156 acres of fastland and
69,336 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed boundaries
remove 62 structures from the CBRS and add 104 structures to the CBRS.
Proposed Additions to the CBRS
The draft revised boundaries for Delaware, Massachusetts, and New
Jersey, and the proposed new unit in New Hampshire, would make
additions to the CBRS, including the creation of 36 new units that are
consistent with a directive in section 4 of Public Law 109-226
concerning recommendations for expansion of the CBRS. The proposed
boundaries are based upon the best data available to the Service at the
time the areas were reviewed. Our assessment indicated that any new
areas proposed for addition to the CBRS were relatively undeveloped at
the time the proposed boundaries were created.
Section 2 of Public Law 106-514 requires that we consider the
following criteria when assessing the development status of a potential
addition to the CBRS: (1) Whether the density of development is less
than one structure per 5 acres of land above mean high tide (which
generally suggests eligibility for inclusion within the CBRS); and (2)
whether there is existing infrastructure consisting of a road, with a
reinforced road bed, to each lot or building site in the area; a
wastewater disposal system sufficient to serve each lot or building
site in the area; electric service for each lot or building site in the
area; and a fresh water supply for each lot or building site in the
area (which generally suggests ineligibility for inclusion within the
CBRS).
If, upon review of the proposed boundaries, interested parties find
that any areas proposed for addition to the CBRS are currently
developed (according to the criteria codified by section 2 of Pub. L.
106-514), they may submit supporting documentation of such development
to the Service during this public comment period. For any areas
proposed for addition to the CBRS, we will consider the density of
development and level of infrastructure on-the-ground as of the close
of the comment period on the date listed in the DATES section.
Request for Comments
Section 4 of Public Law 109-226 requires the Secretary to provide
an opportunity for the submission of public comments. We invite the
public to review and comment on the proposed CBRS boundaries for the
Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey units listed in
Appendix A. The Service is specifically notifying the following
stakeholders concerning the availability of the proposed boundaries:
The Chair and Ranking Member of the House of Representatives Committee
on Natural Resources; the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works; the members of the Senate
and House of Representatives for the affected areas; the Governors of
Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey; organizations
that own land held for conservation and/or recreation within the
existing and proposed units (where such ownership information and
mailing addresses were publicly available); and other appropriate
Federal, State, and local officials, and nongovernmental organizations.
Interested parties may submit written comments and accompanying
data as described in the ADDRESSES section. Comments regarding specific
CBRS unit(s) should reference the appropriate unit number(s) and unit
name(s) as listed in Appendix A. We must receive comments on or before
the date listed in the DATES section.
Following the close of the comment period, we will review all
comments received on the proposed boundaries and make adjustments to
the boundaries, as appropriate, based on information received through
public comments, updated aerial imagery, CBRA criteria, and objective
mapping protocols. We will then prepare final recommended boundaries to
be submitted to Congress. The final recommended boundaries will become
effective only if they are adopted by Congress through legislation.
Availability of Proposed CBRS Boundaries and Related Information
In the past, the Service has produced static PDFs of draft maps
depicting proposed changes to the CBRS. However, in an effort to reduce
costs, increase efficiency, and provide a more user-friendly interface
for the public to view the proposed changes, the Service has created an
online ``CBRS Projects Mapper'' to display the proposed CBRS boundaries
in lieu of static PDFs of the draft maps. The online mapper creates
greater transparency in the public review process, allowing users to
zoom in further and obtain more detailed information about the type of
change that is proposed for a specific area (e.g., additions, removals,
and reclassifications).
[[Page 10745]]
The CBRS Projects Mapper and unit summaries (containing historical
changes and proposed changes to the individual units) can be accessed
from the Service's website at https://www.fws.gov/cbra, or via https://www.regulations.gov. Public comments should be submitted at https://www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES). A shapefile of the proposed CBRS
boundaries, which can be used with GIS software, is also available for
download. The shapefile is best viewed using the base imagery to which
the boundaries were drawn; the base imagery sources and dates are
included in the metadata for the shapefile. The Service is not
responsible for any misuse or misinterpretation of the shapefile.
Additionally, a stakeholder outreach toolkit (comprised of project
fact sheets, flyers for the virtual public meetings, and other
information about the project) will be made available to local
officials upon request. Local officials may use this toolkit to
increase awareness of the project and the virtual public meetings
within the community. Local officials may contact the individual
identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section for further
information regarding the toolkit.
Interested parties who are unable to access the proposed boundaries
or other information online may contact the individual identified in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, and reasonable
accommodations will be made.
Virtual Public Meetings
We will hold the following public meetings via webcast and
teleconference only. The purpose of the meetings is to give the public
an overview of the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project and to offer an
opportunity for questions and answers regarding the proposed changes to
the CBRS units listed in Appendix A.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Time (eastern time) States
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 8, 2018...................... 10 a.m.-12 p.m...... Delaware and New Jersey.
May 9, 2018...................... 10 a.m.-12 p.m...... Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meeting Participation Information
These webcast meetings are open to the public. To ensure that
enough call-in lines are available, we request that participants
register by emailing [email protected] by close of business on May 1, 2018.
Registrants will be provided with instructions for participation via
email. Members of the public requesting reasonable accommodations, such
as interpretive services, should notify the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 1 week prior to the meeting.
Appendix A--Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project Units
Below are the affected units for each state, including unit
number, unit name, county, and the status of the unit (i.e.,
existing unit, existing unit reclassified and unit number retired,
and new unit).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State County Unit No. Unit name Unit status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware................. Kent................................ DE-01 Little Creek... Existing Unit.
Delaware................. Kent................................ DE-01P Little Creek... Existing Unit.
Delaware................. Sussex.............................. DE-02P Beach Plum Existing Unit.
Island.
Delaware................. Sussex.............................. DE-03P Cape Henlopen.. Existing Unit.
Delaware................. Sussex.............................. DE-06 Silver Lake.... Existing Unit.
Delaware................. Sussex.............................. DE-08P Fenwick Island. Existing Unit.
Delaware................. Kent, New Castle.................... DE-09P Woodland Beach. New Unit.
Delaware................. Kent................................ DE-10 Fraland Beach.. New Unit.
Delaware................. Kent................................ DE-11P Bombay Hook.... New Unit.
Delaware................. Kent, Sussex........................ H00 Broadkill Beach Existing Unit.
Delaware................. Kent, Sussex........................ H00P Broadkill Beach Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... C00 Clark Pond..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... C01 Wingersheek.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... C01A Good Harbor Existing Unit.
Beach/Milk
Island.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... C01AP Cape Hedge New Unit.
Beach.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... C01B Brace Cove..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Suffolk............................. C01C West Head Beach Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Suffolk............................. C01CP West Head Beach New Unit.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ C02 North Scituate. Existing Unit
Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ C02P North Scituate. New Unit--
Partially
Reclassified.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ C03 Rivermoor...... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ C03A Rexhame........ Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ C04 Plymouth Bay... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ C06 Center Hill Existing Unit.
Complex.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C08 Scorton........ Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C09 Sandy Neck..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C09P Sandy Neck..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C10 Freemans Pond.. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C11 Namskaket Spits Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C11A Boat Meadow.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C11AP Boat Meadow.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C11P Namskaket Spits New Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C12 Chatham Roads.. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C12P Chatham Roads.. New Unit--
Mostly
Reclassified.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C13 Lewis Bay...... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C13P Lewis Bay...... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C14 Squaw Island... Existing Unit.
[[Page 10746]]
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C15 Centerville.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C15P Centerville.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C16 Dead Neck...... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C17 Popponesset Existing Unit.
Spit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C18 Waquoit Bay.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C18A Falmouth Ponds. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C18P Waquoit Bay.... Existing Unit
Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C19 Black Beach.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ C19A Buzzards Bay Existing Unit.
Complex.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ C19AP Buzzards Bay New Unit--
Complex. Mostly
Reclassified.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... C19P Little New Unit.
Sippewisset
Marsh.
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C20 Coatue......... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C20P Coatue......... New Unit--
Mostly
Reclassified
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C21 Sesachacha Pond Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C22 Cisco Beach.... Existing Unit
Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C22P Cisco Beach.... New Unit--
Mostly
Reclassified.
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C23 Esther Island Existing Unit.
Complex.
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C23P Esther Island New Unit--
Complex. Mostly
Reclassified.
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C24 Tuckernuck Existing Unit.
Island.
Massachusetts............ Nantucket........................... C25 Muskeget Island Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... C26 Eel Pond Beach. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... C27 Cape Poge...... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... C28 South Beach.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... C29 Squibnocket Existing Unit.
Complex.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... C29A James Pond..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... C29B Mink Meadows... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... C29P Squibnocket Existing Unit.
Complex.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... C31 Elizabeth Existing Unit.
Islands.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C31A West Sconticut Existing Unit.
Neck.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C31AP West Sconticut New Unit.
Neck.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C31B Harbor View.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C32 Mishaum Point.. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C33 Little Beach... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C34 Horseneck Beach Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C34A Cedar Cove..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C34P Horseneck Beach Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. C35 Richmond/ Existing Unit.
Cockeast Ponds.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... MA-01P Salisbury Beach Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... MA-02P Plum Island.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... MA-03 Castle Neck.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... MA-04 West Beach..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Essex............................... MA-06 Phillips Beach. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Suffolk............................. MA-08P Snake Island... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Norfolk............................. MA-09P Squantum....... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Norfolk............................. MA-10P Merrymount Park Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth, Suffolk................... MA-11 Peddocks/ Existing Unit.
Rainsford
Islands.
Massachusetts............ Norfolk, Plymouth................... MA-12 Cohasset Harbor Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ MA-13 Duxbury Beach.. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ MA-13P Duxbury Beach.. New Unit--
Mostly
Reclassified.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-14P Town Neck...... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-15P Chapin Beach... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-16 Nobscusset..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-17AP Lieutenant Existing Unit.
Island.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-17P Griffin/Great Existing Unit
Islands
Complex.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-18 Pamet Harbor... Existing Unit
Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-18AP Pamet Harbor... New Unit--
Mostly
Reclassified.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-18P Ballston Beach. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-19P Provincetown... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-20P Nauset Beach/ Existing Unit.
Monomoy.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-23P Davis Beach.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... MA-24 Naushon Island Existing Unit.
Complex.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... MA-25P Penikese Island Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... MA-26 Harthaven...... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... MA-27 Edgartown Beach New Unit--
Partially
Reclassified.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... MA-27P Edgartown Beach Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... MA-28P Norton Point... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Dukes............................... MA-29P Nomans Land.... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-30 Herring Brook.. Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-31 Squeteague Existing Unit.
Harbor.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-32 Bassetts Island Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-33 Phinneys Harbor Existing Unit.
[[Page 10747]]
Massachusetts............ Plymouth............................ MA-35 Planting Island Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. MA-36 Round Hill..... Existing Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. MA-37P Demarest Lloyd Existing Unit.
Park.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-38P Scusset Beach.. New Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-40P Harding Beach.. New Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-41P Red River Beach New Unit.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-42P Quissett Beach/ New Unit.
Falmouth Beach.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-43 Chapoquoit New Unit.
Beach.
Massachusetts............ Barnstable.......................... MA-43P Chapoquoit New Unit.
Beach.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. MA-45P Round Hill New Unit.
Point.
Massachusetts............ Bristol............................. MA-46 Teal Pond...... New Unit.
Massachusetts............ Bristol, Plymouth................... MA-47P Little Bay..... New Unit.
New Hampshire............ Rockingham.......................... NH-01P Odiorne Point.. New Unit.
New Jersey............... Monmouth............................ NJ-01P Sandy Hook..... Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Monmouth............................ NJ-04A Navesink/ Existing Unit.
Shrewsbury
Complex.
New Jersey............... Ocean............................... NJ-04B Metedeconk Neck Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Ocean............................... NJ-04BP Metedeconk Neck Existing Unit
Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
New Jersey............... Ocean............................... NJ-05P Island Beach... Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Ocean............................... NJ-06 Cedar Bonnet Existing Unit.
Island.
New Jersey............... Ocean............................... NJ-06P Cedar Bonnet Existing Unit
Island. Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
New Jersey............... Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean......... NJ-07P Brigantine..... Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-08 Corson's Inlet. New Unit--
Mostly
Reclassified.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-08P Corson's Inlet. Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-09 Stone Harbor... Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-09P Stone Harbor... Existing Unit
Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-10P Cape May....... Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-11P Higbee Beach... Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-12 Del Haven...... Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-12P Del Haven...... Existing Unit
Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-13 Kimbles Beach.. Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May, Cumberland................ NJ-14 Moores Beach... Existing Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May, Cumberland................ NJ-14P Moores Beach... Existing Unit
Reclassified
and Unit
Number
Retired.
New Jersey............... Monmouth............................ NJ-17P Monmouth Cove.. New Unit.
New Jersey............... Monmouth............................ NJ-18 Ware Creek..... New Unit.
New Jersey............... Atlantic, Cape May.................. NJ-19P Malibu Beach... New Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-20P Two Mile Beach. New Unit.
New Jersey............... Cape May............................ NJ-21P Sunray Beach... New Unit.
New Jersey............... Cumberland.......................... NJ-22P Egg Island..... New Unit.
New Jersey............... Cumberland.......................... NJ-23P Dix............ New Unit.
New Jersey............... Cumberland, Salem................... NJ-24P Greenwich...... New Unit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: December 4, 2017.
Gary Frazer,
Assistant Director for Ecological Services.
Editorial Note: This document was received for publication by
the Office of the Federal Register on March 7, 2018.
[FR Doc. 2018-04889 Filed 3-9-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
