Public Meeting for Recommending a National Estuarine Research Reserve Site in Connecticut's Lower Connecticut River and Eastern Long Island Sound, 54572-54573 [2018-23607]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54572-54573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23607]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Public Meeting for Recommending a National Estuarine Research 
Reserve Site in Connecticut's Lower Connecticut River and Eastern Long 
Island Sound

AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Public meeting notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a public meeting will be held for 
the purpose of providing information and receiving comments on the 
preliminary recommendation by the State of Connecticut that portions of 
the Lower Connecticut River and Eastern Long Island Sound be proposed 
to NOAA for designation as a National Estuarine Research Reserve.
    The public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on November 13, 2018 in 
the Academic Building Auditorium at the University of Connecticut's 
Avery Point campus, located at 1084 Shennecossett Rd, Groton, CT 06340.
    The state agencies holding the meeting: The Connecticut Department 
of Energy and Environmental Protection's Coastal Management Program; 
the University of Connecticut; and Connecticut Sea Grant. NOAA's Office 
for Coastal Management will assist with the meeting.
    The proposed research reserve site is comprised of the following 
state-owned properties: Lord Cove Wildlife Management Area; Great 
Island Wildlife Management Area; Bluff Point State Park and Coastal 
Reserve and Natural Area Preserve; Haley Farm State Park; and the 
public trust portions of waterbodies defined by:
    (a) Long Island Sound ranging approximately west to east from the 
mouth of the Connecticut River to Mason's Island and north to south 
waterward of the mean high water

[[Page 54573]]

shoreline to just shy of the Connecticut state boundary in Long Island 
Sound;
    (b) the area waterward of the mean high shoreline of the lower 
Thames River from approximately the Gold Star Bridge south to the area 
described in (a);
    (c) the area waterward of the mean high shoreline of the lower 
Connecticut River from approximately Lord Cove south to the area 
described in (a).
    The views of interested persons and organizations regarding the 
proposed site recommendation are solicited. This information may be 
expressed orally and in written statements. A presentation about the 
proposed site and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System will 
be provided. Written comments may be also be sent to: Kevin O'Brien, 
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection--Land & 
Water Resources Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 or to: 
[email protected]. All written comments must be received no later 
than seven calendar days following the public meeting. All comments 
received will be considered by the State in formally nominating a site 
to NOAA.
    The research reserve system is a federal and state partnership 
program administered by the federal government, specifically the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The research 
reserve system currently has 29 sites and protects more than 1.3 
million acres of estuarine and Great Lakes habitat for long-term 
research, monitoring, education, and stewardship. Established by the 
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, each reserve is managed by a lead 
state agency or university, with input from local partners. NOAA 
provides partial funding and national programmatic guidance.
    This particular site selection effort is a culmination of several 
years of local, grassroots-support for a research reserve site in 
Connecticut. The preliminary site recommendation follows a 
comprehensive evaluation process that sought the views of the public, 
affected landowners, and other interested parties. State and local 
agency representatives, as well as estuarine experts, served as 
committee members and evaluated site proposals. The committee is 
recommending the Lower Connecticut River and Eastern Long Island Sound 
as the preferred site for the state to nominate to NOAA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Erica Seiden, Office for Coastal 
Management, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 1305 East West Highway, N/
OCM, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or Email: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities please contact Michelle MarcAurele at the 
University of Connecticut Avery Point campus by November 6, 2018 to 
make arrangements. Phone: 860-405-9115, Email: 
[email protected].

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.420 (Coastal Zone 
Management) Research Reserves)

    Dated: October 22, 2018.
Paul M. Scholz,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, Ocean 
Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-23607 Filed 10-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P