Review of Nomination for Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary, 14316-14317 [2021-05284]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 48 / Monday, March 15, 2021 / Notices
environmental assessment; request for
comments.
The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
considering a request to expand the
boundary of the Narragansett Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve
(Narragansett Bay NERR or the Reserve)
and is soliciting comments from the
public on the proposed boundary
expansion. The public is also invited to
comment on the draft environmental
assessment for the proposed boundary
expansion.
SUMMARY:
Comments must be received at
the appropriate address (see ADDRESSES)
on or before April 14, 2021.
ADDRESSES: The draft environmental
assessment describing the proposed
boundary expansion can be downloaded
or viewed at coast.noaa.gov/czm/
compliance/. The document is also
available by sending a written request to
the point of contact identified below
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
You may submit comments by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments by email to
Adrianne.Harrison@noaa.gov.
Mail: Submit written comments to
Patmarie S. Nedelka, Office for Coastal
Management, 1305 East-West Highway,
N/ORM, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD
20910.
Comments submitted by any other
method or after the comment period
may not be considered. All comments
are part of the public record and may be
publicly accessible. Any personal
identifying information (e.g., name or
address) submitted voluntarily by the
sender may also be accessible. NOAA
will accept anonymous comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Adrianne Harrison of NOAA’s Office for
Coastal Management on contract with
Lynker Inc, by email at
Adrianne.Harrison@noaa.gov, phone at
603–862–4272, or mail at: Patmarie S.
Nedelka, Office for Coastal
Management, 1305 East-West Highway,
N/ORM, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD
20910.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
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I. Background
The Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management, as lead
agency for managing the Narragansett
Bay NERR, has requested approval to
expand the reserve’s geographic
boundary by adding 1 new parcel to the
existing approved boundary. Pursuant
to 15 CFR 921.33(a), NOAA may require
public notice, including notice in the
Federal Register and an opportunity for
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:36 Mar 12, 2021
Jkt 253001
public comment, before approving a
boundary or management plan change.
In addition, boundary changes involving
the acquisition of properties not listed
in the reserve’s management plan or
final environmental impact statement
require public notice and the
opportunity for comment. Since the
Little Property parcel was not evaluated
in the reserve’s original environmental
impact statement, NOAA has developed
an environmental assessment to analyze
the effects of the requested change, and
is publishing notice of the availability of
this assessment for public review and
comment.
II. NOAA Proposed Action and
Alternatives
NOAA is releasing a draft
environmental assessment, prepared in
accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
4332(2)(C), and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for
Implementing the Procedural Provisions
of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508).
NOAA’s proposed action would be to
approve a change in the boundary of the
Narragansett Bay NERR to add 1 parcels
to the current boundary.
The draft environmental assessment
identifies and assesses potential
environmental impacts associated with
the proposed boundary expansion, and
identifies a preferred alternative and a
no action alternative. The preferred
alternative would add 1 parcels to the
reserve’s boundary, which would result
in a net increase in size of 103 acres. As
a result, NOAA believes the proposed
boundary expansion would (1) fill in a
gap in the Narragansett Bay NERR near
the center of Prudence Island, (2)
provide a more encompassing area for
the Reserve’s research, monitoring, and
education programs, and (3) provide an
opportunity for more coordination and
integrated ecosystem management that
would help the Reserve attain its
mission of practicing and promoting
coastal and estuarine stewardship
through innovative research and
education, using a system of protected
areas. Therefore, NOAA prefers the
proposed boundary expansion over the
no action alternative.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.; 15 CFR
921.33.
Keelin S. Kuipers,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal
Management, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021–05285 Filed 3–12–21; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Review of Nomination for Lake Erie
Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary
Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In May 2020, the Office of
National Marine Sanctuaries of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration requested written
comments to facilitate ONMS review of
the nomination for Lake Erie
Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary
(NMS). NOAA requested relevant
information as it pertains to the 11
national significance criteria and
management considerations that NOAA
applied to evaluate the Lake Erie
Quadrangle NMS nomination for
inclusion in the national inventory of
areas that NOAA may consider for
future designation as a national marine
sanctuary. NOAA has synthesized the
information gathered through the public
process, completed an internal analysis,
and the ONMS Director has made a final
determination that the Lake Erie
Quadrangle NMS nomination will
remain in the inventory beyond the
February 22, 2021 expiration date.
DATES: This determination took effect on
February 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Ellen Brody, Great Lakes
Regional Coordinator, 4840 South State
Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 or at
ellen.brody@noaa.gov, 734–741–2270,
and at https://nominate.noaa.gov/
nominations/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brody, Great Lakes Regional
Coordinator, 4840 South State Road,
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 or at ellen.brody@
noaa.gov, 734–741–2270.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background Information
In 2014, NOAA issued a final rule
establishing the sanctuary nomination
process (SNP), a process by which
communities may submit nominations
of areas of the marine and Great Lakes
environment for NOAA to consider for
designation as a national marine
sanctuary (79 FR 33851). The final rule
establishing the SNP included a fiveyear limit on any nomination added to
the inventory that NOAA does not
advance for designation. The
nomination for Lake Erie Quadrangle
NMS was accepted to the national
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 48 / Monday, March 15, 2021 / Notices
inventory on February 22, 2016, and
was scheduled to expire in February
2021.
On November 13, 2019, NOAA issued
a document (84 FR 61546) to clarify
procedures for evaluating and updating
a nomination as it approaches the fiveyear mark. The clarified procedure
ensures the inventory contains
nominations that remain relevant and
responsive to the 11 SNP national
significance criteria and management
considerations (‘‘SNP Criteria’’). The 11
SNP Criteria can be found at https://
nominate.noaa.gov.
On January 12, 2021, NOAA issued a
request for public comments on this
nomination (86 FR 2384). NOAA
requested relevant information
pertaining to the 11 SNP Criteria that
NOAA applied to evaluate the Lake Erie
Quadrangle NMS nomination for
inclusion in the national inventory of
areas that NOAA may consider for
future designation as a national marine
sanctuary. No public comments were
received during this public comment
period, however, the nominator did
provide additional information which
NOAA has used in evaluating the
nomination. In analyzing this material,
particular attention was given to new
scientific information about the national
significance of natural and cultural
resources, as well as increases or
decreases in the threats to resources
originally proposed for protection, and
changes to the management framework
of the area. NOAA also assessed the
level of community-based support for
the nomination from a broad range of
interests.
Following NOAA’s review of
information provided regarding the
nomination’s merit for remaining on the
inventory after five years, it was
determined that new information
shows: There are still significant threats
to the area; it is still an area of national
significance; and, there is still broad
community support for the nomination
remaining on the inventory of possible
designations, among other criteria that
the nomination still continues to meet.
Therefore, the ONMS Director has
determined the nomination for the Lake
Erie Quadrangle NMS should remain on
the inventory. NOAA is not proposing
to designate Lake Erie Quadrangle NMS
or any other new national marine
sanctuary with this action. This notice
serves to inform the public of this
decision to extend the nomination on
the inventory.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:36 Mar 12, 2021
Jkt 253001
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021–05284 Filed 3–12–21; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XA930]
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice of a public meeting.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council (Council) will
hold a four-day meeting via webinar of
its Standing, Reef Fish, and
Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical
Committees (SSC).
SUMMARY:
The meeting will be held on
Tuesday, March 30 to Friday, April 2,
2021, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., EDT.
DATES:
The meeting will take place
via webinar; you may register by visiting
www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on the
SSC meeting on the calendar.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 4107 W
Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL
33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ryan Rindone, Lead Fishery Biologist,
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; ryan.rindone@gulfcouncil.org,
telephone: (813) 348–1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Tuesday, March 30, 2021–Thursday,
April 1, 2021; 9 a.m.–12 p.m., EST
Meeting will begin with Introductions
and Adoption of Agenda. The
Committees will review the Great Red
Snapper Count (GRSC) Project,
including: The Review Terms of
Reference; summary presentations about
the GRSC including but not limited to
study design and sampling approaches;
statistics and data analysis; and results.
The SSC will be provided with the
independent consultant’s initial
findings. The first portion of the
meeting will end with consultant and
SSC deliberations on the GRSC Project.
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Thursday, April 1, 2021–Friday, April
2, 2021; 1 p.m.–12 p.m., EST
The Committees will then begin the
SSC meeting portion of the webinar
with the Approval of Verbatim Minutes
and Meeting Summary: January 5–7,
2021 webinar meeting; Scope of Work;
Selection of SSC Representative for the
April 12–15, 2021 Gulf Council Meeting
via webinar.
Friday, April 2, 2021; 1 p.m.–5 p.m.,
EST
The Committees will then review the
GRSC-informed Catch Analysis from the
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
(SEFSC); and then the Red Snapper
Interim Analysis including but not
limited to the National Marine Fisheries
Service Bottom Longline fisheryindependent index. The SSC will
determine BSIA and make new
overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable
biological catch (ABC)
recommendations for Gulf of Mexico red
snapper, as appropriate.
Lastly, the Committees will receive
public comment; and discuss any Other
Business items.
Meeting Adjourns
The meeting will be broadcast via
webinar. You may register for the
webinar by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org
and clicking on the SSC meeting on the
calendar.
The Agenda is subject to change, and
the latest version along with other
meeting materials will be posted on
www.gulfcouncil.org as they become
available.
Although other non-emergency issues
not on the agenda may come before the
Scientific and Statistical Committees for
discussion, in accordance with the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act,
those issues may not be the subject of
formal action during this meeting.
Actions of the Scientific and Statistical
Committee will be restricted to those
issues specifically identified in the
agenda and any issues arising after
publication of this notice that require
emergency action under Section 305(c)
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act,
provided the public has been notified of
the Council’s intent to take-action to
address the emergency.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 10, 2021.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–05303 Filed 3–12–21; 8:45 am]
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 48 (Monday, March 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14316-14317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05284]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Review of Nomination for Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine
Sanctuary
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In May 2020, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requested written
comments to facilitate ONMS review of the nomination for Lake Erie
Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary (NMS). NOAA requested relevant
information as it pertains to the 11 national significance criteria and
management considerations that NOAA applied to evaluate the Lake Erie
Quadrangle NMS nomination for inclusion in the national inventory of
areas that NOAA may consider for future designation as a national
marine sanctuary. NOAA has synthesized the information gathered through
the public process, completed an internal analysis, and the ONMS
Director has made a final determination that the Lake Erie Quadrangle
NMS nomination will remain in the inventory beyond the February 22,
2021 expiration date.
DATES: This determination took effect on February 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Ellen Brody, Great Lakes Regional Coordinator, 4840 South
State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 or at [email protected], 734-741-
2270, and at https://nominate.noaa.gov/nominations/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brody, Great Lakes Regional
Coordinator, 4840 South State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 or at
[email protected], 734-741-2270.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information
In 2014, NOAA issued a final rule establishing the sanctuary
nomination process (SNP), a process by which communities may submit
nominations of areas of the marine and Great Lakes environment for NOAA
to consider for designation as a national marine sanctuary (79 FR
33851). The final rule establishing the SNP included a five-year limit
on any nomination added to the inventory that NOAA does not advance for
designation. The nomination for Lake Erie Quadrangle NMS was accepted
to the national
[[Page 14317]]
inventory on February 22, 2016, and was scheduled to expire in February
2021.
On November 13, 2019, NOAA issued a document (84 FR 61546) to
clarify procedures for evaluating and updating a nomination as it
approaches the five-year mark. The clarified procedure ensures the
inventory contains nominations that remain relevant and responsive to
the 11 SNP national significance criteria and management considerations
(``SNP Criteria''). The 11 SNP Criteria can be found at https://nominate.noaa.gov.
On January 12, 2021, NOAA issued a request for public comments on
this nomination (86 FR 2384). NOAA requested relevant information
pertaining to the 11 SNP Criteria that NOAA applied to evaluate the
Lake Erie Quadrangle NMS nomination for inclusion in the national
inventory of areas that NOAA may consider for future designation as a
national marine sanctuary. No public comments were received during this
public comment period, however, the nominator did provide additional
information which NOAA has used in evaluating the nomination. In
analyzing this material, particular attention was given to new
scientific information about the national significance of natural and
cultural resources, as well as increases or decreases in the threats to
resources originally proposed for protection, and changes to the
management framework of the area. NOAA also assessed the level of
community-based support for the nomination from a broad range of
interests.
Following NOAA's review of information provided regarding the
nomination's merit for remaining on the inventory after five years, it
was determined that new information shows: There are still significant
threats to the area; it is still an area of national significance; and,
there is still broad community support for the nomination remaining on
the inventory of possible designations, among other criteria that the
nomination still continues to meet. Therefore, the ONMS Director has
determined the nomination for the Lake Erie Quadrangle NMS should
remain on the inventory. NOAA is not proposing to designate Lake Erie
Quadrangle NMS or any other new national marine sanctuary with this
action. This notice serves to inform the public of this decision to
extend the nomination on the inventory.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-05284 Filed 3-12-21; 8:45 am]
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