Extension of Public Comment Period for the Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, 71422-71423 [2021-27234]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 71422 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 239 / Thursday, December 16, 2021 / Notices viewed at: https:// documents.dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal/ DNERR/2022-DRAFT-DNERRManagement-Plan.pdf. The document is also available by sending a written request to the point of contact identified below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION). You may submit comments by any of the following methods: Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments by email to nina.garfield@noaa.gov. Mail: Submit written comments to Rachael Phillos, Manager, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Road Dover, DE 1990. 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, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender may also be accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nina Garfield of NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, by email at nina.garfield@noaa.gov, or phone at 240–485–8727, or via postal mail: NOAA/Office for Coastal Management, 1305 East West Highway, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must revise the management plan for the research reserve at least every five years. If approved by NOAA, the reserve’s revised plan will replace the plan previously approved in 2013. The draft revised management plan outlines the reserve’s strategic goals and objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting research and monitoring, education, and training; resource protection, restoration, and manipulation plans; public access and visitor use plans; consideration for future land acquisition; and facility development to support reserve operations. In addition to continuing the tradition of robust local community education, training and research and stewardship programs, the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve intends, in this next management planning period, to focus on creating demonstration areas that can be used to model best management practices for local landowners; fostering the next generation of coastal professionals and conservation stewards; engaging land managers in conversations based on watershed scale conservation; and connecting with the Delaware community in a meaningful and inclusive manner to identify their needs VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:54 Dec 15, 2021 Jkt 256001 as the stakeholders of this research reserve. The revised management plan, once approved, would serve as the guiding document for the 6364-acre research reserve for the next five years. Since 2013, this research reserve has had an important impact on the local area and its communities. The reserve’s training program held 53 trainings, workshops or conferences with 27,851 contact hours with local constituents. The education program had 32,466 contact hours with 11,722 K–12 students and 23,599 public participants. Reserve volunteers donated 20,739 hours of time—producing the full-time employee equivalent of 10.5 years worth of work. Some of those volunteer hours were spent recording 1,784,923 spawning horseshoe crabs on the three beaches that the reserve monitors. Research and monitoring efforts produced 15 peer-reviewed publications that used this reserve’s infrastructure and data. The mini-grant opportunity, available through their Research and Monitoring Program, distributed 183,766 dollars of funding to local, Delaware-based researchers, many of which were early career faculty. Seventy-six acres of land within this reserve’s boundary have been enhanced through reforestation and other restoration efforts. This draft management plan expands the boundary of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve and is soliciting comments from the public on the proposed boundary expansion. With the approval of this current management plan, this boundary will be amended to incorporate an additional six parcels— all found within the priority acquisition area identified in the 2013 revision of the plan—increasing the total acreage of the reserve to 6,364 acres. These parcels include lands that enhance and contribute to the ecological protection within the Blackbird Creek watershed. The ‘‘McKinley’’ property at 531 Union Church Road is 67.4 acres in size and includes a mix of native hardwoods and coastal plain ponds (Delmarva Bays). At 0 Taylors Bridge Road, the 32-acre ‘‘Unruh’’ property includes a wooded tributary buffer and agricultural lands. Three parcels known as the ‘‘Norris’’ property, totaling 42.6 acres at Union Church Road were acquired to improve wildlife corridor habitat and include forest and agriculture lands. Additionally, an inholding property known as ‘‘Manwaring’’ at 789 Blackbird Landing Road that is 16.3 acres in size was acquired. More details on these parcels and the boundary change may be found in the draft revised management plan. PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management analyzes the environmental impacts of the proposed approval of this draft revised management plan in accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act 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 1500–1508). The public is invited to comment on the draft revised management plan. NOAA will take these comments into consideration in deciding whether to approve the draft revised management plan in whole or in part. 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. 2021–27185 Filed 12–15–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Extension of Public Comment Period for the Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Chumash Heritage 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 of extension of public comment period. AGENCY: On November 10, 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published a Notice of Intent to conduct scoping and to prepare a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. With this notice, NOAA is extending the public comment period by 21 days to January 31, 2022, to provide the public with additional time to provide comments on the Notice of Intent. DATES: Comments must be received by January 31, 2022, as specified under ADDRESSES. Comments received after this date may not be accepted. The dates for virtual public scoping meetings are unchanged. NOAA hosted two virtual public scoping meetings on December 8 and December 13, 2021, and will SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM 16DEN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 239 / Thursday, December 16, 2021 / Notices conduct a third meeting at the following date and time: • Thursday, January 6, 2022, 4 p.m.– 7 p.m. Pacific Time. NOAA may end the meeting before the time noted above if all those participating have completed their oral comments. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments for this public scoping process by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ‘‘NOAA–NOS–2021–0080’’ in the Search box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Send any hard copy public comments by mail to: Paul Michel, NOAA Sanctuaries West Coast Regional Office, 99 Pacific Street, Building 100F, Monterey, CA 93940. • Public Scoping Meeting: Provide oral comments during the remaining virtual public scoping meeting, as described under DATES. Webinar registration details and additional information about how to participate in this meeting is available at www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/chumashheritage. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the commenter will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Michel, (831) 647–4217, paul.michel@ noaa.gov, West Coast Region Policy Coordinator. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 10, 2021, NOAA issued a Notice of Intent to Conduct Scoping and to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (‘‘Notice of Intent’’) (86 FR 62512). With that Notice of Intent, NOAA initiated a process to consider designating a portion of waters along and offshore of the central coast of California as a national marine sanctuary, in accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. This process is based VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:54 Dec 15, 2021 Jkt 256001 on the area’s qualities and boundaries as described in the community-based nomination 1 submitted on July 17, 2015, excluding any geographical overlap of the boundaries proposed for the Morro Bay 399 Area as described in the July 29, 2021, Federal Register Notice of Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Morro Bay, California, East and West Extensions— Call for Information and Nominations (86 FR 40869).2 For more information, refer to the Notice of Intent (86 FR 62512) or visit www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/chumashheritage. The designation process will be conducted concurrently with a public process under the National Environmental Policy Act to prepare an environmental impact statement. This public scoping process invites comments on the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in the environmental impact statement that are related to designating this area as a national marine sanctuary. The results of this scoping process will assist NOAA in moving forward with the designation process, including preparation and release of draft designation documents, and in formulating alternatives for the draft environmental impact statement, including developing national marine sanctuary boundaries, regulations, and a management plan. This scoping process will also inform the initiation of any consultations with Federal, State, or local agencies, tribes, and other interested parties, as appropriate. NOAA has received requests for an extension of the public comment period and has decided to extend the comment period by 21 days to provide the public with additional time to provide comments. At this time, NOAA does not expect any changes to the Schedule for the Decision-Making Process outlined in Section IV of the Notice of Intent (86 FR 62512). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR 1500–1508 (National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations); Companion 1 https://nominate.noaa.gov/media/documents/ nomination_chumash_heritage_071715.pdf. 2 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/ 2021/07/29/2021-16134/commercial-leasing-forwind-power-development-on-the-outer-continentalshelf-ocs-offshore-morro-bay. PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 71423 Manual for NOAA Administrative Order 216–6A. John Armor, Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2021–27234 Filed 12–15–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XB522] Taking of Threatened or Endangered Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Proposed Issuance of Permit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing to issue a permit to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, take of specific Endangered Species Act (ESA)listed marine mammal species or stocks under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), in the California (CA) thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery and the corresponding high seas component of the fishery as defined on the MMPA List of Fisheries as the Pacific highly migratory species drift gillnet fishery. DATES: Comments on this action and supporting documents must be received by January 18, 2022. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed permit and the preliminary determination supporting the permit, identified by NOAA–NMFS– 2021–0105, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA–NMFS–2021–0105 in the Search box. 2. Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, and complete the required fields. 3. Enter or attach your comments. Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. Due to delays in processing mail related to COVID–19 and health and safety concerns, no mail, courier, or hand deliveries will be accepted. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM 16DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 239 (Thursday, December 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71422-71423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27234]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Extension of Public Comment Period for the Notice of Intent To 
Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Chumash Heritage 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 of extension of public comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On November 10, 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) published a Notice of Intent to conduct scoping 
and to prepare a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed 
Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. With this notice, NOAA is 
extending the public comment period by 21 days to January 31, 2022, to 
provide the public with additional time to provide comments on the 
Notice of Intent.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 31, 2022, as specified 
under ADDRESSES. Comments received after this date may not be accepted. 
The dates for virtual public scoping meetings are unchanged. NOAA 
hosted two virtual public scoping meetings on December 8 and December 
13, 2021, and will

[[Page 71423]]

conduct a third meeting at the following date and time:
     Thursday, January 6, 2022, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Pacific Time.
    NOAA may end the meeting before the time noted above if all those 
participating have completed their oral comments.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments for this public scoping process by 
any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ``NOAA-NOS-2021-0080'' in the Search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comments.
     Mail: Send any hard copy public comments by mail to: Paul 
Michel, NOAA Sanctuaries West Coast Regional Office, 99 Pacific Street, 
Building 100F, Monterey, CA 93940.
     Public Scoping Meeting: Provide oral comments during the 
remaining virtual public scoping meeting, as described under DATES. 
Webinar registration details and additional information about how to 
participate in this meeting is available at www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/chumash-heritage.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NOAA. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (for example, name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the commenter will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept 
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to 
remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Michel, (831) 647-4217, 
[email protected], West Coast Region Policy Coordinator.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 10, 2021, NOAA issued a Notice 
of Intent to Conduct Scoping and to Prepare a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine 
Sanctuary (``Notice of Intent'') (86 FR 62512).
    With that Notice of Intent, NOAA initiated a process to consider 
designating a portion of waters along and offshore of the central coast 
of California as a national marine sanctuary, in accordance with the 
National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. This process is 
based on the area's qualities and boundaries as described in the 
community-based nomination \1\ submitted on July 17, 2015, excluding 
any geographical overlap of the boundaries proposed for the Morro Bay 
399 Area as described in the July 29, 2021, Federal Register Notice of 
Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental 
Shelf Offshore Morro Bay, California, East and West Extensions--Call 
for Information and Nominations (86 FR 40869).\2\ For more information, 
refer to the Notice of Intent (86 FR 62512) or visit 
www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/chumash-heritage.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ https://nominate.noaa.gov/media/documents/nomination_chumash_heritage_071715.pdf.
    \2\ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/29/2021-16134/commercial-leasing-for-wind-power-development-on-the-outer-continental-shelf-ocs-offshore-morro-bay.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The designation process will be conducted concurrently with a 
public process under the National Environmental Policy Act to prepare 
an environmental impact statement. This public scoping process invites 
comments on the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in the 
environmental impact statement that are related to designating this 
area as a national marine sanctuary. The results of this scoping 
process will assist NOAA in moving forward with the designation 
process, including preparation and release of draft designation 
documents, and in formulating alternatives for the draft environmental 
impact statement, including developing national marine sanctuary 
boundaries, regulations, and a management plan. This scoping process 
will also inform the initiation of any consultations with Federal, 
State, or local agencies, tribes, and other interested parties, as 
appropriate.
    NOAA has received requests for an extension of the public comment 
period and has decided to extend the comment period by 21 days to 
provide the public with additional time to provide comments. At this 
time, NOAA does not expect any changes to the Schedule for the 
Decision-Making Process outlined in Section IV of the Notice of Intent 
(86 FR 62512).
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR 
1500-1508 (National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations); 
Companion Manual for NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A.

John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-27234 Filed 12-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P
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