Final Management Plan for the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, 66687-66688 [2024-18333]
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lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 159 / Friday, August 16, 2024 / Notices
U.S.C. 6401 et seq. This act authorizes
CRCP to, among other things, conserve
and restore the condition of United
States coral reef ecosystems and
enhance public awareness,
understanding, and appreciation of
coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems
and their ecological and socioeconomic
value. In accordance with its mission
goals, NOAA developed a survey to
track relevant information regarding
each jurisdiction’s population, social
and economic structure, the benefits of
coral reefs and related habitats, the
impacts of society on coral reefs, and
the impacts of coral management on
communities. The survey is repeated in
each jurisdiction every five to seven
years in order to provide longitudinal
data and information for managers to
effectively conserve coral reefs for
current and future generations.
The purpose of this information
collection is to obtain human
dimensions information from residents
in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Specifically,
NOAA is seeking information on the
behaviors and activities related to coral
reefs, as well as information on
perceptions of coral reef conditions and
attitudes toward specific reef
conservation activities. The survey has
a core set of questions that are asked
across all jurisdictions to allow for
information to be tracked over time and
across jurisdictions. To account for
geographical, cultural and linguistic
differences between jurisdictions, the
survey questions include items that are
specific to the local context and
developed based on jurisdictional
partner feedback.
We intend to use the information
collected through this instrument for
research purposes, as well as for
measuring and improving the results of
our reef protection programs. Because
many of our efforts to protect reefs rely
on education and changing attitudes
toward reef protection, the information
collected will allow CRCP to ensure that
programs are designed appropriately at
the start, future program evaluation
efforts are as successful as possible, and
outreach efforts are targeting the
intended recipients with useful
information.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Frequency: Every 5–7 years.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Coral Reef
Conservation Act of 2000.
This information collection request
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view the
Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
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Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function and
entering either the title of the collection
or the OMB Control Number 0648–0646.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs,
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024–18396 Filed 8–15–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–08–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Final Management Plan for the
Apalachicola National Estuarine
Research Reserve
Office for Coastal Management,
National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of approval of the revised
management plan Apalachicola
National Estuarine Research Reserves.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the Office for Coastal Management,
National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), U.S.
Department of Commerce approves the
revised management plan for the
Apalachicola National Estuarine
Research Reserve in Florida. In
accordance with applicable Federal
regulations, the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection revised the
Apalachicola Reserve’s management
plan, which replaces the plan
previously approved in 2015.
ADDRESSES: The approved Apalachicola
Reserve management plan can be
downloaded or viewed at https://
floridadep.gov/rcp/nerr-apalachicola/
documents/apalachicola-nerrmanagement-plan. These documents are
also available by sending a written
request to the point of contact identified
below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
SUMMARY:
Matt
Chasse of NOAA’s Office for Coastal
Management, by email at matt.chasse@
noaa.gov, phone at 240–628–5417.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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66687
Pursuant
to 15 CFR 921.33(c), Florida must revise
the management plan for the
Apalachicola research reserve at least
every five years. Changes to a reserve’s
management plan may be made only
after receiving written approval from
NOAA. NOAA approves changes to
management plans via notice in the
Federal Register. On December 27,
2023, NOAA issued a notice in the
Federal Register announcing a thirtyday public comment period for the
proposed revision of the management
plan for the Apalachicola National
Estuarine Research Reserve (87 FR
89406). Appendix C of the plan contains
a summary of written and oral
comments received, and an explanation
of how comments were incorporated
into the final version of the management
plan.
The revised management plan
outlines the reserve’s: strategic goals
and objectives; administrative structure;
programs for conducting research and
monitoring, education, and training;
resource management, restoration and
public use and access; volunteer
support, and communications plans;
consideration for future land
acquisition; and facility development
and improvement to support reserve
operations.
The Apalachicola’s revised
management plan will focus on
addressing specific coastal management
issues including hydrological changes
in the Apalachicola River and
floodplain; coastal development; and
climate change and extreme events.
Research and monitoring aims to
expand understanding of the ecological
processes related to the Apalachicola
River and watershed and develop new
research initiatives and monitoring
projects to fill gaps in our
understanding of key ecosystem
functions related to pollutants, habitats,
and diversity. Reserve education
programming prioritizes in-field studies
for students and teachers. Programming
for K–12 students will be provided for
a continuity of content across the entire
academic experience of local students.
Reserve outreach efforts will target
participants from all ages and walks of
life while recognizing the local
community as key stakeholders. Coastal
training will deliver formal trainings,
skill-building opportunities, tools and
technical assistance that enable
audiences to continue to implement
sound policies based on science that
protect the environment. In addition,
the reserve’s regular engagement with
decision makers strengthens
partnerships, furthers assessments of
audience needs and forges positive
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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16AUN1
66688
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 159 / Friday, August 16, 2024 / Notices
working relationships with decision
makers to increase stewardship and
resilience throughout the reserve.
Furthermore, no reserve boundary or
acreage changes are incorporated into
the revised management plan. The
revised management plan will serve as
the guiding document for the 234,715
acre Apalachicola National Estuarine
Research Reserve for the next five years.
NOAA reviewed the environmental
impacts of the revised management plan
and determined that this action is
categorically excluded from further
analysis under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and
the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for Implementing the
Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR
1500–1508 (2022), consistent with
NOAA Administrative Order 216–6A.
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. 2024–18333 Filed 8–15–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–08–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Coastal Ocean Program
Grants Proposal Application Package
National Oceanic &
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection,
request for comment.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Commerce, in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), invites the general public and
other Federal agencies to comment on
proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. The purpose of this
notice is to allow for 60 days of public
comment preceding submission of the
collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration,
comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received
on or before October 15, 2024.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
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Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer,
at NOAA.PRA@noaa.gov. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648–
0384 in the subject line of your
comments. All comments received are
part of the public record and will
generally be posted on https://
www.regulations.gov without change.
Do not submit Confidential Business
Information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection
activities should be directed to Laura
Golden, Grants Administrator, by
telephone 240–569–0196 or by email
laurie.golden@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
I. Abstract
This request is for a revision and
extension of a currently approved
information collection. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s Coastal Ocean Program
(COP) now known as the Competitive
Research Program (CRP) under the
National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science provides direct financial
assistance through grants and
cooperative agreements for research
supporting the management of coastal
ecosystems and the NOAA Restore
Science Program. The statutory
authority for COP is Public Law 102–
567, section 201 (Coastal Ocean
Program). NOAA was authorized to
establish and administer the Restore
Science Program, in consultation with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, by
the Resources and Ecosystems
Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities,
and Revived Economies (RESTORE) of
the Gulf States Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112–
141, section 1604). Identified in the
RESTORE Act as the Gulf Coast
Ecosystem Restoration Science,
Observation, Monitoring, and
Technology Program, the Program is
commonly known as the NOAA
RESTORE Science Program (RSP). In
addition to standard government
application requirements, applicants for
financial assistance for both programs
are required to submit a project
summary form, current and pending
form, and a Data Management form
template. The Data Management form
template is a new addition to the
application package. Data Management
is a required element of the application
package and the use of this form the will
reduce the public burden by providing
a specific format instead of requiring
each applicant to create their own
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format. The Key Contacts form has been
removed from the collection. CRP
recipients are required to file annual
progress reports and a project final
report using CRP formats. The RSP
recipients are required to file
semiannual progress reports, a final
report and a Gantt chart showing project
milestones using RSP formats. All of
these requirements are needed for better
evaluation of proposals and monitoring
of awards.
II. Method of Collection
Respondents have a choice of either
electronic or paper forms.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0384.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(revision/extension of a currently
approved collection).
Affected Public: Non-profit
institutions; State, local, or tribal
government; business or other for-profit
organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
1,200.
Estimated Time per Response: 30
minutes each for a project summary,
data management template and current
and pending Federal support; 5.5 hours
for a semi-annual report; 5 hours for an
annual report, 10 hours for a CRP final
report, 10.5 hours for the RSP final
report and 1 hour for the milestone
Gantt chart.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 1,912.5.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $0 in recordkeeping/reporting
costs.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: The statutory
authority for COP is Public Law 102–
567, section 201 (Coastal Ocean
Program). NOAA was authorized to
establish and administer the Restore
Science Program, in consultation with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, by
the Resources and Ecosystems
Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities,
and Revived Economies (RESTORE) of
the Gulf States Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112–
141, section 1604).
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to
permit the Department/Bureau to: (a)
Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary for
the proper functions of the Department,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the
accuracy of our estimate of the time and
cost burden for this proposed collection,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
E:\FR\FM\16AUN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66687-66688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18333]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Final Management Plan for the Apalachicola National Estuarine
Research Reserve
AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of approval of the revised management plan Apalachicola
National Estuarine Research Reserves.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office for Coastal Management,
National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce approves the revised management
plan for the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve in
Florida. In accordance with applicable Federal regulations, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection revised the Apalachicola
Reserve's management plan, which replaces the plan previously approved
in 2015.
ADDRESSES: The approved Apalachicola Reserve management plan can be
downloaded or viewed at https://floridadep.gov/rcp/nerr-apalachicola/documents/apalachicola-nerr-management-plan. These documents are also
available by sending a written request to the point of contact
identified below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Chasse of NOAA's Office for
Coastal Management, by email at [email protected], phone at 240-628-
5417.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), Florida must
revise the management plan for the Apalachicola research reserve at
least every five years. Changes to a reserve's management plan may be
made only after receiving written approval from NOAA. NOAA approves
changes to management plans via notice in the Federal Register. On
December 27, 2023, NOAA issued a notice in the Federal Register
announcing a thirty-day public comment period for the proposed revision
of the management plan for the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research
Reserve (87 FR 89406). Appendix C of the plan contains a summary of
written and oral comments received, and an explanation of how comments
were incorporated into the final version of the management plan.
The revised management plan outlines the reserve's: strategic goals
and objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting
research and monitoring, education, and training; resource management,
restoration and public use and access; volunteer support, and
communications plans; consideration for future land acquisition; and
facility development and improvement to support reserve operations.
The Apalachicola's revised management plan will focus on addressing
specific coastal management issues including hydrological changes in
the Apalachicola River and floodplain; coastal development; and climate
change and extreme events. Research and monitoring aims to expand
understanding of the ecological processes related to the Apalachicola
River and watershed and develop new research initiatives and monitoring
projects to fill gaps in our understanding of key ecosystem functions
related to pollutants, habitats, and diversity. Reserve education
programming prioritizes in-field studies for students and teachers.
Programming for K-12 students will be provided for a continuity of
content across the entire academic experience of local students.
Reserve outreach efforts will target participants from all ages and
walks of life while recognizing the local community as key
stakeholders. Coastal training will deliver formal trainings, skill-
building opportunities, tools and technical assistance that enable
audiences to continue to implement sound policies based on science that
protect the environment. In addition, the reserve's regular engagement
with decision makers strengthens partnerships, furthers assessments of
audience needs and forges positive
[[Page 66688]]
working relationships with decision makers to increase stewardship and
resilience throughout the reserve.
Furthermore, no reserve boundary or acreage changes are
incorporated into the revised management plan. The revised management
plan will serve as the guiding document for the 234,715 acre
Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve for the next five
years.
NOAA reviewed the environmental impacts of the revised management
plan and determined that this action is categorically excluded from
further analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA
(40 CFR 1500-1508 (2022), consistent with NOAA Administrative Order
216-6A.
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. 2024-18333 Filed 8-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P