81 FR 21322 - Evaluation of State Coastal Management Programs and National Estuarine Research Reserves

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 69 (April 11, 2016)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management will hold two separate public meetings to solicit comments on the performance evaluation of the Oregon Coastal Management Program and the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Notice is also hereby given of the availability of the final evaluation findings for Maryland, Puerto Rico and Ohio Coastal Management Programs.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 69 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21322-21323]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08207]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Evaluation of State Coastal Management Programs and National 
Estuarine Research Reserves

AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management (OCM), National Ocean Service 
(NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Office for Coastal Management will hold two separate public meetings to 
solicit comments on the performance evaluation of the Oregon Coastal 
Management Program and the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research 
Reserve. Notice is also hereby given of the availability of the final 
evaluation findings for Maryland, Puerto Rico and Ohio Coastal 
Management Programs.

DATES: Oregon Coastal Management Program Evaluation: The public meeting 
will be held on May 24, 2016, and written comments must be received on 
or before June 10, 2016.
    Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Evaluation: 
The public meeting will be held on June 28,

[[Page 21323]]

2016, and written comments must be received on or before July 15, 2016.
    For specific dates, times, and locations of the public meetings, 
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the program or reserve NOAA 
intends to evaluate by any of the following methods:
    Public Meeting and Oral Comments: Public meetings will be held in 
Newport, Oregon and Bristol, Rhode Island. For specific locations, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Written Comments: Please direct written comments to Carrie Hall, 
Evaluator, Planning and Performance Measurement Program, Office for 
Coastal Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor, N/
OCM1, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, or email comments 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hall, Evaluator, Planning and 
Performance Measurement Program, Office for Coastal Management, NOS/
NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor, N/OCM1, Silver Spring, 
Maryland 20910, or [email protected]. Copies of the final evaluation 
findings and related material (including past performance reports and 
notices prepared by NOAA's Office for Coastal Management) may be 
obtained upon written request by contacting the person identified under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Copies of the final evaluation 
findings may also be downloaded or viewed on the Internet at http://coast.noaa.gov/czm/evaluations/evaluation_findings/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections 312 and 315 of the Coastal Zone 
Management Act (CZMA) require NOAA to conduct periodic evaluations of 
federally approved state and territorial coastal programs and national 
estuarine research reserves. The process includes a public meeting, 
consideration of written public comments and consultations with 
interested Federal, state, and local agencies and members of the 
public. During the evaluation, NOAA will consider the extent to which 
the state has met the national objectives, adhered to the final 
management plan approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and adhered to 
the terms of financial assistance under the CZMA. When the evaluation 
is completed, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management will place a notice 
in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Final 
Evaluation Findings.
    Specific information on the periodic evaluation of the state and 
territorial coastal programs and reserves that are the subject of this 
notice are detailed below as follows:

Oregon Coastal Management Program Evaluation

    You may participate or submit oral comments at the public meeting 
scheduled as follows:
    Date: May 24, 2016.
    Time: 5:30 p.m., local time.
    Location: Best Western Agate Beach Inn, Cove Room, 3019 North Coast 
Highway, Newport, Oregon 97365.
    Written public comments must be received on or before June 10, 
2016.

Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Evaluation

    You may participate or submit oral comments at the public meeting 
scheduled as follows:
    Date: June 28, 2016.
    Time: 6:00 p.m., local time.
    Location: Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Environmental Education 
Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, Rhode Island 02890.
    Written comments must be received on or before July 15, 2016.

Availability of Final Evaluation Findings of Other State and 
Territorial Coastal Programs

    The NOAA Office for Coastal Management has completed review of the 
Coastal Zone Management Program evaluations for the states of Maryland 
and Ohio, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Both states and 
territory were found to be implementing and enforcing their federally 
approved coastal management programs, addressing the national coastal 
management objectives identified in CZMA Section 303(2)(A)-(K), and 
adhering to the programmatic terms of their financial assistance 
awards. Copies of these final evaluation findings may be downloaded at 
http://coast.noaa.gov/czm/evaluations/evaluation_findings/index.html or 
by submitting a written request to the person identified under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

John King,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone 
Management Program Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-08207 Filed 4-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-08-P