National Estuarine Research Reserve System

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 31541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14907]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Estuarine Research Reserve System

AGENCY: Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal 
Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of approval and availability of revision to the final 
revised management plan for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine 
Research Reserve, 1999-2004.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, 
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, has approved the 
revised Management Plan for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine 
Research Reserve (SINERR). The SINERR was designated in 1976 and has 
been operating under a Management Plan approved on December 18, 1990. 
Pursuant to Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 
Section 1461, and Section 921.33(c)of the implementing regulations, a 
state must revise its management plan at least every five years, or 
more often if necessary. This revision is Georgia's effort to comply 
with this requirement.
    The revisions to the SINERR Management Plan include the items 
listed below,
    1. The plan adds three full-time state positions to the SINERR 
staff; one each in research, education and management.
    2. With Georgia General Assembly approved state funds, the SINERR 
has constructed a mainland interpretive center at the Meridian ferry 
dock. This 3,000 square foot elevated building is the primary public 
outreach facility for the SINERR. The center has a large exhibit hall, 
a 50-seat audio visual room, handicap-accessible facilities and a 
boardwalk.
    3. Under a NOAA matching grant, an existing building on Sapelo 
Island has been converted into an education/research laboratory. The 
facility has an audio visual room, office and storage space, an 
educational laboratory and a wet laboratory to support SINERR education 
and research/monitoring programs.
    4. The revised management plan includes the establishment of 
education and research task forces from a reorganized SINERR Advisory 
Committee. The Education Task Force is comprised of representatives 
from local education institutions, such as colleges, secondary schools, 
marine sciences programs and state agencies. The Research Task Force is 
comprised of representatives from the scientific and academic 
communities.
    5. The revised management plan includes the printing and 
distribution of the SINERR Ecological Site Characterization. This 
document presents a history of human activity on Sapelo Island and 
describes the physical, biological and chemical parameters of the 
SINERR's various habitats.
    The impacts of the SINERR Management Plan have not changed and the 
initial Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared at the time of 
designation is still valid. NOAA has made the determination that the 
proposed project will not have a significant effect on the human 
environment and therefore qualifies for a categorical exclusion under 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6. An environmental assessment will not 
be prepared.
    Copies of the document can be obtained from the Sapelo Island 
National Estuarine Research Reserve, Department of Natural Resources, 
PO Box 15, Sapelo Island, GA 31327. (912) 485-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie McGilvray, OCRM, Estuarine 
Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor (N/ORM5), Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910, (301) 713-3155, Extension 158.

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

    Dated: June 3, 1999.
Ted Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 99-14907 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P