[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 26617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10372]


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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 Public Comment Period for the Grand Bay, Mississippi 
National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan and the Delaware 
National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revisions.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, 
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce is announcing a thirty day public comment period 
for the Grand Bay, Mississippi National Estuarine Research Reserve 
Management Plan and the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve 
Management Plan revisions. Pursuant to 15 CFR Section 921.33(c), the 
revised plans will bring the reserves into compliance. The Grand Bay 
Reserve and Delaware Reserve revised plans will replace the plans 
approved in 1999 and 2004 respectively. Both revised management plans 
outline the administrative structure; the research & monitoring, 
education, training, and stewardship goals of the reserve; and the 
plans for future land acquisition and facility development to support 
reserve operations. The Grand Bay Reserve takes an integrated approach 
to management, linking research, education, training and stewardship 
functions to address high priority issues including climate change, 
threats to reserve resources and ecological functions, watershed 
development, and changes in water quality. Since the last management 
plan, the reserve has built out its core programs and monitoring 
infrastructure; constructed a L.E.E.D. certified Coastal Resources 
Center that includes laboratories, offices, classrooms, interpretative 
areas and dormitories; and created interpretive trails.
    With the approval of this management plan, the Grand Bay Reserve 
will decrease their total acreage from 18,400 acres to 18,049. The 
change is attributable to accuracy adjustments based on improved 
geographic information for the site. The revised management plan will 
serve as the guiding document for the 18,049 acre Grand Bay Reserve for 
the next five years. The Delaware management plan will focus on 
improving the scientific understanding of estuarine and coastal 
ecosystems; improving public awareness and environmental literacy to 
enable environmentally sustainable decision-making; and protecting, 
managing and restoring the reserve to serve as a model site for 
sustainable community stewardship. Notable changes in the revised plan 
include a boundary expansion, a new coastal training program, 
implementation of the Blackbird Creek Reserve Master Ecological 
Restoration Plan, the opening of the Blackbird Creek Stewardship Center 
and facility improvements to the St. Jones Coastal Training Center. 
With the approval of this management plan, the Delaware Reserve will 
increase their total acreage from 4,930 acres to 6,206. The change is 
attributable to acquisition of two parcels, totaling 64.3 acres, and 
increased mapping accuracy. The two parcels possess high ecological 
value and increased opportunities for research, education, and 
restoration. The revised management plan will serve as the guiding 
document for the 6,206 acre Delaware Reserve for the next five years. 
View the Grand Bay, Mississippi Reserve Management Plan revision at 
(http://grandbaynerr.org/reserve-management-plan) and provide comments 
to ([email protected]). View the Delaware Reserve Management Plan 
revision at (http://de.gov/dnerr) and provide comments to 
([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Chasse at (301) 563-1198 (Grand 
Bay), Michael Migliori at (301) 563-1126 (Delaware) or Laurie McGilvray 
at (301) 563-1158 of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Estuarine Reserves 
Division, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.

    Dated: April 25, 2013.
Christopher C. Cartwright,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, Ocean 
Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-10372 Filed 5-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P