[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6888-6889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02392]


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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 Apalachicola, Florida 
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 Apalachicola, Florida National Estuarine Research Reserve 
Management Plan revisions. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), the revised 
plan will bring the reserve into compliance. The Apalachicola Reserve 
revised plan will replace the plan approved in 2003.
    The revised management plan outlines 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 Apalachicola Reserve emphasizes a fully integrated approach 
that links ongoing research, education, training and stewardship 
programs together. This integrated approach, in coordination with 
strategic partnerships addresses high priority reserve issues including 
public use and access, changing land use patterns, the loss of cultural 
resources, impacts of global and regional processes on ecosystems and 
communities, engagement with local communities, and changes in reserve 
habitats. Since the last management plan, the reserve has expanded its 
monitoring and geographic information system programs; increased staff 
resources; completed a site profile, established a Coastal Training 
Program; expanded educational programs; and constructed a new nature 
center and headquarters complex in the town of Eastpoint that includes 
laboratories, offices, classrooms, interpretative areas, and are 
planning interpretive trails.
    With the approval of this management plan, the Apalachicola Reserve 
will decrease their total acreage from 246,766 acres to 234,715. 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 234,715 acre Apalachicola Reserve 
for the next five years. View the Apalachicola, Florida Reserve 
Management Plan revision at (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/apalachicola/) and provide comments to ([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Chasse at (301) 563-1198 or Erica 
Seiden at (301) 563-1172 of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Estuarine 
Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.


[[Page 6889]]


    Dated: January 29, 2014.
Christopher C. Cartwright,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management and CFO/CAO, Ocean 
Services and Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-02392 Filed 2-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P