[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12716-12717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05367]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice of Public Comment Period; National Estuarine Research
Reserve System
AGENCY: Stewardship Division, Office for Coastal Management, National
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Public Comment Period for the Padilla Bay, Washington
National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Stewardship Division, Office
for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing a
thirty (30) day public comment period for the revised Management Plan
for Padilla Bay, Washington National Estuarine Research Reserve
Management Plan revision. In accordance with 15 CFR 921.33(c), the
Padilla Bay Reserve revised its Management Plan, which will replace the
plan previously approved in 2008.
The revised Management Plan outlines the administrative structure;
the research/monitoring, stewardship, education, and training programs
of the Reserve; and the plans for future land acquisition and facility
development to support Reserve operations.
The Padilla Bay Reserve takes an integrated approach to management,
linking research, education, coastal training, and stewardship
functions. The Reserve has outlined how it will manage administration
and its core program providing detailed actions that will enable it to
accomplish specific goals and objectives. Since the last Management
Plan, the Reserve has built out its core programs and monitoring
infrastructure; conducted an educational market analysis and needs
assessment to better meet teacher needs and underserved audiences;
developed a Reserve Disaster Response Plan; and improved public access
to the Reserve through construction of a new boat launch ramp and
enhanced trails.
Since the last management plan was approved in 2008, the Padilla
Bay Reserve has acquired an additional 110 acres of tidelands inside
the Reserve boundary. With the approval of this management plan, the
Padilla Bay Reserve will increase their total acreage to 11,966. The
change is attributable to the recent acquisitions of several parcels by
Reserve state agency, totaling 110 acres. All of the proposed additions
are owned by the Washington Department of Ecology and will be managed
for long-term protection and conservation value. These parcels have
high ecological value and will enhance the Reserve's ability to provide
increased opportunities for research, education, and stewardship. The
revised Management Plan will serve as the guiding document for the
expanded 11,966 acre Padilla Bay Reserve.
View the Padilla Bay, Washington Reserve Management Plan revision
at www.padillabay.gov/publications.asp
[[Page 12717]]
and provide comments to Sharon Riggs, [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bree Turner at (206) 526-4641 or Erica
Seiden at (301) 563-1172 of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Stewardship
Division, Office for Coastal Management, 1305 East-West Highway, N/
ORM5, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Dated: March 1, 2016.
John King,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-05367 Filed 3-9-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P