[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 95964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31573]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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 Weeks Bay 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-day public comment period for the Weeks Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve Management Plan revision. Pursuant to 15 CFR Section
921.33(c), the revised plan will bring the reserve into compliance. The
Weeks Bay Reserve revised plan will replace the plan approved in 2007.
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 Weeks Bay Reserve takes an integrated approach to management,
linking research, education, coastal training, and stewardship
functions. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
has outlined how it will administer the Reserve and its core programs
by 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;
constructed several facilities including a Resource Center that
supports education, training, and outreach events; participated in more
than 35 research projects and conducted over 100 coastal training
program events; convened a permanent Restoration Advisory Board; and
built new partnerships with organizations within the Mobile Bay of
Alabama.
With the approval of this management plan, the Weeks Bay Reserve
will increase their total acreage from, 6,594 acres to 9,317. The
change is attributable to the recent acquisitions of several parcels by
the Reserve, totaling 933 acres, as well as the incorporation of 1,790
acres of water bottoms adjacent to the newly acquired land. 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 9,317 acre Weeks Bay Reserve for the next
five years.
View the Weeks Bay Reserve Management Plan revision at (http://www.weeksbayreserve.com) and provide comments to the Reserve's Manager,
LG Adams ([email protected]).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hank Hodde at (251) 544-5016 or Erica
Seiden at (240) 533-0781 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: December 16, 2016.
John King,
Senior Project Advisor, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-31573 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P