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[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3879-3880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1937]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Evaluation of Coastal Zone Management Program and National 
Estuarine Research Reserves

AGENCY: Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), DOC.

ACTION: Notice of intent to evaluate.

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SUMMARY: The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management 
(OCRM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin 
Islands, and New York's Coastal Zone Management Programs and the Jobos 
Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Puerto Rico.
    These evaluations will be conducted pursuant to sections 312 and 
315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), as amended. The 
CZMA requires a continuing review of the performance of states with 
respect to coastal program or estuarine research reserve program 
implementation. Evaluation of Coastal Zone Management and Estuarine 
Research Reserve Programs require findings concerning the extent to 
which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its coastal 
program document or final management plan approved by the Secretary of 
Commerce, and adhered to the terms of financial assistance awards 
funded under the CZMA. The evaluations will include a site visit, 
consideration of public comments, and consultations with interested 
Federal, State, and local agencies and members of the public. Public 
meetings are held as part of the site visits.
    Notice is hereby given of the dates of the site visits for the 
listed evaluations, and the dates, local times, and locations of public 
meetings during the site visits.
    The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands Coastal Zone 
Management Program site visit will be from February 18-27, 1998. One 
public meeting will be held during the week. This meeting is scheduled 
for 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, February 25, 1998, at the Public Library 
Conference Room, Saipan.
    The Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program site visit will be 
from February 23-27, 1998. One public meeting will be held during the 
week. This meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., on Monday, February 23, 
1998, at the Department of Environmental Resources Auditorium, Tropical 
Medicine Building, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
    The Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Puerto Rico 
site visit will be from March 23-27, 1998. One public meeting will be 
held during the week. This meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., on 
Wednesday, March 25, 1998, at the Reserve's Visitor's Center, Road 705, 
Kilometer 2.3, Main Street, Aguirre, Puerto Rico.
    The Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Program site visit will 
be from March 30-April 3, 1998. One public meeting will be held during 
the week. This meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., on Monday, March 30, 
1998, at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Lower Level 
Conference Room, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
    The New York Coastal Zone Management Program site visit will be 
from March 30-April 3, 1998. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, 
March 31, 1998, from 7-9 p.m. at the Tonawanda City Hall in the City 
Council Chambers, 200 Niagara Street, Tonawanda, NY.
    The States will issue notice of the public meeting(s) in a local 
newspaper(s) at least 45 days prior to the public meeting(s), and will 
issue other timely notices as appropriate.
    Copies of the State's most recent performance reports, as well as 
OCRM's notifications and supplemental request letters to the States, 
are available upon request from OCRM. Written comments from interested 
parties regarding these Programs are encouraged and will be accepted 
until 15 days after the public meeting. Please direct written comments 
to Vickie A. Allin, Chief, Policy Coordination Division (PCD), Office 
of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. When the evaluation is 
completed, OCRM will place a notice in the Federal Register announcing 
the availability of the Final Evaluation Findings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vickie A. Allin, Chief, Policy 
Coordination Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 
NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, (301) 
713-3090, ext. 126.

[[Page 3880]]

    Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone 
Management Program Administration.

    Dated: January 21, 1998.
Nancy Foster,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone.
[FR Doc. 98-1937 Filed 1-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M
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