[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40144-40145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17946]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Management Plan for South Slough, Oregon National Estuarine 
Research Reserve

AGENCY: Stewardship Division, Office for Coastal Management, National 
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Approval for the South Slough, Oregon National 
Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The notice is hereby given that the Stewardship Division, 
Office for

[[Page 40145]]

Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce approves 
the revised Management Plan for South Slough, Oregon National Estuarine 
Research Reserve Management Plan. In accordance, the South Slough 
Reserve revised its Management Plan, which will replace the plan 
previously approved in 2006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Estuarine Research Reserve 
System (NERRS) is a federal-state partnership administered by NOAA. The 
system protects more than 1.3 million acres of estuarine habitat for 
long-term research, monitoring, education, and stewardship throughout 
the coastal United States. Established by the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972, as amended, each Reserve is managed by a lead state agency 
or university, with input from local partners. NOAA provides funding 
and national programmatic guidance.
    The revised Management Plan outlines the administrative structure; 
the Reserve's science and education programs; public uses; resource 
protection plan; and the plans for future land acquisition and facility 
development to support Reserve operations.
    The South Slough Reserve takes an integrated approach to 
management, linking research, education, coastal training, public 
involvement, 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; developed a Reserve Disaster Response Plan; and improved public 
access to the Reserve through construction of a new paddle launch, 
enhancements to the visitor center, and new water and land trails.
    On April 14, 2017, NOAA issued a notice of a thirty (30) day public 
comment period for the South Slough Reserve revised plan (82 FR 17974). 
Responses to the public comments received, and an explanation of how 
comments were incorporated into the final revised plan, are available 
in Appendix H of the revised plan.
    The revised Management Plan will serve as the guiding document for 
the 4,771-acre South Slough Reserve. View the South Slough, Oregon 
Reserve Management Plan at http://www.oregon.gov/dsl/SS/Documents/SouthSloughReserve2017-2022ManagementPlan.pdf. The impacts of the 
revised Management Plan have not changed and the initial Environmental 
Impact Statement prepared at the time of designation is still valid. 
NOAA has made the determination that the revision of the Management 
Plan will not have a significant effect on the human environment and 
therefore qualifies for a categorical exclusion under NOAA 
Administrative Order 216-6A. An environmental assessment will not be 
prepared.

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: August 18, 2017.
Paul M. Scholz,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.420
Coastal Zone Management Program Administration

[FR Doc. 2017-17946 Filed 8-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P