2017-11135. Evaluation of State Coastal Management Programs

AGENCY:

Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management is soliciting comments on the performance evaluation of the Washington Coastal Management Program. The Office for Coastal Management will hold a public meeting to solicit comments, and will also accept written comments as part of the evaluation of the Washington Coastal Management Plan.

DATES:

Washington Coastal Management Program Evaluation: The public meeting will be held on June 27, 2017, and written comments must be received on or before July 7, 2017.

For specific dates, times, and locations of the public meetings, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments on the program NOAA intends to evaluate by any of the following methods:

Public Meeting and Oral Comments: A public meeting will be held in Lacey, Washington. For the specific location, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Written Comments: Please direct written comments to Carrie Hall, Evaluator, Planning and Performance Measurement Program, Office for Coastal Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor, N/OCM1, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, or email comments [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carrie Hall, Evaluator, Planning and Performance Measurement Program, Office for Coastal Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor, N/OCM1, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, [phone] or [e-mail]. Copies of the previous evaluation findings and 2016-2020 Assessment and Strategy may be viewed and downloaded on the Internet at http://coast.noaa.gov/​czm/​evaluations. A copy of the evaluation notification letter and most recent progress report may be obtained upon request by contacting the person identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) requires NOAA to conduct periodic evaluations of federally approved state and territorial coastal programs. The process includes one or more public meetings, consideration of written public comments and consultations with interested Federal, state, and local agencies and members of the public. During the evaluation, NOAA will consider the extent to which the state has met the national objectives, adhered to the management program approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and adhered to the terms of financial assistance under the CZMA. When the evaluation is completed, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management will place a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Final Evaluation Findings.

Specific information on the periodic evaluation of the state and territorial coastal program that is the subject of this notice is detailed below as follows:

Washington Coastal Management Program Evaluation

You may participate or submit oral comments at the public meeting scheduled as follows:

Date: June 27, 2017.

Time: 5:30 p.m., local time.

Location: Department of Ecology, Auditorium, 300 Desmond Drive SE., Lacey, WA 98503.

Written public comments must be received on or before July 7, 2017.

Dated: May 16, 2017.

Paul M. Scholz,

Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.