2024-12512. Evaluation of California Coastal Management Program; Notice of Public Meeting; Request for Comments

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting and opportunity to comment.

SUMMARY:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management, will hold a virtual public meeting to solicit input on the performance evaluation of the California Coastal Management Program. NOAA also invites the public to submit written comments.

DATES:

NOAA will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 12 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). NOAA may close the meeting 15 minutes after the conclusion of public testimony and after responding to any clarifying questions from hearing participants. NOAA will consider all relevant written comments received by Friday, September 6, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Virtual Public Meeting: Register at https://forms.gle/​fzivtXuP1VLj5Fd16 to participate in the virtual public meeting on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. PDT. We request that all participants register by Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 6 p.m. PDT. Please indicate on the registration form if you intend to provide oral comments. The speaker lineup is based on the date and time of this registration. Upon registration, NOAA will send a confirmation email. One hour prior to the start of the August 28, 2024 virtual meeting, NOAA will send an email to all registered speakers with a link to the public meeting and information about participating. While advance registration is requested, registration will remain open until the meeting closes, and any participant may provide oral comment after the registered speakers conclude. Meeting registrants may remain anonymous by typing “Anonymous” into the “First Name” and “Last Name” fields on the registration form.
• Email: Send written comments to Carrie Hall, evaluator, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, at [e-mail]. Include “Comments on Performance Evaluation of the California Coastal Management Program” in the subject line.

NOAA will accept anonymous comments; however, the written comments NOAA receives are considered part of the public record, and the entirety of the comment, including the name of the commenter, email address, attachments, and other supporting materials, will be publicly accessible. Sensitive personally identifiable information, such as account numbers and social security numbers, should not be included with the comment. Comments that are not related to the performance evaluation of the California Coastal Management Program, or that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language will not be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carrie Hall, evaluator, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, by email at [e-mail] or by phone at [phone]. Copies of the previous evaluation findings and assessment and strategies may be viewed and downloaded at coast.noaa.gov/czm/evaluations. A copy of the evaluation notification letter and most recent progress report may be obtained upon request by contacting Carrie Hall.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), 16 U.S.C. 1458, requires NOAA to conduct periodic evaluations of federally approved coastal management programs. The evaluation process includes holding one or more public meetings, considering public comments, and consulting with interested Federal, State, and local agencies and members of the public. During the evaluation, and consistent with CZMA Section 312 and implementing regulations at 15 CFR 923, subpart L, NOAA will consider the extent to which the State of California has met the national objectives and addressed the coastal management needs identified in CZMA section 303(2), implemented and enforced the management program approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and adhered to the terms of financial assistance under the CZMA. When the evaluation is complete, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management will place a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the final evaluation findings.

Authority:16 U.S.C. 1458.

Keelin Kuipers,

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