02-19116. Evaluation of Coastal Zone Management Program and National Estuarine Research Reserve

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of intent to evaluate.

SUMMARY:

The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Delaware Coastal Management Program. Since the Coastal Management Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve are administered by the same office, they are being evaluated together.

The Coastal Zone Management Program evaluation will be conducted pursuant to section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), as amended and regulations at 15 CFR part 923, subpart L. The National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation will be conducted pursuant to sections 312 and 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), as amended and regulations at 15 CFR part 921, subpart E and part 923, subpart L.

The CZMA requires continuing review of the performance of states with respect to coastal program and research reserve program implementation. Evaluation of Coastal Zone Management Programs and National Estuarine Research Reserves requires findings concerning the extent to which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its Coastal Management Program document or Reserve 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. A public meeting will be held as party of the site visit.

Notice is hereby given of the dates of the site visit for the listed evaluations, and the date, local time, and location of the public meeting during the site visit.

The Delaware Coastal Management Program and National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation site visit will be held September 16-20, 2002. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be on Tuesday, September 17, 2002, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Auditorium, Richardson and Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901.

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 Douglas Brown, Deputy Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th floor, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. When the evaluations are completed, OCRM will place a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Final Evaluation Findings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Douglas Brown, Deputy Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver spring, Maryland 20910, [phone], Extension 215.

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone Management Program Administration)

Dated: July 24, 2002.

Jamison S. Hawkins,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.