[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44501-44502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21083]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Approval of Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean
Service.
ACTION: Notice of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Ocean Service's approval of Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal
Program pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended
16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA) approved Minnesota's Lake Superior
Coastal Program (MLSCP) on July 6, 1999, pursuant to the provisions of
section 306 of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as
amended, 16 U.S.C. 1455 (CZMA). The MLSCP is described in Minnesota's
Lake Superior Coastal Program and Final Environmental Impact Statement
(P/FEIS) published in June, 1999.
Minnesota is the 33rd state to receive Federal approval of its
coastal management program. Minnesota submitted a proposed coastal
program to NOAA in July, 1998. Upon reaching a preliminary decision
that the program met the requirements of the CZMA, and in order to meet
its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act, NOAA
published Minnesota's Statement (P/DEIS) for public review on August 7,
1998. NOAA published the P/FEIS including public comments on the P/DEIS
and responses to those comments on June 4, 1999. NOAA has also
fulfilled its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act through
consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National
Marine Fisheries Service.
The MLSCP is the culmination of several years of development by the
State of Minnesota, interest groups, the general public, Federal
agencies, and in consultation with NOAA. The MLSCP consists of numerous
state policies on diverse coastal management issues which are
prescribed by statute and other legal mechanisms and made enforceable
under state law. The MLSCP will improve the decision making process for
determining appropriate coastal land and water uses in light of
resource consideration and increase public awareness of coastal
resources and processes. The MLSCP will increase long term protection
of the state's coastal resources while providing for sustainable
economic development.
NOAA approval of the MLSCP makes the state eligible for Federal
financial assistance for program administration and enhancement under
sections 306, 306A, 308 and 309 of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1455, 1455a,
1456a, and 1456b). Minnesota has submitted an application for $652,000
in FY 1999 Federal CZMA funds which are available to it. These funds
will generally be used to assist the state in administering the various
state and local authorities included in the MLSCP as well as be used to
fund local management efforts to sustain ecosystems, sustain coastal
communities, and increase public access.
NOAA approval of the MLSCP also makes operational, as of the date
of this Federal Register Notice, the CZMA Federal consistency
requirement with respect to the MLSCP (16 U.S.C. 1456; 15 CFR part
930). Therefore, as of today, direct Federal activities occurring
within or outside the Minnesota Coastal
[[Page 44502]]
Zone that are reasonably likely to affect any land or water use or
natural resources of the Minnesota Coastal Zone must be consistent to
the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the
MLSCP. In addition, activities within or outside the Minnesota Coastal
Zone requiring a Federal license or permit listed in the P/FEIS, and
Federal financial assistance to state agencies and local governments
that are reasonably likely to affect any land or water use or natural
resource of the Minnesota Coastal Zone must be consistent with the
enforceable policies of the MLSCP.
Part V, Chapter 3 of the P/FEIS identifies the enforceable policies
of the Minnesota program, Part V, Chapter 6 of the P/FEIS as well as
the CZMA regulations at 15 CFR part 930, identifies Federally licensed
or permitted activities subject to the Federal consistency requirements
and provides specific procedures to be used in the Federal/State
coordination process.
ADDRESSES: For further information please contact Neil Christerson at
(301) 713-3113, Extension 167; or via fax at (301) 713-4367; or via e-
mail at neil.christerson@noaa.gov
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone Management
Program Administration)
Dated: August 6, 1999.
John Oliver,
Director, Management and Budget Office, National Ocean Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21083 Filed 8-13-99; 8:45 am]
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