03-23698. Evaluation of Coastal Zone Management Programs and National Estuarine Research Reserves

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 New York Coastal Management Program and the Ohio Coastal Management Program.

The Coastal Zone Management Program evaluations will be conducted pursuant to section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, (CZMA) and regulations at 15 CFR part 923, subpart L.

The CZMA requires continuing review of the performance of states with respect to coastal program implementation. Evaluation of Coastal Zone Management Programs requires findings concerning the extent to which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its Coastal Management Program document 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. Public meetings will be held as part of the site visits.

Notice is hereby given of the dates of the site visits for the listed evaluations, and the dates, local times, and locations of the public meetings during the site visits.

The New York Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit will be held October 27-31, 2003. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be on Thursday, October 30, 2003, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the New York Department of Health, 4th Floor Conference Room, 5 Penn Plaza, New York, New York.

The Ohio Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit will be held November 3-7, 2003. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be on Wednesday, November 5, 2003, at 7 p.m., at the Erie County Commissioners Office, Large Chambers, 3rd Floor, 247 Columbus Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.

Copies of states' 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 last public meeting. Please direct written comments to Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, 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:

Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, [phone], Extension 118.

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419, Coastal Zone Management Program Administration.

Dated: September 11, 2003.

Richard W. Spinrad, PhD.

Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.