03-23453. Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program: Approval Decision on Connecticut Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION:

Notice of intent to approve the Connecticut Coastal Nonpoint Program.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of the intent to fully approve the Connecticut Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program (coastal nonpoint program) and of the availability of the draft Approval Decisions on conditions for the Connecticut coastal nonpoint program. Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA), 16 U.S.C. 1455b, requires States and Territories with coastal zone management programs that have received approval under section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act to develop and implement coastal nonpoint programs. Coastal States and Territories were required to submit their coastal nonpoint programs to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval in July 1995. NOAA and EPA conditionally approved the Connecticut coastal nonpoint program on June 3, 1998. NOAA and EPA have drafted approval decisions describing how Connecticut has satisfied the conditions placed on its program and therefore has a fully approved coastal nonpoint program.

NOAA and EPA are making the draft decisions for the Connecticut coastal nonpoint program available for a 30-day public comment period. If comments are received, NOAA and EPA will consider whether such comments are significant enough to affect the decision to fully approve the program.

Copies of the draft Approval Decisions can be found on the NOAA Web site at http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/​czm/​ or may be obtained upon request from: Helen Farr, Coastal Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, phone [phone], x150, e-mail [e-mail].

DATES:

Individuals or organizations wishing to submit comments on the draft Approval Decisions should do so by October 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be made to: John King, Acting Chief, Coastal Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, phone [phone], x188, e-mail [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Helen Farr, Coastal Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, phone [phone], x150, e-mail [e-mail].

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

Dated: September 10, 2003.

Alan Neuschatz,

Associate Assistant Administrator, Management and Budget Office, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

G. Tracy Mehan, III,

Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency.