[Federal Register: August 12, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 155)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52454-52455]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12au02-36]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 
Federal Approval of the Indiana Coastal Management Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
National Ocean Service's approval of the Indiana Coastal Management 
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 the Indiana Lake Michigan 
Coastal Management Program (LMCP) on August 5, 2002, 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 LMCP is described in the 
Indiana Coastal Management Program and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (P/FEIS) published on June 21, 2002.
    Indiana is the 34th state to receive Federal approval of its 
coastal management program. Indiana submitted a proposed coastal 
program to NOAA in April 2001. 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 the Indian Coastal Management Program and Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (P/DEIS) for public review on September 21, 2001. NOAA 
published the P/FEIS including public comments on the P/DEIS and 
responses to those comments on June 21, 2001. NOAA has also fulfilled 
the responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act through 
consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service. Upon completion of the 30-day review period, 
NOAA will prepare a Record of Decision in accordance with the 
requirements of 40 CFR 1502.2 of regulations to implement the National 
Environmental Policy Act.
    The LMCP is the culmination of several years of development by the 
State of Indiana, in consultation with interest groups, the general 
public, Federal agencies, and NOAA. The LMCP 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 LMCP 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 LMCP will increase long term protection of the state's 
coastal resources, while providing for sustainable economic 
development.
    NOAA approval of the LMCP makes the state eligible for federal 
financial assistance for program administration and enhancement under 
sections 305, 306A, 308, 309 and 310 of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1455, 
1455a, 1456a, and 1456b). Indiana has submitted an application for 
$1,150,000 in FY 2002 Federal CZMA funds, which are available for 
Indiana. These funds will generally be used to assist the state in 
administering the various state authorities included in the LMCP, as 
well as be used to fund local management efforts.
    NOAA approval of the LMCP also makes operational, as of the date of 
this Federal Register Notice, the CZMA federal consistency requirement 
with respect to the LMCP (16 U.S.C. 1456; 15 CFR part 930). Therefore, 
as of today, direct federal activities occurring within

[[Page 52455]]

or outside the Indiana coastal zone that are reasonably likely to 
affect any land or water use or natural resources of the Indiana 
coastal zone must be consistent to the maximum extent practicable with 
the enforceable policies of the LMCP. In addition, activities within or 
outside the Indiana 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 Indiana coastal zone 
must be consistent with the enforceable policies of the LMCP.
    Chapter 5 of the P/FEIS identifies the enforceable policies of the 
Indian program. Chapter 11 of the P/FEIS identifies federally licensed 
or permitted activities subject to the federal consistency 
requirements. Chapter 4 of the P/FEIS, as well as the CZMA regulations 
at 15 CFR Part 930, provide specific procedures to be used in the 
Federal/State coordination process.

ADDRESSES: For further information and for a copy of the Record of 
Decision, please contact Diana Olinger at (301) 713-3155, Extension 
149, or electronic mail at diana.olinger@noaa.gov.

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

    Dated: August 5, 2002.
Alan Neuschatz,
Associate Assistant Administrator, Management and Budget Office, Ocean 
Services and Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-20294 Filed 8-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M