SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2006 (section 4 of Public Law 109-226; CBRRA) requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to prepare digital versions of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) maps. We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have prepared proposed digital boundaries for the second batch of CBRS units included in the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project. This second batch of the project includes a total of 310 CBRS units (256 existing units and 54 proposed new units) located in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York (Long Island), Rhode Island, and Virginia. This notice announces the availability of the proposed boundaries for public review and comment, and also advises the public of upcoming public meetings that will be held via webcast and teleconference.

Background and Methodology

Background information on the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.; CBRA) and the CBRS, as well as information on the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project and the methodology used to produce the revised boundaries, can be found in a notice the Service published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2018 (83 FR 10739). The methodology information that is specific to the second batch of the project is described below.

Digital Conversion of the Existing Boundaries

The boundaries of the CBRS were originally hand-drawn on paper maps. The existing CBRS maps for Maryland, Virginia, and New York City underwent a digital conversion process between 2013 and 2015 (80 FR 25314; May 4, 2015). The digital conversion project replaced the underlying base maps with aerial imagery; updated the boundaries to a digital format to make them compatible with modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS); and incorporated modifications as necessary to account for natural changes, voluntary additions, and additions of excess Federal property.

The existing CBRS unit boundaries for Connecticut, Massachusetts, most of the Long Island portion of New York, and Rhode Island were digitally converted as part of this Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project in accordance with the digital conversion methodology described in a notice the Service published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2013 (78 FR 53467). The existing boundaries for these areas do not incorporate modifications to account for natural changes, voluntary additions, and additions of excess Federal property; such changes are instead reflected in the proposed boundaries.

Initial Stakeholder Outreach

The initial outreach that was conducted with certain landowners and/or managers of coastal barrier areas during the data mining and research phase of the project is described in a notice the Service published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2018 (83 FR 10739). The Service reached out to approximately 65 different stakeholders in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia, including, but not limited to, State natural resource management agencies, State parks and recreation agencies, private conservation organizations, and local governments. Some of these organizations, due to a variety of circumstances, were unable to provide input during the initial stakeholder outreach process. Additional outreach to these groups and a broader group of stakeholders is being conducted as part of the public review process; see the Request for Comments section, below, for more information.

Proposed Modifications to the CBRS

The Service has prepared draft revised boundaries that propose modifications to the CBRS in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, ( printed page 64862) New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia. This second batch of the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project includes a total of 310 CBRS units (256 existing units and 54 proposed new units), which are listed below in Appendix A. The breakdown of units by State is as follows: 32 existing units and 3 proposed new units in Connecticut, 49 existing units and 11 proposed new units in Maryland, 80 existing units and 22 proposed new units in New York, 31 existing units and 4 proposed new units in Rhode Island (including a minor portion of Unit D01 located in Massachusetts), and 64 existing units and 14 proposed new units in Virginia.

Nineteen of the 256 existing units have no proposed changes. Two of the existing 256 units are proposed for deletion from the CBRS, 15 of the existing units are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to Otherwise Protected Area (OPA) or vice-versa, and two of the existing units are transferred from one existing System Unit to another existing System Unit; in all of these cases, the current unit numbers are retired, resulting in 291 total proposed units.

Twenty-one of the 54 proposed new units are comprised partially, mostly, or entirely of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa. Thirty-three of the 54 proposed new units are comprised entirely of areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS.

If adopted by Congress, the proposed boundaries would remove 787 acres from the CBRS (600 acres of fastland and 187 acres of associated aquatic habitat) and add approximately 141,072 acres to the CBRS (5,057 acres of fastland and 136,015 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed boundaries would remove 643 structures from the CBRS and add 96 structures to the CBRS. A summary of metrics associated with the proposed changes for each State is below. More detailed information regarding the specific proposed changes to each unit is available in a set of unit summaries. See the Availability of Proposed CBRS Boundaries and Related Information section, below, for information on where to access the unit summaries.

Connecticut

The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed boundaries for all of the 32 existing CBRS units in Connecticut. One existing unit in Connecticut has no proposed changes. Four of the existing 32 units are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa, and, therefore, their current unit numbers are retired. Two of the existing 32 units in Connecticut are proposed for transfer from one existing System Unit to another existing System Unit (one of which is Rhode Island Unit D08; the Connecticut acreage is reported as part of Unit D08).

The Service identified three proposed new units in Connecticut. One of the three proposed new units in Connecticut is comprised partially of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA. Two of the three proposed new units in Connecticut are comprised entirely of areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS.

There are 29 total proposed units in Connecticut. The proposed boundaries for Connecticut would remove 32 acres from the CBRS (15 acres of fastland and 17 acres of associated aquatic habitat) and add approximately 4,477 acres to the CBRS (238 acres of fastland and 4,239 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed boundaries would remove 51 structures from the CBRS and add approximately 8 structures to the CBRS.

Maryland

The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed boundaries for all of the 49 existing CBRS units in Maryland. Twelve existing units in Maryland have no proposed changes. One of the existing 49 units is proposed for deletion from the CBRS, and, therefore, its current unit number is retired. The Service identified 11 proposed new units in Maryland, which are all comprised entirely of areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS.

There are 59 total proposed units in Maryland. The proposed boundaries for Maryland would remove 124 acres from the CBRS (105 acres of fastland and 19 acres of associated aquatic habitat) and add 18,998 acres to the CBRS (429 acres of fastland and 18,569 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed boundaries would remove 83 structures from the CBRS and add 7 structures to the CBRS.

Massachusetts

The Service prepared comprehensively revised proposed boundaries for all of the 86 existing CBRS units in Massachusetts as part of the first batch of this project described in a notice published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2018 (83 FR 10739). However, a minor portion of Rhode Island Unit D01 is located in Massachusetts. The acreage for this Massachusetts area (about 3 acres) is reported as part of Rhode Island Unit D01.

New York

The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed boundaries for all of the 80 existing CBRS units on Long Island in New York. The Great Lakes units in New York were not assessed as part of this review. One existing unit in New York has no proposed changes. Eight of the existing 80 units are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA, and, therefore, their current unit numbers are retired.

The Service identified 22 proposed new units in New York. Fourteen of the 22 proposed new units in New York are comprised partially, mostly, or entirely of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa. Eight of the 22 proposed new units in New York are comprised entirely of areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS.

There are 94 total proposed units in New York. The proposed boundaries for New York would remove 328 acres from the CBRS (242 acres of fastland and 86 acres of associated aquatic habitat) and add 19,768 acres to the CBRS (2,581 acres of fastland and 17,187 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed boundaries would remove 282 structures from the CBRS and add 30 structures to the CBRS.

Rhode Island

The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed boundaries for 31 of the 35 existing CBRS units in Rhode Island. The map for the remaining four Rhode Island units (Units RI-04P, RI-05P, RI-06, and RI-07) was comprehensively reviewed and revised by the Service and adopted by Congress in 2014 (Pub. L. 113-253). One existing unit in Rhode Island has no proposed changes. Three of the existing 31 units are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA, and, therefore, their current unit numbers are retired.

The Service identified four proposed new units in Rhode Island. Three of the four proposed new units are comprised either mostly or entirely of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA. One of the four proposed new units is comprised entirely of areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS.

There are 32 total proposed units in Rhode Island. The proposed boundaries ( printed page 64863) for Rhode Island would remove 102 acres from the CBRS (89 acres of fastland and 13 acres of associated aquatic habitat) and add 1,315 acres to the CBRS (376 acres of fastland and 939 acres of associated aquatic habitat). A small portion of this acreage falls within Connecticut and Massachusetts. The proposed boundaries would remove 147 structures from the CBRS and add 6 structures to the CBRS.

Virginia

The Service has prepared comprehensively revised proposed boundaries for all of the 64 existing CBRS units in Virginia. Four existing units in Virginia have no proposed changes. One of the existing 64 units is proposed for deletion from the CBRS, and, therefore, its current unit number is retired.

The Service identified 14 proposed new units in Virginia. Three of the 14 proposed new units in Virginia are comprised partially, mostly, or entirely of areas that are currently contained within the CBRS, but are proposed for reclassification from System Unit to OPA or vice-versa. Eleven of the 14 proposed new units in Virginia are comprised entirely of areas that are not currently contained within the CBRS.

There are 77 total proposed units in Virginia. The proposed boundaries for Virginia would remove 201 acres from the CBRS (149 acres of fastland and 52 acres of associated aquatic habitat) and add 96,514 acres to the CBRS (1,433 acres of fastland and 95,081 acres of associated aquatic habitat). The proposed boundaries would remove 80 structures from the CBRS and add 45 structures to the CBRS.

Proposed Additions to the CBRS

The draft revised boundaries for Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia would make additions to the CBRS, including the creation of 54 new units that are consistent with a directive in section 4 of Public Law 109-226 concerning recommendations for expansion of the CBRS. The proposed boundaries are based upon the best data available to the Service at the time the areas were reviewed. Our assessment indicated that any new areas proposed for addition to the CBRS were relatively undeveloped at the time the proposed boundaries were created.

16 U.S.C. 3503(g) requires that we consider the following criteria when assessing the development status of a potential addition to the CBRS: (1) Whether the density of development is less than one structure per 5 acres of land above mean high tide (which generally suggests eligibility for inclusion within the CBRS); and (2) whether there is existing infrastructure consisting of a road, with a reinforced road bed, to each lot or building site in the area; a wastewater disposal system sufficient to serve each lot or building site in the area; electric service for each lot or building site in the area; and a fresh water supply for each lot or building site in the area (which generally suggests ineligibility for inclusion within the CBRS).

If, upon review of the proposed boundaries, interested parties find that any areas proposed for addition to the CBRS are currently developed (according to the criteria codified in 16 U.S.C. 3503(g)), they may submit supporting documentation of such development to the Service during this public comment period. For any areas proposed for addition to the CBRS, we will consider the density of development and level of infrastructure on-the-ground as of the close of the comment period on the date listed in the DATES section, above.

Request for Comments

Section 4 of Public Law 109-226 requires the Secretary to provide an opportunity for the submission of public comments. We invite the public to review and comment on the proposed CBRS boundaries for the Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island (including a minor portion of Unit D01 located in Massachusetts), and Virginia units listed in Appendix A. The Service is specifically notifying the following stakeholders concerning the availability of the proposed boundaries: The Chair and Ranking Member of the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources; the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; the members of the Senate and House of Representatives for the affected areas; the Governors of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia; organizations that own land held for conservation and/or recreation within the existing and proposed units (where such ownership information and mailing addresses were publicly available); other appropriate Federal, State, and local officials; and appropriate nongovernmental organizations.

Interested parties may submit written comments and accompanying data as described in ADDRESSES , above. Comments regarding specific CBRS unit(s) should reference the appropriate unit number(s) and unit name(s) as listed in Appendix A. We must receive comments on or before the date listed above in DATES .

Following the close of the comment period, we will review all comments we receive on the proposed boundaries and make adjustments to the boundaries, as appropriate, based on information received through public comments, updated aerial imagery, CBRA criteria, and objective mapping protocols. We will then prepare final recommended boundaries to be submitted to Congress. The final recommended boundaries will become effective only if they are adopted by Congress through legislation.

Availability of Proposed CBRS Boundaries and Related Information

In the past, the Service has produced static PDFs of draft maps depicting proposed changes to the CBRS. However, in an effort to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and provide a more user-friendly interface for the public to view the proposed changes, the Service has created an online “CBRS Projects Mapper” to display the proposed CBRS boundaries in lieu of static PDFs of the draft maps. The online mapper creates greater transparency in the public review process, allowing users to zoom in further and obtain more detailed information about the type of change that is proposed for a specific area ( e.g., additions, removals, and reclassifications).

The CBRS Projects Mapper and unit summaries (containing historical changes and proposed changes to the individual units) can be accessed from the Service's website at http://www.fws.gov/​cbra. Public comments should be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES , above). A shapefile of the proposed CBRS boundaries, which can be used with GIS software, is also available for download. The shapefile is best viewed using the base imagery to which the boundaries were drawn; the base imagery sources and dates are included in the metadata for the shapefile. The Service is not responsible for any misuse or misinterpretation of the shapefile.

Additionally, a stakeholder outreach toolkit (comprised of project fact sheets, flyers for the virtual public meetings, and other information about the project) will be made available to local officials upon request. Local officials may use this toolkit to increase awareness of the project and the virtual public meetings within the community. Local officials may contact the individual identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , above, for more information regarding the toolkit. ( printed page 64864)

Interested parties who are unable to access the proposed boundaries or other information online may contact the individual identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , above, and reasonable accommodations will be made.

Virtual Public Meetings

We will hold the following public meetings via webcast and teleconference only. The purpose of the meetings is to give the public an overview of the Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project and to offer an opportunity for questions and answers regarding the proposed changes to the CBRS units listed in Appendix A.

Meeting Participation Information

These webcast meetings are open to the public. To ensure that enough call-in lines are available, we request that participants register by emailing CBRA@fws.gov by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on January 22, 2019. Registrants will be provided with instructions for participation via email. Participants requesting reasonable accommodations, such as interpretive services, should notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least one week prior to the meeting.

Appendix A—Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project Units

Below are the affected units for each State, including unit number, unit name, county, and the status of the unit ( i.e., existing unit, existing unit reclassified and unit number retired, existing unit transferred and unit number retired, and new unit).