U.S. Fish and Wildlife to host public meetings on digital mapping
Registration required by July 10 for Walton County Webcast July 15
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct several virtual town hall meetings on the recently submitted Report to Congress: John H.Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project.
FWS is soliciting public input on the report and draft maps during a120-day public comment period that closes on August 5, 2009.
FWS will hold the public meetings via webcast and teleconference on July 14-15, 2009. This will provide an overview of the pilot project effortand offer an opportunity for questions and answers by the public and press.
Members of the public planning to participate must register at www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/coastal_barrier.html by close of business on July 10, 2009. Registrants will be provided with instructions forparticipation via e-mail. Participants must have access to a computer and telephone to fully participate.
The report, which was directed by the Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-514), highlights the benefits of updating Coastal Barrier Resources System maps with more accurate and precise digital maps to better protect people, coastal areas and natural resources. The Coastal Barrier Resources Act removes the federal incentive to build on the coastal barriers designated within the System by prohibiting most federal expenditures, including federal flood insurance,that promote development in environmentally sensitive areas that may be subject to regular storm surge and flooding.
The Coastal Barrier Resources Act established the system in 1982. The system is comprised of 857 geographic units totaling 3.1 million acres of relatively undeveloped coastal barriers located along the Atlantic, Gulf ofMexico and Great Lakes coasts, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The report provides a background of the System, presents the challenges associated with the existing maps and the benefits of digital maps,explains digital mapping data needs, outlines the digital mapping protocolsand methodology, presents the results of the pilot project, including the draft digital maps, and identifies the next steps for comprehensive mapmodernization. The report includes draft revised maps for 70 units, or approximately 10 percent of the entire System, and a framework formodernizing the remainder of the maps.
The 70 pilot project units are located in Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana. For more information about the pilot project, including a downloadable version of the report and draft maps,visit www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/coastal_barrier.html.
The draft maps presented in the report will not become effective until they are enacted by Congress. The Service will conduct a public review and finalize the pilot project maps as directed by the Coastal BarrierResources Reauthorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-226). Comments on the report and draft maps can be submitted until August 5, 2009, by mail to theCoastal Barriers Coordinator, Division of Habitat and Resource Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive,Room 860A, Arlington, VA 22203 or electronically to CBRAcomments@fws.gov.
The list below has a breakdown of the states and counties with pilotproject units that will be addressed during the virtual public meetings.There will be a question and answer session at the end of each webcast.
July 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 (noon) p.m.
Delaware (Sussex Co.)Louisiana (St. Bernard Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St.
Mary Parish)
July 14, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
North Carolina (Currituck Co., Dare Co., Carteret Co., Onslow Co., PenderCo., New Hanover Co.)
South Carolina (Georgetown Co.)
July 15, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 (noon) p.m.
North Florida (Nassau Co., St. Johns Co., Volusia Co., Brevard Co., ManateeCo., Hillsborough Co., Pinellas Co., Dixie Co., Franklin Co., Bay Co.,Walton Co.)
July 15, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
South Florida (Indian River Co., St. Lucie Co., Martin Co., Palm Beach Co.,Broward Co., Monroe Co., Collier Co., Lee Co., Charlotte Co., Sarasota Co.)
Accommodations can be made for anyone with special needs for access to the public meetings.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
ON THE WEB
For more information on the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit www.fws.gov or call Vanessa Kaufman at (703)358-2138.
