Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

February 13, 2013NOAA Pacific Services Center – Training Room

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

Agenda

• Purpose of the NERR

• Overview of NERR designation process

• Current status of NERR designation process

• Overview of Hawaii site evaluation and selection process

• Schedule of site evaluation and selection/designation process

• Expectations from stakeholders

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

National Estuarine Research Reserve System

• State – Federal Partnership Program

• 28 Reserves in the United States and Caribbean

• State agency manages the reserve on a day-to-day basis

• NOAA provides funding, national guidance, and technical assistance

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

National Estuarine Research Reserve System

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

NERR System Goals

• Ensure stable environment for research

• Address significant coastal management issues

• Enhance public awareness and understanding of estuarine areas

• Promote federal, state, public , and private use for research

• Conduct and coordinate estuarine research within the system

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

Purpose of the NERR

• Research• “Living laboratory” for scientists and students• Natural resource management issues (i.e., non-point

source pollution, habitat restoration, invasive species)

• Education• Adults – Training on estuarine issues• K-12 – Field classes• Teachers – Professional development in marine education

• Coastal Stewardship• Assist communities in developing strategies to deal with

natural resource management issues

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

Overview / Status – NERR Designation Process

Letter of Interest

Site Selection &

Nomination

Criteria Development

Screening Process

Site Selection Process

Boundary Delineation

Nomination Letter

Site SelectionDocument

Management Plan &

EIS (NEPA) Process

Designation

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

Hawaiʻi Site Evaluation & Selection Process

OP-led Small Groupto develop draft site criteria

NERR Site Selection Committee NERR Site Evaluation Committee

• Review draft site criteria• Approve final site criteria

• Using approved site criteria:• Identify potential sites• Evaluate potential sites

• Site Ranking / Recommendations• Preferred site• Alternative sites

• Review site rankings and recommendations

• Select Preferred site

Phase I Consultant

• Facilitate committees

• Support committees

• Prepare committee material

• Develop report of selection process and determination

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

Schedule / Timeline

Ph

ase

I

Ph

ase

II

Ph

ase

III• Draft Criteria

• Secure Consultant

• Form Site Evaluation & Selection Cmtes.

• Public solicitationof potential sites

• Site Eval. Cmte. examine and analyze sites

• Forward site list to Site Selection Cmte.

• Site Selection Cmte. reviews site list

• Site Selection Cmte. selects preferred site

• Public meeting in vicinity of preferred site

• Forward site selection document to Governor

• Governor nominates site to NOAA

• Boundary Delineation

• Develop Management Plan

• Prepare EIS (NEPA) Document

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

Stakeholders

• Public / Immediate Community where NERR sited

• Office of Planning / CZM Program

• B&F

• DLNR

• DOH

• University of Hawai i̒

• NOAA

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

Expectations from Stakeholders

• Active involvement in entire designation process

• Open and timely communication

• Attend all scheduled meetings

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒

Questions / Discussion

Office of PlanningState of Hawai i̒