# 2026-22673: Green Bay Could Become a National Estuarine Research Reserve 2026-22673, Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Management Plan for the Proposed Designation of the Green Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, is a Federal Register notice from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-11-06, effective NOAA is accepting written public comments on the adequacy of the DMP and DEIS for the proposed designation of the Green Bay Reserve through 11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT) on December 21, 2026. NOAA will accept oral public comments during a virtual public hearing from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CT and an in-person public hearing from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT on Thursday, December 10, 2026. (as of 2026-11-06). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22673 - As of: 2026-11-06 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-22673 - Title: Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Management Plan for the Proposed Designation of the Green Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Type: Notice - Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Citation: 91 FR 70065 - Published: 2026-11-06 - Effective: NOAA is accepting written public comments on the adequacy of the DMP and DEIS for the proposed designation of the Green Bay Reserve through 11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT) on December 21, 2026. NOAA will accept oral public comments during a virtual public hearing from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CT and an in-person public hearing from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT on Thursday, December 10, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-12-21 - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-11-06 ## In one line Green Bay Could Become a National Estuarine Research Reserve ## Summary NOAA wants your thoughts on turning Green Bay into a special research reserve to protect nature and help with science and education. They’re holding public hearings on December 10, 2026, and accepting comments until December 21, 2026. This plan affects local communities, scientists, and nature lovers, aiming to boost environmental care without extra costs to the public. ## Abstract Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act, as amended (CZMA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management is announcing a 45- day public comment period and public hearings to solicit comments on the draft management plan (DMP) and draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed designation of the Green Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Green Bay Reserve). The DMP addresses research, monitoring, education, and stewardship needs for the proposed Green Bay Reserve, and the DEIS evaluates alternatives to the proposed action, along with the potential environmental impacts of these alternatives. ## Effects PRIA read - Designation will not create new regulations: benefit, low. If the Green Bay Reserve is designated, NOAA says the designation does not add new state or federal regulations. Roles and responsibilities would be described in Memoranda of Agreement rather than by new laws or rules. - Designation brings added staff and funding: benefit, medium. NOAA states that designation would bring additional financial and staff resources to support estuary management in Green Bay. These resources are intended to support research, monitoring, education, and stewardship in the estuary. - New education, research, and training opportunities: benefit, low. If designated, the Green Bay Reserve would commence operations offering education, research, training, stewardship, and monitoring opportunities led by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The draft management plan identifies program priorities and focal areas for the first five years after desig… - No significant adverse impacts expected: benefit, low. NOAA's draft environmental impact statement finds that designating and implementing the proposed Green Bay Reserve under any analyzed alternative is not expected to result in significant adverse impacts to the natural or human environment. NOAA evaluated a No Action Alternative and two action alter… ## Related documents - [2026-14204](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14204): Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date, 2026-07-15 - [2026-14195](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14195): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2026-07-14 - [2026-07536](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07536): Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America, 2026-04-17 - [2026-05599](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-05599): Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period…, 2026-03-23 - [2026-04256](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04256): Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fi…, 2026-03-04 - [2025-06746](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06746): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2025-04-17 ## Sources - [2026-22673 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/06/2026-22673/notice-of-public-hearings-and-availability-of-the-draft-environmental-impact-statement-and-draft) - [2026-22673 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-06/pdf/2026-22673.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-22672, Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Re…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22672) - [Next: 2026-22674, Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22674) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22673 (as of 2026-11-06).