[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44307-44308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21144]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Area To Be Temporarily Avoided by the Public During 
Coral Rubble and Ship Debris Removal Activities in the Looe Key 
National Marine Sanctuary, Now Part of the Florida Keys National Marine 
Sanctuary

AGENCY: Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (SRD), Office of Ocean and 
Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), National Ocean Service (NOS), 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of 
Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), and authorized contractors will 
be conducting coral rubble and ship debris removal activities to 
prevent and minimize the destruction, or loss of, or injury to 
Sanctuary resources. The coral rubble and ship debris were generated as 
a result of the August 10 to 12, 1994, R/V Columbus Iselin grounding 
incident within the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary (Looe Key NMS), 
now part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (Florida Keys 
NMS).
    To ensure the protection of life and property during these complex 
activities the public is advised to avoid the area due to the presence 
of heavy equipment (i.e., barge and crane) and increased localized boat 
traffic. NOAA requests that Sanctuary users temporarily avoid an area 
approximately 900 square feet marked by visible construction buoys from 
on or about August 23 and August 31, 1995. The area is in the vicinity 
of 24 deg.37'30'' N, 81 deg.24'23'' W, a bank reef located 7 nautical 
miles (12.9 km) off the southwest tip of Big Pine Key, Florida.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Any comments on the establishment of the area to be temporarily avoided 
may be sent at any time during or after the effective dates specified 
below, to Dr. Charles M. Wahle, Chief, Technical Projects Branch, 
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 1305 East West Highway, SSMC4, 12th Floor, Silver 
Spring, Maryland, 20910. Telephone number: 301-713-3145 ext. 156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and 
Protection Act (FKNMSPA), and the Looe Key NMS regulations at 15 CFR 
Part 937, NOAA will be conducting restoration activities within a 
specified area within the Looe Key NMS on or about August 23 to August 
31, 1995.

Background

    On August 10 to 12, 1994, the R/V Columbus Iselin, a 155-foot 
oceanographic research vessel, ran aground on the western portion of 
Looe Key reef within the Looe Key NMS, now part of the FKNMS. The 
grounding site is a bank reef located 7 nautical miles (12.9 km) off 
the southwest tip of Big Pine Key, Florida (24 deg.37' N, 81 deg.24' 
W). The impact of the grounding and the shifting of the vessel over the 
two day period created larger scars on four of the Looe Key coral 
spurs. Significant injuries were inflicted to the coral reef colonies, 
substrate, and other resident marine organisms such as sponges and sea 
fans. Considerable amounts of unconsolidated coral rubble were 
generated by the impact and now rest in the channels (grooves) between 
and on top of the coral spurs. In addition to the debris, large 
sections of metal instrumentation shielding from the ship's hull (ship 
debris) was left behind on the seabed. The rubble and ship debris 
continue to threaten living resources in the vicinity of the grounding 
site, and pose safety risks to Sanctuary users.
    Section 312(b)(1) of the NMSA authorizes NOAA to undertake all 
necessary actions to prevent or minimize the destruction or loss of, or 
injury to, Sanctuary resources. NOAA has determined that coral reef 
rubble and ship debris generated by this grounding continues to 
threaten living corals in the area and must be extracted safely from 
the site this summer. NOAA, COE and authorized contractors will 
implement rubble and ship debris removal work at the grounding site 
within the Looe Key NMS.

[[Page 44308]]

    During the conduct of such activities, NOAA has deemed it necessary 
to request the public to temporarily avoid the 900 square foot area 
around the grounding site (24 deg.37' N, 81 deg.24' W) for the 
following reasons, to: protect the life and property of construction 
crew and Sanctuary users while heavy construction materials and 
equipment (e.g., barges and cranes) are in the area; protect moorings 
which will be used at the site to stabilize the barge; and protect the 
surface air supply hoses of the divers and SCUBA crew who will be 
conducting the rubble and ship debris removal activities; and to ensure 
timely and successful completion of rubble and ship debris removal.
    This area to be temporarily avoided will be in effect no longer 
than necessary to complete the rubble and ship debris removal 
activities. It is the minimum area necessary to moor the barge and 
includes buffer zones to moor support vessels and provide an extra 
margin for public safety while completing these rubble and ship debris 
removal activities.

Locations and Boundaries of Temporary Avoidance Area

    The temporary avoidance area is located approximately 7 nautical 
miles (12.9 kilometers) offshore the southwest tip of Big Pine Key, 
Florida (24 deg.37' N, 81 deg.24' W). The total area to be temporarily 
avoided is approximately 900 square feet, and is less than one percent 
of the total area of the Looe Key NMS. The boundary of this area will 
be marked by visible construction buoys.
    The area to be temporarily avoided is bounded by the following 
coordinates:

Latitude                             Longitude                          
A. 24 deg.32'49.5'' N                81 deg.24'25.6'' W                 
B. 24 deg.32'49.5'' N                81 deg.24'22.4'' W                 
C. 24 deg.32'25.3'' N                81 deg.24'22.4'' W                 
D. 24 deg.32'25.3'' N                81 deg.24'25.6'' W                 
                                                                        

Dates

    The area to be temporarily avoided will be in effect from on or 
about August 23 to August 31, 1995, or until the construction marker 
buoys are removed at NOAA's direction if the work is completed prior to 
August 31, 1995. Public notice of the area to be temporarily avoided 
will be provided through the Federal Register, local news media, and 
posting of placards on bulletin boards in public areas in Big Pine Key 
and at Bahia Honda State Park. Notice of the removal of the area to be 
temporarily avoided will be issued by NOAA once the rubble and ship 
debris removal activities are completed.

    Dated: August 21, 1995.
W. Stanley Wilson,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 95-21144 Filed 8-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M