[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 174 (Friday, September 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46818-46819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22248]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice to Extend the Time Period for the 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 of extension of time period.

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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 requested on August 25, 1995 (60 FR 44307) 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.
    Due to recent tropical storms and hurricanes in the Greater 
Caribbean and Florida peninsula, activities to remove 

[[Page 46819]]
the coral rubble and ship debris have been delayed. This notice extends 
the request for the public to temporarily avoid the area until 
September 15, 1995.

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, 
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.

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. 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 until 
September 15, 1995, or until the construction marker buoys are removed 
at NOAA's direction if the work is completed prior to September 15, 
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: September 1, 1995.
W. Stanley Wilson,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 95-22248 Filed 9-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M