[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 25, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62693-62694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30367]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
15 CFR Part 922
[Docket No. 971014243-7243-01]
Monterey Bay 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: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
amending the regulations for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
(MBNMS or Sanctuary) to allow the delegation of the authority to object
to or impose terms or conditions on the exercise of any valid lease,
permit, license, approval or other authorization issued after January
1, 1993 (the effective date of the MBNMS designation) from the Director
of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (Director) to
other Federal officials below the Director's level; for example, the
Sanctuary Manager.
DATES: This rule will be effective on November 25, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Kathey at (408) 647-4251 or Elizabeth Moore at (301) 713-3141
ext. 170.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Summary of the Proposed Regulatory Amendment
The MBNMS regulations at 15 CFR 922.132(a) prohibit a relatively
narrow range of activities and thus make it unlawful for any person to
conduct them or cause them to be conducted.
Under 15 CFR 922.49 (Notification and review of applications for
leases, licenses, permits, approvals or other authorizations to conduct
a prohibited activity), the MBNMS prohibitions do not apply to any
activity authorized by any valid lease, permit, license, approval or
other authorization issued after the effective date of the Sanctuary
designation (i.e., January 1, 1993 for the MBNMS) by any Federal, State
or local authority of competent jurisdiction, provided that the
applicant for such authorization complies with the procedures of
section 922.49. The Director is required to notify the applicant
whether he or she has an objection to issuance of the authorization and
what terms and conditions he or she deems necessary to protect
Sanctuary resources or qualities.
Section 922.134(a) of the MBNMS regulations states ``The authority
granted the Director under Sec. 922.49 to object to or impose terms or
conditions on the exercise of any valid lease, permit, license,
approval or other authorization issued after January 1, 1993 may not be
delegated or otherwise assigned to other Federal officials below the
Director's level.'' This provision prevents the Director from
delegating this authority to the Sanctuary Manager of the MBNMS or any
other Federal official below the Director's level. The Sanctuary
Manager currently has the delegated authority to issue Sanctuary
permits. Further, the MBNMS is the only Sanctuary of the twelve in the
National Marine Sanctuary Program in which the authority to object to
or impose terms and conditions under Sec. 922.49 cannot be and has not
been delegated to the Sanctuary Manager. Consequently, this rule amends
the MBNMS regulations to allow for the delegation to the Sanctuary
Manager or any other Federal official below the Director's level of the
authority to object to or impose terms or conditions on the exercise of
any valid lease, permit, license, approval or other authorization
issued after January 1, 1993, pursuant to Sec. 922.49.
[[Page 62694]]
II. Miscellaneous Rulemaking Requirements
Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Impact
NOAA has concluded that this regulatory action is not significant
within the meaning of section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 because it
will not result in:
(1) An annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the economy, productivity,
competition, jobs, the environment, or public health and safety;
(2) A serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action
taken or planned by another agency;
(3) A material alteration of the budgetary impact of entitlement,
grants, user fees, or loan programs or rights and obligations of such
recipients; or
(4) Novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the
President's priorities, or the principles set forth in the Executive
Order.
The Office of Management and Budget has concurred in this
determination.
Executive Order 12612: Federalism Assessment
This regulatory action does not have sufficient federalism
implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism
assessment under Executive Order 12612.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule would not impose an information collection requirement
subject to review and approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3500 et seq.
Administrative Procedure Act
This rule is exempt from the rulemaking requirements of 5 U.S.C.
553 by paragraph (a)(2) of that section because it is a matter relating
to agency management.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Because this rule is not required to be issued with prior notice
and opportunity for public comment by 5 U.S.C. 553 or by any other law,
it is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act requirement for
preparation of a regulatory flexibility analysis, and none has been
prepared.
List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 922
Administrative practice and procedure, Coastal zone, Education,
Environmental protection, Marine resources, Natural resources,
Penalties, Recreation and recreation areas, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Research.
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary
Program)
Dated: November 13, 1997.
Nancy Foster,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, 15 CFR part 922 is
proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 922--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for Part 922 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
Subpart M--Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Sec. 922.134 [Amended]
2. Section 922.134 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph
(a).
[FR Doc. 97-30367 Filed 11-24-97; 8:45 am]
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