[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16120-16121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7273]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922

[Docket No. 000510129-1004-02]
RIN 0648-A018


Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations; Announcement 
of Effective Date

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that the Revised Designation Document 
and the final regulations that were published in the Federal Register 
on January 17, 2001, (66 FR 4267), for the Florida Keys National Marine 
Sanctuary, became effective in Federal waters on March 8, 2001. The 
Revised

[[Page 16121]]

Designation Document expands the boundary of the Sanctuary and the 
regulations implement the expansion, establish and implement the 
Tortugas Ecological Reserve, and make other revisions to the Sanctuary 
regulations.

DATES: The final regulations published at 66 FR 4267 (January 17, 2001) 
are effective March 8, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Billy Causey, (305) 743-2437.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This document announces the effective date in Federal waters for 
the Revised Designation Document expanding the boundary of the Florida 
Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or Sanctuary) and the final 
regulations that implement the boundary expansion, establish and 
implement the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, and that make certain 
revisions to the Sanctuary regulations. The expansion of the Sanctuary 
boundary encompasses an area of the State of Florida waters and Federal 
waters at the far western end of the Florida Keys, and the submerged 
lands thereunder. The Federal Register document publishing those 
regulations also contained the Revised Designation Document and 
summarized the final supplemental management plan for the Sanctuary. 
The Revised Designation Document sets forth the geographical area 
included within the Sanctuary, the characteristics of the area that 
give it conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, 
education, or esthetic value, and the type of activities subject to 
regulation. The supplemental management plan details the goals and 
objectives, management responsibilities, research activities, 
interpretive and educational programs, and enforcement activities of 
the area. As stated in the preamble to the final rule, the regulations 
become effective after the close of a review period of 45 days of 
continuous session of Congress beginning on the day on which the final 
rule was published unless the Governor of the State of Florida 
certifies to the Secretary of Commerce that the designation or any of 
its terms is unacceptable, in which case the designation or any 
unacceptable terms shall not take effect in State of Florida waters 
unless and until approved by the Board of Trustees of the Internal 
Improvement Fund of the State of Florida. The Congressional review 
period ended on March 7, 2001. On March 6, 2001, the Governor of the 
State of Florida certified to the Secretary of Commerce that the 
revised designation, the supplemental management plan, and the 
regulations implementing the Tortugas Ecological Reserve were 
unacceptable unless and until approved by the Board of Trustees. The 
Governor further advised the Secretary that the State of Florida is 
committed to the protection of the Tortugas area and its resources and 
that it is expected that the Board of Trustees will consider the 
proposed designation, ecological reserve, and the implementing 
regulations within a reasonable time.
    Accordingly, the designation of the Sanctuary and the regulations 
implementing that designation became effective in Federal waters on 
March 8, 2001. The regulations will not take effect in Florida State 
waters until approved by the Board of Trustees of the Internal 
Improvement Fund of the State of Florida. This Federal Register 
document announces the effective date of the Revised Designation 
Document and the final regulations as March 8, 2001.

Ted I. Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 01-7273 Filed 3-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M