[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44425-44426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16651]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Re-Initiation of Public Scoping Period on the Review of the Gerry 
E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan; 
Notice of Availability of the ``State of the Sanctuary Report''

AGENCY: National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
Department of Commerce (DOC).
SUMMARY: The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) was 
designated in 1992. Encompassing an 842-square mile area off the coast 
of Massachusetts, SBNMS protects one of the most biologically diverse 
areas along the eastern seaboard. It is one of the primary feeding 
grounds of the highly migratory humpback whale, the part-time home of 
the endangered northern right whale, and has a highly varied seafloor 
that supports a wide variety of demersal fish species and invertebrate 
species.
    In accordance with section 304(e) of the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act, as amended, (NMSA) (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), the NMSP 
is re-initiating a review of the SBNMS management plan to evaluate 
substantive progress toward implementing the goals of the Sanctuary and 
to make revisions to the plan as necessary to fulfill the purposes and 
policies of the NMSA. NOAA is now seeking comments on the scope, types, 
and significance of issues related to the Sanctuary management plan and 
regulations.

Background

    The current management plan for the Sanctuarywas originally 
published in July 1993. In December 1998 and January 1999, the NMSP 
initiated a reviewd of this plan by holding scoping meetings to solicit 
public comments on

[[Page 44426]]

the status of site management. Scoping participants comments on a 
variety of issues, which were then characterized by Sanctuary staff and 
drafted into a ``State of the Sanctuary Report'' during Winter 2001/
2002 (a change in sanctuary adminstration delayed the management plan 
review process for approximately one year).
    The State of the Sanctuary Report, which also contains current 
background information on the Sanctuary's administrative capacities, 
its environmental features and human uses, and its ongoing activities, 
is now being released to familiarize the public with the current status 
of Sanctuary management and the range of issues identified during the 
initial scoping period of 1998/1999. The report can be obtained by 
contacting the Management Plan Review Coordinator at the address below 
or by downloading it from the SBNMS Web site at <http://stellwagen.nos.noaa.gov. Interested parties should refer to 
this report in preparation for submitting comments on the Sanctuary's 
management plan during this re-initiation of the scoping period.
    Comments on the Sanctuary management plan may be submitted in three 
ways: (1) In writing to SBNMS Management Plan Review Coordinator at the 
address or fax number below; (2) via e-mail to [email protected]; or 
(3) in writing or orally at formal public meetings that NOAA will 
conduct at various locations in the Sanctuary region during the Fall 
2002. Details on locations, dates, and times for these meetings will be 
published in a subsequent Federal Register notice and local newspapers.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before October 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES: For a copy of the State of the Sanctuary Report, contact the 
Management Plan Review Coordinator, Stellwagen Bank National Marine 
Sanctuary, 175 Edward Foster Rd. Scituate, MA 02066. Copies can also be 
downloaded from the SBNMS Web site at <http://stellwagen.nos.noaa.gov.
    To submit comments, you may (1) mail them to the address above; (2) 
fax them to (781) 545-8036; (3) e-mail them to [email protected]; or 
(4) attend the upcoming meetings in the Fall 2002 (dates, times, and 
locations will be announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice and 
in local newspaper). Comments should be addressed to the attention of 
the Management Plan Review Coordinator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrina VanDine at (781) 545-8026 x203 
or via e-mail at [email protected].

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq.

    Dated: June 25, 2002.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 02-16651 Filed 7-1-02; 8:45 am]
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