[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 13688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6713]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031703C]


Notice of Availability of the National Coral Reef Action Strategy 
for Public Comment

AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 requires the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) to submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and to the Committee on Resources of the 
House of Representatives, and publish in the Federal Register, a 
national coral reef action strategy (Strategy), consistent with the 
purposes of the Act.
    Pursuant to the Act, NOAA has prepared a National Coral Reef Action 
Strategy, in cooperation with the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (Task 
Force), which provides a statement of Goals and Objectives, 
implementation plans, and a description of federal funding directly 
related to advancing coral reef conservation each fiscal year. The 
Strategy is intended to help guide and improve U.S. government and non-
government efforts to conserve coral reefs. This notice announces the 
availability of the National Coral Reef Action Strategy for use in 
implementing the Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program and public 
review.

DATES: Comments on the National Coral Reef Action Strategy must be 
received no later than May 19, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and public inspection of these comments may 
be sent to NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, 1305 East West 
Highway, NOS/ORR 10201, Silver Spring, MD 20910; faxed to (301)-713-
4389; or emailed to [email protected]. Copies of the Strategy 
are available from this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Griffis; (301)-713-2989 
extension 115; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Coral Reef Action Strategy was produced through 
extensive consultation with the federal, state, territory and 
commonwealth members of the Task Force and its Working Groups. The 
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 states that in developing this 
Strategy, the Secretary may consult with the Task Force. The Strategy 
builds on the existing National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs, 
which was adopted by the Task Force in 2000 as the national blueprint 
for U.S. action to address the coral reef crisis. The Coral Reef 
Conservation Act of 2000 also establishes a Coral Reef Conservation 
Program to provide grants of financial assistance for projects that are 
consistent with the Strategy.
    The Strategy is designed to track accomplishments and identify 
priorities to implement the goals and objectives of the Coral Reef 
Conservation Act and the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs. 
The Strategy provides partial summaries of accomplishments and needs to 
address 13 major goals. The intent is to work closely with the Task 
Force, other partners, and the public to update the Strategy annually 
or as needed to help guide future actions.
    The Task Force was established by Executive Order 13089 in 1998 to 
help lead and coordinate U.S. government efforts (both domestically and 
internationally) to conserve and sustain coral reef ecosystems. The 
Task Force is co-chaired by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary 
of the Interior, and includes the heads of 11 federal agencies and the 
Governors of 7 states, territories and commonwealths with coral reef 
management responsibilities.
    After the close of the comment period, NOAA will consider the 
comments received during review and possible revision of the Strategy 
in the future. The Strategy is available from the web site 
www.coralreef.noaa.gov or from see ADDRESSES.

    Authority: Pub. L 106-562.

    Dated: February 26, 2003.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 03-6713 Filed 3-19-03; 8:45 am]
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