[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18933]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922

[Docket No. 030613151-3151-01]


Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; Establishment of 
Temporary No-Entry Zone in the White Bank Dry Rocks Area; Correction

AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Marine Sanctuary 
Program.

ACTION: Temporary rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects coordinates published on July 1, 2003 
for a no-entry zone in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The 
no-entry zone was established by a temporary rule and became effective 
June 26, 2003 until August 25, 2003. That temporary rule created two 
no-entry zones in the vicinity of White Bank Dry Rocks off of Key Largo 
to prevent the inadvertent spread by swimmers and snorkelers of 
infectious agents associated with diseased corals in the two zones. 
Each no-entry zone is approximately 0.25 square miles in size. This 
document corrects the coordinates of White Bank South Patch that were 
incorrectly described in the temporary published on July 1, 2003.

DATES: Effective July 24, 2003 until August 25, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Billy D. Causey, Superintendent, 
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, (FKNMS), Post Office Box 
500368, Marathon, Florida 33050, (305) 743-2467.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Need for Correction

    The temporary rule establishing no-entry zones at White Bank North 
Patch and White Bank South Patch, off of Key Largo in the Florida Keys 
National Marine Sanctuary (68 FR 39005; July 1, 2003), contained errors 
in the coordinates for White Bank South Patch. The correct coordinates 
are:
    White Bank South Patch--
    (1) 25 degrees 02.414 seconds N 80 degrees 22.425 seconds W;
    (2) 25 degrees 02.446 seconds N 80 degrees 22.267 seconds W;
    (3) 25 degrees 02.314 seconds N 80 degrees 22.278 seconds W;
    (4) 25 degrees 02.336 seconds N 80 degrees 22.408 seconds W.

Classification

    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant Administrator of the 
National Ocean Service, NOAA, for good cause, finds that providing 
prior notice and public procedure thereon with respect to this 
correction is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Recent 
evidence has come to light of an outbreak of infectious coral disease 
in areas of White Bank Dry Rocks near Key Largo. It is possible that 
humans entering the waters of the affected areas could inadvertently 
carry infectious agents to healthy coral reef areas. Infected corals 
are also most subject to stress from human activities. This action is 
intended to limit the innocent spread of infectious agents to healthy 
coral and to reduce stress to corals within the infected areas. As 
such, further damage to the infected corals as well as to healthy 
corals outside of the close areas would occur if the prohibition 
implemented by this rule is delayed to provide prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    Likewise, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator of 
the National Ocean Service, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day 
delay in effective date for this correction. First, if the correction 
is delayed for 30 days, significant damage to the living coral 
resources could result. Further, 30 days are not necessary to give 
notification to visitors who might use the area in the future to move 
to other nearby sites. The U.S. Coast Guard will give immediate 
notification to vessels to stay out of the no-entry zones. Notification 
will be made by the U.S. Coast Guard via notice to mariners, Sanctuary 
radio announcements, press releases, press conferences, and with 
assistance by the U.S. Coast Guard and Sanctuary staff on the water 
within the area. This correction is effective upon filing at the Office 
of the Federal Register.

    Dated: July 19, 2003.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 03-18933 Filed 7-24-03; 8:45 am]
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