[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 52758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7480]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922


Initiation of Review of the Management Plan/Regulations of the 
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary; Intent To Prepare Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan; Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Initiation of Review of Management Plan/Regulations; Intent to 
Prepare Environmental Impact Statement; Scoping Meetings.

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SUMMARY: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS or Sanctuary) was 
designated on October 7, 2000. The present management plan was written 
as part of the sanctuary designation process and published in the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement in 1999. In accordance with section 
304(e) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, (NMSA) (16 
U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
initiating a review of the management plan, to evaluate substantive 
progress toward implementing the goals for the Sanctuary, and to make 
revisions to the plan and regulations as necessary to fulfill the 
purposes and policies of the NMSA.
    The proposed revised management plan will likely involve changes to 
existing policies and regulations of the Sanctuary, to address 
contemporary issues and challenges, and to better protect and manage 
the Sanctuary's resources and qualities. The review process is composed 
of four major stages: information collection and characterization; 
preparation and release of a draft management plan/environmental impact 
statement, and any proposed amendments to the regulations; public 
review and comment; and preparation and release of a final management 
plan/environmental impact statement, and any final amendments to the 
regulations. NOAA anticipates completion of the revised management plan 
and concomitant documents will require approximately eighteen to 
twenty-four months.
    NOAA will conduct public scoping meetings to gather information and 
other comments from individuals, organizations, and government agencies 
on the scope, types and significance of issues related to the 
Sanctuary's management plan and regulations. The scoping meetings are 
scheduled for September 25, 26, 28 and 29, 2006, as detailed below.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before October 13, 
2006.
    Scoping meetings will be held at:
    (1) September 25, 6:30 p.m., Presque Isle, MI.
    (2) September 26, 6:30 p.m., Alpena, MI.
    (3) September 28, 6:30 p.m., Alcona, MI.
    (4) September 29, 1 p.m., Lansing, MI.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to the Thunder Bay National 
Marine Sanctuary (Management Plan Review), 500 West Fletcher Street, 
Alpena, MI, 49707. Comments will be available for public review at the 
same address:
    Scoping meetings will be held at:
    (1) Presque Isle District Library, 181 East Erie Street, Rogers 
City, MI 49779.
    (2) Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, 500 West Fletcher Street, 
Alpena, MI 49707.
    (3) Harrisville Courthouse, 106 North 5th Street, Harrisville, MI 
48740.
    (4) Michigan Historical Center, 702 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, 
MI 48909.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tera Panknin, 989-356-8805 Ext. 38, 
[email protected].

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

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary 
Program)

    Dated: August 28, 2006.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, National Marine Sanctuary Program.
[FR Doc. 06-7480 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M