[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16328-16329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1652]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Hawai[revaps]i; 
Monument Management Plan

AGENCIES: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Interior; National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; Preparation of a management plan, and environmental 
assessment.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that NOAA, FWS, and the 
Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai[revaps]i 
(DLNR) intend to prepare a Monument Management Plan (Monument Plan) and 
associated environmental assessment for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine 
National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and surrounding 
marine areas. The Monument Plan will modify NOAA's existing 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Proposed National Marine Sanctuary Draft 
Management Plan, and incorporate FWS refuge comprehensive conservation 
planning (CCP) requirements, DLNR planning needs, and other elements to 
reflect the area's new status as a national monument.

DATES: Any written comments must be received by June 4, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Don Palawski, Monument Plan 
Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, 
Box 50167, Honolulu, HI 96850-5000; or via e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Palawski, Monument Plan 
Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, 
Box 50167, Honolulu, HI 96850-5000; phone (808) 792-9560, or fax (808) 
792-9585.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 15, 2006, President George W. Bush

[[Page 16329]]

established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument 
by issuing Presidential Proclamation 8031 (Proclamation) (71 FR 36443, 
June 26, 2006) under the authority of the Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 
431) (Act). On February 28, 2007, President Bush amended the 
Proclamation to give it a Native Hawaiian name, chosen by Native 
Hawaiians, that reflects Hawaiian language and culture. On March 2, 
2007, the First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, presented the new name, 
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, to the public.
    Proclamation 8031 reserves all lands and interests in lands owned 
or controlled by the Government of the United States in the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), including emergent and submerged 
lands and waters out to a distance of approximately 50 nautical miles 
(nmi) from the islands. The Monument is approximately 100 nmi wide and 
extends approximately 1,200 miles around coral islands, seamounts, 
banks, and shoals. The area includes the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, the Midway Atoll National Wildlife 
Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial, the Hawaiian Islands 
National Wildlife Refuge, the Hawai[revaps]i State Seabird Sanctuary at 
Kure Atoll, and NWHI State Marine Refuge. The Secretaries of Commerce 
and the Interior, and the Governor of Hawai[revaps]i signed a 
Memorandum of Agreement on December 8, 2006, to jointly manage Federal 
and State lands and waters within the Monument as Co-Trustees, to 
collectively protect, conserve, and enhance Monument fish, plant, and 
wildlife habitats, including coral reefs and other marine and 
terrestrial resources.
    During the last 5 years, as part of the National Marine Sanctuary 
designation process, NOAA actively sought input from Federal and State 
entities, Native Hawaiian leaders, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council, and the public to 
develop a Draft Sanctuary Management Plan (available on the Internet 
at: http://www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov). More than 52,000 public comments 
were received during the sanctuary designation process. The 
Proclamation recognizes these efforts by directing the Secretary of 
Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the 
State of Hawai[revaps]i, to modify, as appropriate, the draft Sanctuary 
Management Plan for management of the Monument. Another document 
relevant to Monument management, the Draft Interim Visitor Services 
Plan for the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the Battle of 
Midway National Memorial, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine 
National Monument's Midway Atoll Special Management Area, was 
distributed for public review in December 2006. Comments submitted 
during the Sanctuary designation process and comments received on 
Midway's Visitor Services Plan regarding issues that are subject to 
decision by the Co-Trustees (that is, not already decided by the 
President and memorialized in the Proclamation) will be considered when 
the agencies are determining the scope of the Monument Plan and during 
development of the Draft Monument Plan. Any additional comments at this 
stage should be focused on any new environmental issues identified as a 
result of new information or changed circumstances since the comment 
periods identified above. The Co-Trustees will develop co-management 
strategies and activities to meet the needs of FWS, NOAA, and DLNR in 
the Monument Plan.
    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 
(Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), requires the 
FWS to develop a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for each 
national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP is to provide 
refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes 
and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife 
management, conservation, legal mandates, and FWS policies. In addition 
to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and 
their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational 
opportunities available to the public. The State maintains its existing 
responsibility for managing State waters in the Monument, including the 
NWHI State Marine Refuge and Hawai[revaps]i State Seabird Sanctuary at 
Kure Atoll. NOAA maintains responsibility for the NWHI Coral Reef 
Ecosystem Reserve, included within the Monument, and has primary 
responsibility regarding the management of the marine areas of the 
Monument, in consultation with FWS.
    It is the intent of the Co-Trustees to integrate agency planning 
and operational needs into a single Monument Plan. A draft Monument 
Plan will be distributed for public review and comment early in 2008. 
The Co-Trustees will also develop an environmental assessment in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws 
and regulations; and agency policies and procedures for compliance with 
those regulations.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Agency Points of Contact

    FWS: Barry Stieglitz, Monument Project Leader (USFWS); Hawaiian and 
Pacific Islands NWR Complex, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Box 50167, 
Honolulu, HI 96850-5000; phone (808) 792-9540.
    NOAA: T. Aulani Wilhelm, Monument Superintendent (NOAA); 6600 
Kalaniana[revaps]ole Highway, 300, Honolulu, HI 96825; phone 
(808) 397-2657.
    State of Hawai[revaps]i: Athline Clark, Special Projects Manager, 
Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic 
Resources; 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813; phone 
(808) 587-0099.

    Dated: March 28, 2007.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, 
Portland, Oregon.
Elizabeth Scheffler,
Chief Financial Officer, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland.
[FR Doc. 07-1652 Filed 4-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P