[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62633-62634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5502]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice; Preparation of a Papahanaumokuakea Marine National 
Monument Natural Resources Science Plan

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Co-Trustees of the 
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Monument) in the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and surrounding marine areas 
intend to prepare a Natural Resources Science Plan (Science Plan) and 
associated environmental assessment (EA) for the Monument. The Science 
Plan is being developed concurrently with the comprehensive Monument 
Management Plan (MMP) [Notice of Intent to Prepare Monument Management 
Plan and EA, Federal Register April 4, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 64)]. 
The Science Plan will identify management needs, highlight priority 
thematic areas designed to meet these needs, and describe the current 
and proposed research projects housed under these themes. The Co-
Trustees are seeking public input on the development of the plan. There 
will be a public scoping meeting to solicit comments on November 15, 
2007.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2007, 
6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, in Honolulu, 
HI. Written comments will be accepted through November 30, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Japanese Cultural 
Center located at 2454 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826. 
Meeting materials will be posted on the Monument Web site (http://www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov) from November 15-November 30, 2007. Written 
comments may be provided in person at the public meeting, via fax at 
808-397-2662, or E-mail via E-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior to the creation of the Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument by President George W. Bush 
on June 15, 2006, NOAA was engaged in management planning and 
environmental impact assessment development to support the public 
process for the NWHI to be designated as a National Marine Sanctuary 
through the public sanctuary designation process. As part of that 
planning process a 3-day workshop was held in May 2003

[[Page 62634]]

to discuss critical scientific information needs related to long term 
conservation and management of the NWHI. Over 100 research scientists 
and resource managers attended the workshop representing agencies, 
universities, and organizations nationwide. The workshop resulted in 
the identification of five priority research areas to support 
management in the NWHI. These are described in detail in a document 
called the final Information Needs for Conservation and Management of 
the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Report, which is available at http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov/research/2002Workshop/NWHI_Summary.pdf.
    On June 15, 2006, President Bush signed Presidential Proclamation 
8031 (Proclamation) establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Marine National Monument, subsequently renamed the Papahanaumokuakea 
Marine National Monument. The Monument is administered by the U.S. 
Department of Commerce through NOAA, U.S. Department of the Interior 
through the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the State of Hawaii 
through the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) 
(collectively, the Co-Trustees). The Proclamation provides the 
authority for the Co-Trustees to issue research permits for activities 
designed to further understanding of Monument resources and qualities, 
and to assist in conservation and management of the Monument.
    The Science Plan will be used to guide these research activities. 
It will be based on the results from the information needs workshop, a 
multi-agency archipelagic research plan (under development), agency 
expertise and identified management needs, and public input. It will 
contain five themes relevant to natural resources research: (1) 
Ecological Processes and Connectivity, (2) Biodiversity and Habitats, 
(3) Human Impacts, (4) Indicators and Monitoring of Ecosystem Change, 
and (5) Modeling and Forecasting Ecosystem Change.
    The Co-Trustees are seeking public input on the development of the 
draft Science Plan. Input is requested on the themes proposed in the 
draft plan, as well as the type of research to be conducted under each 
theme.
    A public scoping meeting will be held in Honolulu to solicit 
comments. A presentation will highlight the Science Plan development 
process, including sources of information utilized to date. Following 
the presentation, the public will be invited to provide written or oral 
comment on the five thematic research areas and projects that should be 
conducted under each thematic area. Written comments will also be 
accepted at the dates and locations specified in the DATES and 
ADDRESSES sections above.

    Dated: October 24, 2007.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 07-5502 Filed 11-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-M