[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 179 (Monday, September 15, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53161-53162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21489]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 179 / Monday, September 15, 2008 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 53161]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922


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

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), 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: Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS or sanctuary) 
was designated in May 1994. It spans 3,310 square miles of marine 
waters off the rugged Olympic Peninsula coast, covering much of the 
continental shelf and the heads of several major submarine canyons. The 
present management plan was written as part of the sanctuary 
designation process and published in the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement in 1993. In accordance with Section 304(e) of the National 
Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, (NMSA) (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), 
the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is initiating a review of 
the OCNMS 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. NOAA will conduct public scoping meetings to gather 
information and other comments from individuals, organizations, tribes, 
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 as detailed below.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before November 14, 
2008.
    Scoping meetings will be held on:

(1) September 29, 6-9 p.m., Peninsula College Longhouse, South Campus, 
Port Angeles, WA.
(2) September 30, 6-9 p.m., Makah Marina Conference Center, Bay-view 
Ave, Neah Bay, WA.
(3) October 1, 6-9 p.m., A-Ka-Lat Center, La Push Road, La Push, WA.
(4) October 2, 6-9 p.m., Ocean Shores Convention Center, 120 W Chance a 
La Mer, NW., Ocean Shores, WA.
(5) October 3, 6-9 p.m., Westport Maritime Museum, 2201 Westhaven 
Drive, Westport, WA.
(6) October 4, 2-5 p.m., Governor Hotel, Washington Room, 621 S. 
Capitol Way, Olympia, WA.
(7) October 5, 7-10 p.m., Seattle Aquarium, Pier 59, 1483 Alaskan Way, 
Seattle, WA.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to the Olympic Coast National 
Marine Sanctuary (Management Plan Review), 115 Railroad Ave. East, 
Suite 301, Port Angeles, WA 98362, or faxed to (360) 457-8496. 
Electronic comments may be sent to [email protected].
    Comments will be available for public review at the street address 
mentioned above. All comments received are a part of the public record. 
All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information. NOAA will accept anonymous comments. Attachments 
to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, 
Wordperfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Galasso, 360.457.6622 Ext. 12, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed revised management plan will 
likely involve changes to existing policies of the Sanctuary in order 
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: (1) Information collection and 
characterization; (2) preparation and release of a draft management 
plan/environmental impact statement, and any proposed amendments to the 
regulations; (3) public review and comment; (4) preparation and release 
of a final management plan/environmental impact statement, and any 
final amendments to the regulations. In the event that the potential 
impacts of new actions described in the management plan do not warrant 
the need for an Environmental Impact Statement, NOAA will publish the 
appropriate environmental analysis and notify the public. NOAA 
anticipates completion of the revised management plan and concomitant 
documents will require approximately thirty-six months.

Preliminary Priority Topics

    NOAA, in consultation with the Intergovernmental Policy Council 
(State of Washington and the Coastal Treaty Tribes who have 
jurisdiction of resources within the sanctuary), has prepared a list of 
preliminary priority topics. This list represents our best professional 
judgment of the most important issues NOAA should consider in 
preparation of a new OCNMS management plan. We are interested in the 
public's comments on these topics, as well as any other topics of 
interest to the public or other agencies. It is important to note that 
this list does not preclude or in any way limit the consideration of 
additional topics raised through public comment, government-to-
government consultations, and discussions with partner agencies.
    Improved Partnerships--Recent initiatives for regional ocean 
management, including the formation of the Olympic Coast 
Intergovernmental Policy Council (IPC), the Washington Ocean Action 
Plan and the West Coast Governors Agreement on Ocean Health, provide 
the sanctuary with new opportunities to strengthen partnerships, 
particularly with the four coastal treaty tribes and the state of 
Washington in their role as governments. The sanctuary will work in 
active partnership to provide a more transparent, cooperative and 
coordinated management structure of Olympic Coast marine resources 
within tribal, state and federal jurisdictions.

[[Page 53162]]

    Characterization and Monitoring--There is a need to develop an 
understanding of baseline conditions of marine resources within the 
sanctuary, ecosystem functions, and status and trends of biological and 
socioeconomic resources to effectively inform management. OCNMS, in 
conjunction with IPC and other entities, will work to resolve these 
needs.
    Spill Prevention, Contingency Planning and Response--The risk from 
vessel traffic and other hazards remains a significant threat to marine 
resources. The potential for a catastrophic oil spill remains a primary 
concern and while advances in maritime safety have been made since the 
sanctuary was designated, better coordination is needed for response to 
these threats. Oil spills cause immediate and potentially long-term 
harm to marine resources as well as socioeconomic impacts to coastal 
communities.
    Climate Change--Climate change is widely acknowledged, yet there is 
considerable uncertainty about current and future consequences at 
local, ecosystem and oceanic scales. Increased coordination and 
cooperation among resource management agencies is required to improve 
planning, monitoring and adaptive management to address this 
phenomenon.
    Ocean Literacy--Enhancing the public's awareness and appreciation 
of marine, socio-economic, and cultural resources is a cornerstone of 
the sanctuary's mission. Recent regional initiatives offer 
opportunities for the sanctuary, in conjunction with IPC and other 
entities, to expand educational contributions and reach a larger 
audience.
    Marine Debris--Coastal marine debris is a persistent and poorly 
diagnosed problem within the sanctuary that negatively impacts natural 
and socioeconomic resources and qualities.

Condition Report

    In preparation for management plan review, NOAA has produced an 
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary 2008 Condition Report. The 
Condition Report provides a summary of resources in OCNMS, pressures on 
those resources, the current condition and trends, and management 
responses to the pressures that threaten the integrity of the marine 
environment. Specifically, the Condition Report includes information on 
the status and trends of water quality, habitat, living resources and 
maritime archaeological resources and the human activities that affect 
them. The report serves as a supporting document for the Management 
Plan Review Process, to inform constituents who desire to participate 
in that process.
    Additionally, the Olympic Coast Intergovernmental Policy Council 
(IPC) has requested that an IPC authored addendum be distributed with 
the Condition Report. The IPC is composed of the state of Washington, 
the Hoh, Makah, Quileute Indian Tribes and Quinault Indian Nation, and 
was formed to provide a forum for resource managers to exchange 
information, coordinate policies, and develop recommendations for 
resource management within the sanctuary.
    The Hoh, Makah, Quileute Indian Tribes and Quinault Indian Nation 
signed treaties with the U.S. government and exist as domestic 
sovereigns. Since the affirmation of treaty fishing rights in U.S. v. 
Washington, tribal, state and federal governments developed a unique 
management approach for fisheries in western Washington. This addendum 
explains this co-management approach, its underlying legal framework, 
and Washington Coastal Treaty Tribes' historic and present use of 
marine resources.
    The condition report and the IPC addendum will be made available to 
the general public in advance of scoping meetings and on the Internet 
at: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/welcome.html.

Scoping Comments

    Scoping meetings provide an opportunity to make direct comments to 
NOAA on the management of the sanctuary's natural and cultural 
resources, including administrative programs. We encourage the public 
to participate and welcome any comments related to the sanctuary. In 
particular, we are interested in hearing about the public's view on:
     The sanctuary's potential management priorities for the 
next five to ten years.
     Effectiveness of the existing management plan in 
protecting sanctuary resources.
     Sanctuary programs, activities and needs, including but 
not limited to resource protection programs, research and monitoring 
programs, education, volunteer, and outreach programs.
     Implementation of regulations and permits.
     Adequacy of existing boundaries to protect sanctuary 
resources.
     Assessment of the existing operational and administrative 
framework (staffing, offices, vessels, etc.).

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

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary 
Program).

     Dated: September 4, 2008.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. E8-21489 Filed 9-12-08; 8:45 am]
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