[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 202 (Friday, October 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 61786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24469]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management 
Strategic Plan

AGENCY: Coral Reef Conservation Program, NOAA, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
publishes this notice to announce the availability of the Draft NOAA 
Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management Strategic Plan for 
public comment. The Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and 
Management Strategic Plan identifies objectives, priorities and 
approaches that will guide NOAA's research, management, and 
international activities from Fiscal Year 2009 through 2013 as they 
relate to deep coral and sponge ecosystems.

DATES: Comments on this draft must be received no later than 5 p.m., 
Eastern Standard Time, January 15, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and 
Management Strategic Plan will be available at the following location: 
http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/Library/Publications/deepcstratplan.pdf.
    The public is encouraged to submit comments on the Draft NOAA Deep-
Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management Strategic Plan 
electronically to: deepseacoral.strategicplan.gov. For commenters who 
do not have access to a computer, comments on the document may be 
submitted in writing to: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, c/o 
Karen Palmigiano, NOAA's Deep-Sea Coral Program, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Room 15828, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Palmigiano by mail at NOAA 
National Marine Fisheries Service, c/o Karen Palmigiano, NOAA's Deep-
Sea Coral Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 15828, Silver Spring, 
Maryland 20910 or phone at 301-713-3459 or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) announces that the Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and 
Sponge Research and Management Strategic Plan is available for public 
review and comment. All interested parties are encouraged to provide 
comments. The Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Management and 
Strategic Plan is being issued for comment only and is not intended for 
interim use. Suggested changes will be considered for incorporation 
into the final version, where appropriate.
    The Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management 
Strategic Plan identifies objectives, priorities, and approaches that 
will guide NOAA's research, management, and international activities 
from Fiscal Year 2009 through Fiscal Year 2013 as they relate to deep 
coral and sponge ecosystems. It is intended to integrate research and 
conservation needs and to be a flexible, evolving document that allows 
NOAA and its partners to address our growing understanding of 
management challenges and allow new issues and priorities to be 
addressed as appropriate. NOAA is soliciting review and comment from 
the public and all interested parties on the Draft Deep-Sea Coral and 
Sponge Research and Management Strategic Plan.
    The Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management 
Strategic Plan is presented in three sections: (I) Exploration and 
Research; (II) Conservation and Management; and (III) International 
Cooperation.
    Section I identifies the role of research in management, including 
NOAA's priorities and objectives for research and exploration of deep-
sea coral and sponge ecosystems and anticipated deliverables for each 
objective. Section II provides objectives and approaches that NOAA will 
undertake to enhance protection of deep-sea coral and sponge 
communities working with the Councils, other Federal agencies and 
interested partners. NOAA's strategy for managing deep-sea coral and 
sponge ecosystems is centered on the authority provided to NOAA through 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act as 
amended January 12, 2007, and the National Marine Sanctuary Act. 
Section III describes NOAA's participation in international activities 
to protect and/or conserve deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems.
    NOAA welcomes all comments on the content of the Draft NOAA Deep-
Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management Strategic Plan. We also 
request commenters to acknowledge areas where more language may be 
needed and to provide specific language for those areas.
    Using the format guidance described below will facilitate the 
processing of reviewer comments and assure that all comments are 
appropriately considered; however, all comments received will be 
considered. Please format your comments into the following three 
sections: (1) Background information about yourself (optional); (2) 
overview or general comments; and (3) specific comments. Section one 
may include the following background information about yourself on the 
first page of your comments: Your name(s), organization(s), area(s) of 
expertise, and contact information such as mailing address, telephone 
and fax numbers, and e-mail address(s). Section two should consist of 
overview comments, and each should be numbered. Section three should 
consist of comments that are specific to particular pages, paragraphs, 
or lines in the document, and each comment should identify the page and 
line numbers to which it applies. Please number and print identifying 
information at the top of all pages.
    Public comments may be submitted from October 17, 2008, through 
January 15, 2009.

    Dated: October 2, 2008.
David Kennedy,
Director, Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
 [FR Doc. E8-24469 Filed 10-16-08; 8:45 am]
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