[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 19 (Friday, January 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5641-5642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2092]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Initiation of Review of Management Plan/Regulations of the 
Fagatele Bay 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: Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS or Sanctuary) 
was designated in April of 1986 in response to a proposal from the 
American Samoa Government to the (then) National Marine Sanctuary 
Program. FBNMS protects 163 acres (0.25 square miles) of vibrant 
tropical coral reef ecosystem off the southwest coast of Tutuila 
Island, American Samoa. The present management plan was written as part 
of the sanctuary designation process and published in the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement in 1984. 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 FBNMS management plan, to evaluate 
substantive progress toward implementing the goals for the Sanctuary, 
to initiate discussions on possible site expansion, 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, and government agencies on the scope, types and 
significance of issues related to the Sanctuary's management plan and 
regulations, and possible site expansion (including expansion to 
include the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument designated on January 
6, 2009). The scoping meetings are scheduled as detailed below.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before March 26, 2009.
    Scoping meetings will be held on:
    (1) February 10th, 4-6:30 p.m., Convention Center, Utulei, Tutuila, 
American Samoa.
    (2) February 11th, 4-6:30 p.m., Fagaitua High School Gym, Fagaitua, 
Tutuila, American Samoa.
    (3) February 12th, 4-6:30 p.m., American Samoa Community College, 
Mapusaga, Tutuila, American Samoa.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to the Fagatele Bay National 
Marine Sanctuary (Management Plan Review), P.O. Box 4318, Pago Pago, 
American Samoa 96799; or faxed to (808) 397-2662. Electronic comments 
may be sent to [email protected].
    Comments will be available for public review at the following 
street address: Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 1 Convention 
Center Circle, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799. 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, or Adobe PDF file formats 
only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Grant, 808.397.2660 Ext. 238, 
[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; and (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. 
Depending upon the complexity and level of any site expansion, NOAA 
anticipates completion of the revised management plan and concomitant 
documents will require approximately thirty-six to forty-eight months.

Preliminary Priority Topics

    NOAA, in consultation with the American Samoa Department of 
Commerce, 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 FBNMS 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 regarding marine managed 
areas provide the Sanctuary with new opportunities to strengthen 
partnerships, particularly with Territorial and Federal agencies, the 
American Samoa Community College, and other entities. The Sanctuary 
will work in active partnership to provide a more transparent, 
cooperative, and coordinated management structure of marine resources 
within Territorial and federal jurisdictions.
    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

[[Page 5642]]

resources to effectively inform management. FBNMS, in conjunction with 
Territorial and Federal agencies as well as other entities, will work 
to resolve these needs.
    Spill Prevention, Contingency Planning and Response--The risk from 
vessel traffic and other hazards is 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. Management Plan Review could offer 
opportunities for the Sanctuary, in conjunction with the American Samoa 
Community College 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.
    Site Expansion--The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), 
under the authority of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, has the 
ability to develop protections for special areas of the marine 
environment, including those found in federal waters. Any possible 
expansion of the ONMS activities, such as the expansion of the 
Sanctuary to include the newly designated Rose Atoll Marine National 
Monument, could supplement and compliment existing MPA initiatives in 
the Territory. Working cooperatively with partner agencies, will allow 
all parties to leverage resources and find the best solutions to 
protecting the marine resources of the Territory.

Condition Report

    In preparation for management plan review, NOAA produced a Fagatele 
Bay National Marine Sanctuary Condition Report in 2007. The Condition 
Report provides a summary of resources in FBNMS, 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.
    In addition, a State of the Sanctuary Report was completed for 
2002-2003. This report outlines major accomplishments and highlights 
specific management plan activities. An update covering accomplishments 
from 2003-2008 has also been created. The condition report, State of 
the Sanctuary Report and the 2003-2008 Update are available to the 
general public in advance of scoping meetings and on the internet at: 
http://fagatelebay.noaa.gov/html/management_plan.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. Section 1431 et seq.

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary 
Program)

    Dated: January 26, 2009.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. E9-2092 Filed 1-29-09; 8:45 am]
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