[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 43 (Friday, March 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9798-9801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4809]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Nomination of Existing Marine Protected Areas to the National 
System of Marine Protected Areas

AGENCY: NOAA, Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Public notice and opportunity for comment on the list of 
nominations received from Federal, State and territorial marine 
protected area programs to join the National System of Marine Protected 
Areas.

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SUMMARY: NOAA and the Department of the Interior (DOI) invited Federal, 
State, commonwealth, and territorial marine protected areas (MPA) 
programs with potentially eligible existing MPAs to nominate their 
sites to the national system of MPAs. The national system and the 
nomination process are described in the Framework for the National 
System of Marine Protected Areas of the United States (Framework), 
developed in response to Executive Order 13158 on Marine Protected 
Areas. The final Framework was published on November 19, 2008, and 
provides guidance for collaborative efforts among Federal, State, 
commonwealth, territorial, Tribal and local governments and 
stakeholders to develop an effective and well coordinated National 
System of MPAs (national system) that includes existing MPAs meeting 
national system criteria as well as new sites that may be established 
by managing agencies to fill key conservation gaps in important ocean 
areas.

DATES: Comment on the nominations to the national system of MPAs are 
due April 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Joseph A. Uravitch, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Protected Areas 
Center, 1305 East West Highway, N/ORM, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Fax: 
(301) 713-3110. E-mail: [email protected]. Comments will be 
accepted in written form by mail, e-mail, or fax.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Wenzel, NOAA, at 301-713-3100, 
ext. 136 or via e-mail at [email protected]. An electronic copy of 
the list of nominated MPAs is available for download at http://www.mpa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on National System

    The national system of MPAs includes member MPA sites, networks and 
systems established and managed by Federal, State, Tribal and/or local 
governments that collectively enhance conservation of the nation's 
natural and cultural marine heritage and represent its diverse 
ecosystems and resources. Although participating sites continue to be 
managed independently, national system MPAs also work together at the 
regional and national levels to achieve common objectives for 
conserving the nation's important natural and cultural resources, with 
emphasis on achieving the priority conservation objectives of the 
Framework. MPAs include sites with a wide range of protection, from 
multiple use areas to no take reserves where all extractive uses are 
prohibited. The term MPA refers only to the marine portion of a site 
(below the mean high tide mark) that may include both terrestrial and 
marine components.
    Benefits of joining the national system of MPAs, which are expected 
to increase over time as the system matures, include a facilitated 
means to work with other MPAs in the region, and nationally on issues 
of common conservation concern; fostering greater public and 
international recognition of MPAs and the resources they protect; 
priority in the receipt of available technical and other support for 
cross-cutting needs; and the opportunity to influence Federal and 
regional ocean conservation and management initiatives (such as 
integrated ocean observing systems, systematic monitoring and 
evaluation, targeted outreach to key user groups, and helping to 
identify and address MPA research needs). In addition, the national 
system provides a forum for coordinated regional planning about place-
based conservation priorities that does not currently exist.
    Joining the national system does not restrict or require changes 
affecting the designation process or management of member MPAs. It does 
not bring State, territorial or local sites under Federal authority. It 
does not establish new regulatory authority. The national system is a 
mechanism to foster great collaboration among participating MPA sites 
and programs enhance stewardship in the waters of the United States.

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Nomination Process

    The Framework describes two major focal areas for building the 
national system of MPAs--a nomination process to allow existing MPAs 
that meet the entry criteria to become part of the system and a 
collaborative regional gap analysis process to identify areas of 
significance for natural or cultural resources that may merit 
additional protection through existing Federal, State, commonwealth, 
territorial, Tribal or local MPA authorities. The initial nomination 
process for the national system began on November 25, 2008, when the 
National Marine Protected Areas Center (MPA Center) sent a letter to 
Federal, State, commonwealth, and territorial MPA programs inviting 
them to submit nominations of eligible MPAs to the national system. The 
initial deadline for nominations was January 31, 2009; this was 
extended to February 13, 2009.
    There are three entry criteria for existing MPAs to join the 
national system, plus a fourth for cultural heritage. Sites that meet 
all pertinent criteria are eligible for the national system.
    1. Meets the definition of an MPA as defined in the Framework.
    2. Has a management plan (can be site-specific or part of a broader 
programmatic management plan; must have goals and objectives and call 
for monitoring or evaluation of those goals and objectives).
    3. Contributes to at least one priority conservation objective as 
listed in the Framework.
    4. Cultural heritage MPAs must also conform to criteria for the 
National Register for Historic Places.
    The MPA Center used existing information in the MPA Inventory to 
determine which MPAs meet the first and second criteria. The inventory 
is online at http://www.mpa.gov/helpful_resources/inventory.html, and 
potentially eligible sites are posted online at http://mpa.gov/pdf/national-system/allsitesumsheet120408.pdf. As part of the nomination 
process, the managing entity for each potentially eligible site is 
asked to provide information on the third and fourth criteria.

List of MPAs Nominated to the National System

    The following MPAs have been nominated by their managing programs 
to join the national system of MPAs. A list providing more detail for 
each site is available at http://www.mpa.gov.

Federal Marine Protected Areas

Marine National Monument

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Hawaii.

National Marine Sanctuaries

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

National Parks

Assateague Island National Seashore.
Biscayne National Park.
Channel Islands National Park.
Dry Tortugas National Park.
Everglades National Park.
Glacier Bay National Park.
Isle Royale National Park.
Point Reyes National Park.
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument.
Virgin Islands National Park.

National Wildlife Refuges

ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge.
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.
Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge.
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge.
Breton National Wildlife Refuge.
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge.
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.
Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge.
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.
Currituck National Wildlife Refuge.
Delta National Wildlife Refuge.
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge.
Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge.
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge.
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge
Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge
Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge.
Guam National Wildlife Refuge.
Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Huron National Wildlife Refuge.
Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge.
John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge.
Johnston Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Key West National Wildlife Refuge.
Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge.
Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge.
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge.
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Martin National Wildlife Refuge.
Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge.
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge.
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.
National Key Deer Refuge.
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge.
Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge.

[[Page 9800]]

Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Sabine National Wildlife Refuge.
Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge.
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge.
Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge.
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge.
Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.
Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge.
Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge.
Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.
Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge.
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.
Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge.
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge.
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

Federal/State Partnership Marine Protected Areas

National Estuarine Research Reserves

Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Florida.
Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Jersey.
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Florida.
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Massachusetts.

State Marine Protected Areas

American Samoa

Aua.

California

Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)
Ano Nuevo Area of Special Biological Significance.
Bird Rock Area of Special Biological Significance.
Bodega Area of Special Biological Significance.
Carmel Bay Area of Special Biological Significance.
Del Mar Area of Special Biological Significance.
Double Point Area of Special Biological Significance.
Duxbury Reef Area of Special Biological Significance.
Farallon Islands Area of Special Biological Significance.
Farnsworth Bank Area of Special Biological Significance.
Gerstle Cove Area of Special Biological Significance.
Heisler Park Area of Special Biological Significance.
Irvine Coast Area of Special Biological Significance.
James V. Fitzgerald Area of Special Biological Significance.
Jughandle Cove Area of Special Biological Significance.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns Area of Special Biological Significance.
King Range Area of Special Biological Significance.
La Jolla Area of Special Biological Significance.
Laguna Point to Latiga Point Area of Special Biological Significance.
Northwest Santa Catalina Area of Special Biological Significance.
Pacific Creek Area of Special Biological Significance.
Point Lobos Area of Special Biological Significance.
Point Reyes Headlands Area of Special Biological Significance.
Redwoods National Park Area of Special Biological Significance.
Robert E. Badham Area of Special Biological Significance.
Salmon Creek Coast Area of Special Biological Significance.
San Clemente Area of Special Biological Significance.
San Diego Scripps Area of Special Biological Significance.
San Nicolas Island & Begg Rock Area of Special Biological Significance.
Santa Barbara & Anacapa Island Area of Special Biological Significance.
Santa Rosa & Santa Cruz Island Area of Special Biological Significance.
Saunders Reef Area of Special Biological Significance.
Southeast Santa Catalina Area of Special Biological Significance.
Trinidad Head Area of Special Biological Significance.
Western Santa Catalina Area of Special Biological Significance.
Marine Life Protection Act Initiative--California's central coast MPAs
Ano Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area.
Asilomar State Marine Reserve.
Big Creek State Marine Conservation Area.
Big Creek State Marine Reserve.
Cambria State Marine Conservation Area.
Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area.
Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve.
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area.
Elkhorn Slough State Marine Conservation Area.
Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve.
Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area.
Lovers Point State Marine Reserve.
Moro Cojo Slough State Marine Reserve.
Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area.
Morro Bay State Marine Reserve.
Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve.
Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area.
Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area.
Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve.
Point Buchon State Marine Conservation Area.
Point Buchon State Marine Reserve.
Point Lobos State Marine Conservation Area.
Point Lobos State Marine Reserve.
Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area.
Point Sur State Marine Reserve.
Portuguese Ledge State Marine Conservation Area.
Soquel Canyon State Marine Conservation Area.
Vandenberg State Marine Reserve.
White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area.

Florida

    See National Estuarine Research Reserves, above.

Hawaii

Ahihi Kina'u Natural Area Reserve.
Hanauma Bay Marine Life Conservation District, Oahu.
Kaho'olawe Island Reserve.
Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District.
Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District.
Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District, Oahu.
West Hawaii Regional Fisheries Management Area.

Maryland

U-1105 Black Panther Historic Shipwreck Preserve.

Massachusetts

    See National Estuarine Research Reserves, above.

New Jersey

    See National Estuarine Research Reserves, above.

Virginia

Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve.
Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve.
False Cape State Park.
Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve.
Kiptopeke State Park.

[[Page 9801]]

Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve.

Washington

Admiralty Head Preserve.
Argyle Lagoon San Juan Islands Marine Preserve.
Blake Island Underwater Park.
Brackett's Landing Shoreline Sanctuary Conservation Area.
Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve.
Cypress Island Aquatic Reserve.
Deception Pass Underwater Park.
False Bay San Juan Islands Marine Preserve.
Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Reserve.
Friday Harbor San Juan Islands Marine Preserve.
Haro Strait Special Management Fishery Area.
Maury Island Aquatic Reserve.
San Juan Channel & Upright Channel Special Management Fishery Area.
Orchard Rocks Conservation Area.
Shaw Island San Juan Islands Marine Preserve.
South Puget Sound Wildfire Area.
Sund Rock Conservation Area.
Yellow and Low Islands San Juan Islands Marine Preserve.
Zelia Schultz/Protection Island Marine Preserve.

Review and Approval

    Following this public comment period, the MPA Center will forward 
public comments to the relevant managing entity or entities, which will 
reaffirm or withdraw (in writing to the MPA Center) the nomination. 
After final MPA Center review, mutually agreed upon MPAs will be 
accepted into the national system and the List of National System MPAs 
will be posted at http://www.mpa.gov.

    Dated: March 3, 2009.
John H. Dunnigan,
Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-4809 Filed 3-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P