[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10606-10607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03430]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Final Management Plan and Environmental Assessment for Monitor 
National Marine Sanctuary: Notice of Public Availability

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of public availability.

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SUMMARY: NOAA is releasing the final management plan and environmental 
assessment for Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

DATE: The final management plan and environmental assessment for 
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is now available.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the final management plan and 
environmental assessment, contact the Management Plan Review 
Coordinator, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, 100 Museum Drive, 
Newport News, VA 23606; (757) 591-7328; or via email at 
[email protected]. Copies can also be downloaded from the Monitor 
National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS) Web site at http://monitor.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Ricles at (757) 591-7328.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background Information

    On January 30, 1975, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

[[Page 10607]]

Administration (NOAA) designated Monitor National Marine Sanctuary 
(MNMS) as the nation's first national marine sanctuary. MNMS protects 
the wreck of the famed Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, best known for 
its battle with the Confederate ironclad, CSS Virginia in Hampton 
Roads, VA, on March 9, 1862.
    NOAA began to review the management plan for MNMS in December 2008 
with public scoping (including meetings). This was followed by meetings 
of sanctuary advisory council working groups to develop the action 
plans of the management plan.
    NOAA released a draft revised management plan on April 12, 2012, 
and accepted comments through June 22, 2012 (77 F.R. 22761). During the 
public comment period, NOAA held five public meetings in Raleigh, NC, 
Wilmington, NC, Beaufort, NC, Nags Head, NC, and Newport News, VA. 
Comments can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov with docket number 
NOAA-NOS-2012-0076. All comments received are addressed in Appendix I: 
Response to Public Comments.

II. Environmental Assessment

    NOAA prepared an environmental assessment, pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act, that analyzes the environmental impacts of 
the revised management plan. NOAA's analysis of environmental impacts 
of this action resulted in a finding of no significant impact.

    Dated: February 6, 2013.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2013-03430 Filed 2-13-13; 8:45 am]
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