[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52053-52055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20247]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922


Initiation of Review of Management Plan for Channel Islands 
National Marine Sanctuary; Intent To Conduct Scoping and Prepare Draft 
Environmental Analysis and Management Plan

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; intent to conduct 
scoping and prepare environmental analysis under the National 
Environmental Policy Act.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 304(e) of the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act, as amended (NMSA), the Office of National Marine 
Sanctuaries (ONMS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) is initiating a review of the Channel Islands 
National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) management plan, to 
evaluate substantive progress toward implementing the goals of the 
sanctuary, and to make revisions to the management plan as necessary to 
fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA. NOAA anticipates 
management plan changes will require preparation of an environmental 
analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 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 
CINMS management plan and the proper scope of environmental analysis 
for the management plan review. The scoping meetings are scheduled as 
detailed below under DATES.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before November 15, 
2019. Public scoping meetings will be held on:
    (1) Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 6-8 p.m., at Faulkner Gallery, Santa 
Barbara Public Library, 40 E Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
    (2) Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 6-8 p.m., at Poinsettia Pavilion, 
3451 Foothill Road, Ventura, CA 93003.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NOS-2019-0110, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NOS-2019-0110, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: UCSB Ocean Science Education, Building 514/MC 6155, 
Santa Barbara, California 93106, Attn: Chris Mobley, Superintendent.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NOAA. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personally identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Murray, 805-893-6418, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) was 
designated in October 1980. It spans 1,470 square miles (1,110 square 
nautical miles) of southern California marine waters surrounding five 
offshore islands. The sanctuary boundary begins at the Mean High Water 
Line and extends seaward to a distance of approximately six nautical 
miles from the following islands and offshore rocks: San Miguel Island, 
Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, Anacapa Island, Santa Barbara 
Island, Richardson Rock, and Castle Rock. CINMS is administered by 
NOAA, within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and was designated to 
conserve, protect, and enhance the biodiversity, ecological integrity, 
and cultural legacy of marine resources surrounding the Channel Islands 
for current and future generations. Sanctuary programs in education, 
conservation, science, and stewardship help protect CINMS and its 
nationally-significant resources, while promoting public use and 
enjoyment through compatible human activities.
    The current CINMS management plan was published in 2009, and is 
available on the internet here: https://channelislands.noaa.gov/management/manplan/welcome.html.
    In 2018, NOAA completed an internal assessment of progress toward 
implementation of the 2009 management plan. The assessment found that 
89% (123 of 138 activities) of the management plan's activities had 
been fully or partially completed or were still being implemented as 
ongoing functions, while 11% (15 of 138 activities) were not yet 
started or had been placed on hold. Results of the 2018 internal 
assessment were discussed at a public meeting of the sanctuary advisory 
council in May 2018.
    Reviewing the CINMS management plan may result in proposed changes 
to existing programs and policies 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 and environmental document under 
NEPA, and any proposed amendments to the regulations; (3) public review 
and comment; and (4) preparation and release of a final management plan 
and environmental document, and any final amendments to the 
regulations, if applicable. NOAA will also address other statutory and 
regulatory requirements that may be required pursuant to the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act, Essential Fish Habitat 
(EFH) provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), Coastal Zone Management Act 
(CZMA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and tribal 
consultation responsibilities under Executive Order 13175.

Condition Report

    To inform the management plan review, in 2019, NOAA updated the 
CINMS Condition Report, which was first published in 2009. The new 
condition report provides an updated summary of sanctuary resources, 
drivers and pressures on those resources, current conditions and trends 
for resources, and existing management responses to identified 
pressures, and introduces a new section on ecosystem services. The 
report uses quantitative data gathered through 2016, expert scientific 
input, and a focus on select ecosystem indicators to update the 
conditions and changes in water quality, habitat, living resources, and 
maritime archaeological resources in the sanctuary. Overall, the 
condition report

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indicates that sanctuary resources are doing well in comparison to 
other parts of the world's ocean. Many sanctuary resources are showing 
relative stability or improvement since 2009, including water quality 
(which is safe for swimming and recreation), nutrient levels, shoreline 
and seafloor habitats, many fish species, overall native sanctuary 
biodiversity, and the maritime archaeological resources. The 2019 
condition report also identifies some pressures and activities that 
have impacts on sanctuary resources, such as vessel traffic, 
introduction of non-native species, ocean noise, marine debris, harmful 
algal blooms, and climate-driven changes to ocean conditions. An 
ecosystem services assessment is introduced to the condition report, as 
well as an ecosystem assessment independently authored by members of 
the Chumash community. The 2019 condition report is available on the 
internet at: https://sanctuaries.noaa .gov/science/condition/cinms/
welcome .html.

Preliminary Priority Topics

    NOAA has prepared a preliminary list of priority topics to consider 
during the CINMS management plan review process. NOAA is interested in 
public comment on these topics, as well as any other issues of interest 
that are relevant to the CINMS management plan review (including 
additional topics raised through public comment, and tribal and 
interagency consultation).

Partnership-Based Management

    Through collaborative partnerships with other federal and state 
agencies, universities, and many other organizations, NOAA is 
interested in providing effective and coordinated management of marine 
resources and human activities within CINMS. This includes partnerships 
that enhance scientific research, sustain ongoing monitoring of 
environmental and socioeconomic conditions, enforce regulations, share 
community-based initiatives, and implement effective education, 
outreach, and volunteer programs. NOAA seeks input on strengthening and 
optimizing partnerships within the sanctuary to increase management 
effectiveness.

Climate-Driven Impacts

    NOAA is a leader in developing tools to educate the public 
education about climate change impacts on CINMS, such as ocean 
acidification. NOAA also measures climate change impacts in and around 
the sanctuary and supports partner organizations that do the same. This 
includes changes to pH within the sanctuary and changes to deep sea 
corals. With changes expected in the occurrence of cyclic and seasonal 
phenomena, rising sea levels, and shifts in species distributions, NOAA 
will look for opportunities to effectively respond by adapting 
operations and management approaches to mitigate climate impacts.

Collaborative Research and Monitoring

    There is a continuing need for characterization, research, and 
monitoring to understand baseline conditions of marine resources and 
human activities, ecosystem functions, the status and trends of 
biological and historic resources, and changing socioeconomic 
conditions within CINMS. Findings from research and monitoring help 
inform sound management of activities in CINMS. Anticipated priority 
areas of scientific study for CINMS, or partner-led programs, include, 
but are not limited to: Improving understanding of the distribution of 
large transient species (e.g., giant seabass and sharks); monitoring 
habitats of interest and concern within the sanctuary (e.g., deep sea 
coral gardens); increasing the amount of sanctuary seafloor mapped; 
improving knowledge of acoustic habitats within CINMS; understanding 
and quantifying human use of CINMS; and tracking pollutant levels in 
sanctuary sediments, water samples, and fish tissues. In support of 
these science activities, NOAA seeks to continue working with a variety 
of partners aboard CINMS research vessels.

Protection of Sanctuary Resources

    Using an ecosystem-based approach to management, NOAA examines and 
evaluates existing and potential resource management issues that may 
adversely affect sanctuary resources. CINMS regulations protect 
sanctuary resources while allowing for compatible uses. Anticipated 
priorities for resource protection activities that are either led by 
NOAA or supported by partner-led programs include, but are not limited 
to: Continued efforts to reduce the risk of lethal ship strikes to 
endangered whales through innovative approaches designed to elicit 
cooperative behavior from the shipping industry (e.g., vessel speed 
reduction programs); detection and control actions to limit 
introductions of non-native species (e.g., Undaria pinnatifida and 
Sargassum horneri); working with partners to ensure continued 
protection of species and habitats within the state and federal network 
of marine reserves and marine conservation areas established within 
CINMS; assisting with efforts to restore endangered white abalone; and 
pursuing innovative and collaborative approaches to reduce the amount 
of marine debris accumulating within CINMS (e.g., removal of lost 
fishing gear and floating plastic debris). NOAA seeks to continue and 
enhance its collaborative approach to enforcing federal and state rules 
and regulations applicable within the sanctuary to protect sanctuary 
resources. NOAA expects to continue developing remote technology tools 
(e.g., shore-based radar systems and mobile applications) that make 
monitoring and patrol operations more streamlined and effective.

Education, Outreach, and Citizen Science

    Enhancing public awareness and appreciation of sanctuary resources 
is a cornerstone of the CINMS mission. Recent initiatives and 
advancements offer the potential for NOAA and its partners to enhance 
and expand education and outreach programming to reach larger 
audiences. These advancements include using remote video-link 
technologies, developing mobile applications to enhance community 
science activities, improving video production, and partnering with the 
recreation and tourism industry. NOAA is also committed to continuing 
shipwreck discovery missions within the sanctuary and providing 
compelling public education about these maritime heritage discoveries. 
NOAA is seeking the public's view on developing and improving programs 
designed to enhance public awareness and stewardship, support 
environmentally responsible recreation and tourism, sustain volunteer 
contributions, and improve socioeconomic understanding of visitor use. 
NOAA is also interested in collaboratively developing educational 
programming in partner facilities open to public visitation. Facilities 
include the east wing of the Ocean Science Education Building at the 
University of California Santa Barbara, and the Channel Islands Boating 
Center in Oxnard.

Regulatory and Boundary Changes

    In preparing for public scoping, NOAA has not identified the need 
for any changes to CINMS regulations, such as adjustments to the 
regulations or boundaries of the marine reserve and conservation area 
network within the sanctuary, or changes to the sanctuary's boundary. 
However, regulatory changes may be considered based on a review of 
public scoping comments and, if proposed, would be presented for public

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review with the publication of a proposed rulemaking.

Public Comments

    NOAA is interested in hearing the public's views on:
     The potential impacts of ongoing and proposed sanctuary 
activities discussed above, and ways to mitigate impacts to sanctuary 
resources.
     The preliminary priority topics discussed above, and 
whether these are the appropriate priority topics, or if there are 
additional topics NOAA should consider.
     The effectiveness of the existing management plan in 
meeting the mandates of the NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) and 
supporting the mission and goals expressed in the current strategic 
plan for the National Marine Sanctuary System (available on the 
internet here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/five-year-strategy-
2017-2022.html).

Federal Consultations

    This document also advises the public that NOAA will coordinate its 
consultation responsibilities under section 7 of the ESA, EFH under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, section 106 of the NHPA (16 U.S.C. 470), and 
Federal Consistency review under the CZMA. Through its ongoing NEPA 
process and the use of NEPA documents and public and stakeholder 
meetings, NOAA will also coordinate compliance with other federal laws.
    In fulfilling its responsibility under the NHPA and NEPA, NOAA 
intends to identify consulting parties; identify historic properties 
and assess the effects of the undertaking on such properties; initiate 
formal consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer, the 
Advisory Council of Historic Preservation, and other consulting 
parties; involve the public in accordance with NOAA's NEPA procedures; 
and develop in consultation with identified consulting parties 
alternatives and proposed measures that might avoid, minimize, or 
mitigate any adverse effects on historic properties and describe them 
in any environmental analysis.
    NOAA will also initiate communications and consultation steps with 
relevant federally recognized tribal governments pursuant to Executive 
Order 13175, Department of Commerce tribal consultation policies, and 
NOAA procedures for government-to-government consultation with 
federally recognized Indian Tribes.

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

John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2019-20247 Filed 9-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P