[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6850-6851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02473]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Review of Nomination for St. George Unangan Heritage National 
Marine Sanctuary

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On November 17, 2021, the Office of National Marine 
Sanctuaries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
requested written comments to facilitate the ONMS five-year review of 
the nomination for St. George Unangan Heritage National Marine 
Sanctuary (NMS). NOAA requested relevant information as it pertains to 
its 11 evaluation criteria for the nomination to remain in the 
inventory. NOAA has synthesized the information gathered through the 
public process, completed an internal analysis, and the ONMS Director 
has made a final determination that the St. George Unangan Heritage NMS 
nomination will remain in the inventory beyond the January 27, 2022 
expiration date.

DATES: This determination took effect on January 27, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Paul Michel, Regional Policy Coordinator, NOAA Sanctuaries 
West Coast Region, 99 Pacific Street, Bldg. 100F, Monterey, CA 93940, 
or at [email protected], or 831-241-4217.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Michel, Regional Policy 
Coordinator, NOAA Sanctuaries West Coast Region, 99 Pacific Street, 
Bldg. 100F, Monterey, CA 93940, or at [email protected], or 831-241-
4217.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    In 2014, NOAA issued a final rule establishing the sanctuary 
nomination process (SNP), a process by which communities may submit 
nominations of areas of the marine and Great Lakes environment for NOAA 
to consider for designation as a national marine sanctuary (79 FR 
33851). The final rule establishing the SNP included a five-year limit 
on any nomination added to the inventory that NOAA does not advance for 
designation. The nomination for St. George Unangan Heritage NMS was 
accepted to the national inventory on January 27, 2017, and was 
scheduled to expire in January 2022.
    In November 2019, NOAA issued a notice (84 FR 61546) to clarify 
procedures for evaluating and updating a nomination as it approaches 
the five-year mark on the inventory of areas that could be considered 
for national marine sanctuary designation. This notice explained that 
if a nomination remains responsive to the 11 evaluation criteria for 
inclusion on the inventory, it may be appropriate to allow the 
nomination to remain on the inventory for another five years. The 
notice also established a process for NOAA to consider the continuing 
viability of nominations nearing the five-year expiration mark. The 11 
evaluation criteria can be found at https://nominate.noaa.gov.
    On November 17, 2021, NOAA issued a request for public comments on 
this nomination (86 FR 64190). NOAA requested relevant information 
pertaining to the 11 evaluation criteria that NOAA applied to evaluate 
the St. George Unangan Heritage NMS nomination for inclusion in the 
national inventory of areas that NOAA may consider for future 
designation as a national marine sanctuary. During the comment period, 
32 public comments were received, and the nominator provided additional 
information as well, which NOAA has used in evaluating the nomination. 
Comments can be found at regulations.gov (search for Docket Number 
NOAA-NOS-2021-0094). In analyzing this material, particular attention 
was given to new scientific information about the national significance 
of natural and cultural resources, as well as increases or decreases in 
the threats to resources originally proposed for protection, and 
changes to the management framework of the area. NOAA also assessed the 
level of community-based support for the nomination from a broad range 
of interests.
    Following NOAA's review of information provided regarding the 
nomination's merit for remaining on the inventory after five years, it 
was determined that new information shows: There are still significant 
threats to the area; it is still an area of national significance; and, 
there is still broad community support for the nomination remaining on 
the inventory of possible designations, among other criteria that the 
nomination still continues to meet. Therefore, the ONMS Director has 
determined the nomination for the St. George Unangan Heritage NMS 
should remain on the inventory. NOAA is not proposing to designate St. 
George Unangan Heritage NMS or any other new national marine sanctuary 
with this action. This notice serves to inform the

[[Page 6851]]

public of this decision to extend the nomination on the inventory.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-02473 Filed 2-4-22; 8:45 am]
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