[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 7357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02268]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922

[Docket No. 230130-0031]
RIN 0648-AV85


National Marine Sanctuary Regulations; Delay of Effective Date

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

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: On January 6, 2023, NOAA published a final rule that appeared 
in the Federal Register and that amended the ONMS regulations. The 
final rule was published with a 30-day delayed effective date (February 
6, 2023). This action delays the effective date of the final rule by 60 
days, until April 7, 2023.

DATES: As of February 3, 2023, the effective date for the final rule 
published January 6, 2023, at 88 FR 953, is delayed to April 7, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vicki Wedell, NOAA Office of National 
Marine Sanctuaries, (240) 533-0650, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA published a final rule January 6, 2023 
(88 FR 953), which updated and streamlined ONMS regulations. NOAA is 
preparing technical corrections to the final rule. NOAA is delaying the 
effective date of February 6, 2023, for the final rule by 60 days, to 
April 7, 2023. The delay in the effective date is necessary to provide 
time for ONMS to publish the technical corrections in advance of the 
final rule taking effect.

National Marine Sanctuaries Act

    The National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) authorizes the Secretary 
of Commerce (Secretary) to designate, manage, and protect, as a 
national marine sanctuary (NMS), any area of the marine environment 
that is of special national significance due to its conservation, 
recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, 
archeological, educational, or esthetic qualities (16 U.S.C. 1431 et 
seq.). NMSA provides the legal basis and serves as the authority under 
which NOAA issues this action.

Nicole R. LeBoeuf,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, 
National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-02268 Filed 2-2-23; 8:45 am]
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