[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14989-14991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04973]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Availability of a Final Management Plan and Final 
Environmental Assessment for the Channel Islands National Marine 
Sanctuary

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has 
prepared a final management plan (FMP) as part of the Channel Islands 
National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) management plan review. 
The FMP, which replaces a 2009 sanctuary management plan, addresses 
current and emerging threats in CINMS and reflects changes in new 
science and technologies, how the public uses the sanctuary, and 
community needs. The FMP supports continued protection of sanctuary 
resources through enforcement of existing sanctuary regulations, 
education and outreach strategies that promote ocean stewardship, and 
community-inclusive involvement. Consistent with the

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information provided in the 2019 Notice of Intent, and information 
gathered through public scoping to prepare a draft environmental 
assessment (DEA) and draft management plan (DMP) for the sanctuary, and 
public comments received on the DMP, NOAA is not making modifications 
to the sanctuary regulations at this time, but may consider regulatory 
changes in the future. NOAA also prepared a final environmental 
assessment (FEA) and a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for 
this action.

DATES: The final management plan and environmental assessment for 
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is now available.

ADDRESSES: The FMP, FEA, and FONSI are available at https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/. The DMP is available at https://nmschannelislands.blob.core.windows.net/channelislands-prod/media/docs/2021-cinms-draft-management-plan.pdf, and the DEA is available at 
https://nmschannelislands.blob.core.windows.net/channelislands-prod/media/docs/2021-cinms-draft-environmental-assessment.pdf. All comments 
on the DMP and DEA can be viewed via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: go 
to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ``NOAA-NOS-2019-0110'' in the 
Search box.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Murray, Deputy Superintendent 
for Programs, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, 805-893-6418, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary surrounds five of the 
eight Channel Islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and 
Santa Barbara off the coast of California. The sanctuary consists of an 
area of approximately 1,110 square nautical miles (nmi\2\) (3,807 
square kilometers) of coastal and ocean waters extending an average 
distance of 6 nautical miles (11.1 kilometers) from island shorelines, 
and at its deepest point, reaches 5,597 feet (1,706 meters). The 
sanctuary is home to numerous species of marine mammals, seabirds, 
fishes, invertebrates, and algae in a remarkably productive coastal 
environment. Within its boundary is a rich array of habitats, from 
rugged rocky shores and lush kelp forests to deep canyons and seagrass 
beds. These habitats abound with life, from tiny microscopic plants to 
enormous blue whales. The islands and surrounding sanctuary waters have 
been, and remain, sacred to Indigenous Chumash people. In addition, 
while the offshore location of the sanctuary limits human presence, the 
area supports a variety of human uses, such as recreation, tourism, 
commercial fishing, research, and education.

II. Management Plan Review

    The purpose of this management plan review is to ensure the 
sanctuary is fulfilling the purposes and policies outlined in section 
301(b) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA; 16 U.S.C. 
1431(b)), and effectively protecting and managing the resources of the 
sanctuary. As required by section 304(e) of the NMSA (16 U.S.C. 
1434(e)), a management plan review enables NOAA to evaluate the 
substantive progress toward implementing the sanctuary's existing 
management plan and the goals for the sanctuary and to revise the 
sanctuary's management plan and regulations as necessary to fulfill the 
purposes and policies of the NMSA. A revised sanctuary management plan 
enables NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) to adjust 
the allocation of time and resources to focus on new priority issues, 
partnerships, technologies and opportunities that have emerged since 
the existing sanctuary management was published. A revised management 
plan also prioritizes use of collaborative and community-based 
approaches to pursuing sanctuary goals, supported by a variety of 
partnerships with government agencies, scientific entities, tribal 
communities, non-governmental organizations, and sanctuary volunteers 
and advisory council members.
    Updates to the CINMS management plan are based on ONMS's 
evaluation, advisory council input on the 2009 management plan, 
analysis of comments received on the 2019 Notice of Intent, DMP, and 
DEA, and findings from the latest CINMS condition report. While the 
condition report, using quantitative data gathered through 2016, found 
overall that sanctuary resources were doing well in comparison to many 
other ocean areas, it also highlighted several pressures and activities 
causing impacts to the sanctuary, such as vessel traffic, introduction 
of non-native species, ocean noise, marine debris, harmful algal 
blooms, and climate-driven changes to ocean conditions. The condition 
report's ecosystem services assessment also provided an important 
reminder about the unique and profound value of the sanctuary 
environment to the Indigenous Chumash people.
    NOAA received 36 comments (letters and oral testimony) on the DMP 
and DEA during the December 17, 2021, through February 24, 2022, public 
review period. Altogether, the comments received contained 159 specific 
requests and suggestions for consideration. NOAA hosted two virtual 
public meetings on January 18, and January 27, 2022.

III. Action Plans

    The FMP includes 11 action plans covering issue- and program-based 
themes that are intended to guide sanctuary staff over the coming five 
to ten years. Across these action plans, ONMS also emphasizes four 
important cross-cutting themes and approaches: addressing climate 
change, fostering diversity and inclusion, relying on partnerships and 
collaborations, and supporting community-based engagement. The 
following is a list of the 11 action plans:
    1. Climate Change: Sanctuary waters, as well as surrounding coastal 
areas and communities, are experiencing climate-related stressors 
(e.g., ocean acidification, thermal stress, and hypoxia) that will 
increase in frequency and intensity over the coming decades. This 
action plan outlines strategies to better understand and mitigate the 
effects of climate change on sanctuary resources through capacity 
building and collaborative partnerships.
    2. Marine Debris: This action plan prioritizes the assessment of 
marine debris within CINMS and the development of a better 
understanding of how marine debris affects sanctuary resources. 
Strategies include sustaining and expanding island shoreline cleanup 
efforts, pursuing collaborative efforts with the local fishing 
community, and implementing education and outreach initiatives with 
partners.
    3. Vessel Traffic: A wide array of public and private vessels carry 
visitors and cargo while transiting through the sanctuary year-round. 
This action plan outlines strategies to facilitate vessel activity 
while protecting sanctuary resources. Some strategies include engaging 
boaters and the shipping industry, tracking and monitoring vessel 
traffic, and enacting policies to foster safe navigation and protect 
sanctuary resources in coordination with other agencies and partners.
    4. Introduced Species: Introduced species are an increasingly 
common global threat, and the rate of invasion of introduced species 
continues to accelerate. The strategies in this action plan outline 
efforts to reduce the introduction, spread, and establishment of 
introduced species, and to track,

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study, and, where possible, control populations of introduced species 
already established in the sanctuary.
    5. Zone Management: This action plan focuses on implementing 
effective management and enforcement strategies of existing protective 
zones established within the sanctuary, including the Channel Islands 
network of marine reserves and conservation areas designated by NOAA 
and the State of California.
    6. Education and Outreach: This action plan seeks to increase 
appreciation and stewardship of sanctuary resources by building greater 
public understanding, engagement, and awareness throughout our diverse 
coastal communities. This action plan also focuses on support for 
sanctuary recreational activities and tourism.
    7. Research and Monitoring: To expand our understanding of the 
sanctuary ecosystems, this action plan outlines five strategies for 
research and monitoring that are responsive to existing resource 
protection and management concerns, yet are also forward-looking to 
support ecosystem-based management decision making, resource protection 
initiatives, and education and outreach programs.
    8. Resource Protection: This action plan identifies five strategies 
to reduce human impacts to marine wildlife and other sanctuary 
resources. Through collaborative management with local stakeholders and 
in partnership and consultation with relevant local, State, and Federal 
government agencies, this action plan seeks to protect the biological, 
historical, and cultural resources in the sanctuary from known, 
emerging, and future unknown threats.
    9. Cultural Heritage: To respectfully honor, celebrate, and protect 
the unique Indigenous cultural heritage resources connected to the 
sanctuary, this action plan features strategies and activities that 
support meaningful Chumash Community collaborations, engagement with 
Chumash Community partners revitalizing maritime traditions, and 
appropriate integration of traditional ecological knowledge.
    10. Maritime Heritage: This action plan describes strategies and 
activities focused on the understanding, protection, and interpretation 
of the unique maritime heritage resources and values connected to 
sanctuary waters.
    11. Operations and Administration: This action plan addresses the 
necessary operational and administrative activities required for 
implementing an effective program, including staffing, infrastructure 
needs, and operational improvements.

IV. National Environmental Policy Act Compliance

    As required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NOAA has prepared an FEA to evaluate the 
potential impacts on the human environment of implementing NOAA's 
proposed action. With this action, NOAA is updating its management 
activities conducted within CINMS that relate to research, monitoring, 
education, outreach, community engagement, and resource protection. The 
management activities include the revised sanctuary management plan and 
implementing routine field activities and existing sanctuary 
regulations. As described in the FEA and FONSI, no significant impacts 
to resources and the human environment are expected to result from this 
action. Accordingly, under NEPA, an Environmental Assessment is the 
appropriate document to analyze the potential impacts of this action. 
NOAA has also prepared, as an appendix to the FEA, responses to public 
comments on the draft management plan and draft environmental 
assessment.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.

John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-04973 Filed 3-9-23; 8:45 am]
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