99-18458. Initiation of Review of Management Plan/Regulations of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary; Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan; Scoping Meeting  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Page 38853]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-18458]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    
    15 CFR Part 922
    
    
    Initiation of Review of Management Plan/Regulations of the 
    Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary; Intent To Prepare a Draft 
    Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan; Scoping Meeting
    
    AGENCY: Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), 
    National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
    Administration, Department of Commerce (DOC).
    
    ACTION: Scoping meeting.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or 
    Sanctuary) was designated in September 1980, and consists of 1,252 
    square nautical miles of open ocean and near shore habitat 
    approximately 25 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, 
    encompassing the waters surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, 
    Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands from mean high tide to six nautical 
    miles offshore. The present management plan for the Sanctuary was 
    completed in 1982. In accordance with Section 304(e) of the National 
    Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, (NMSA) (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), 
    the Marine Sanctuaries Division (MSD) of the National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has initiated a review of the 
    management plan, to evaluate substantive progress toward implementing 
    the goals for the Sanctuary, and to make revisions to the plan and 
    regulations as necessary to fulfill the purposes and policies of the 
    NMSA. The notice of intent to revise the management plan was issued on 
    June 11, 1999 (64 FR 31528).
        The proposed revised management plan will likely involve changes to 
    existing policies and regulations of the Sanctuary, 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: information collection and characterization; 
    preparation and release of a draft management plan/environmental impact 
    statement, and any proposed amendments to the regulations; public 
    review and comment; preparation and release of a final management plan/
    environmental impact statement, and any final amendments to the 
    regulations. NOAA anticipates completion of the revised management plan 
    and concomitant documents will require approximately eighteen to 
    twenty-four months.
        NOAA has already conducted five public scoping meetings (as 
    announced in the notice in 64 FR 31528) to gather information and other 
    comments from individuals, organizations, and government agencies on 
    the scope, types and significance of issues related to the sanctuary's 
    management plan and regulations. Because of the interest of individuals 
    and communities located north of the Sanctuary, NOAA has decided to add 
    a scoping meeting for the San Luis Obispo region.
    
    DATES: Written comments should be received on or before August 14, 
    1999.
        The new scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, August 5 at 6:30 
    p.m.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to the Channel Islands National 
    Marine Sanctuary (Management Plan Review), 113 Harbor Way, Santa 
    Barbara, California 93109. Comments will be available for public review 
    at the same address.
        The new scoping meeting will be held at the PG and E Community 
    Center, 6588 Ontario Road, San Luis Obispo, California.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Walton, Management Plan 
    Specialist, at (805) 884-1470.
    
        Authority: 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1431 et seq.
    
    (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary 
    Program)
    Ted Lillestolen,
    Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
    Management.
    [FR Doc. 99-18458 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-08-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
07/20/1999
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Scoping meeting.
Document Number:
99-18458
Dates:
Written comments should be received on or before August 14, 1999.
Pages:
38853-38853 (1 pages)
PDF File:
99-18458.pdf
CFR: (1)
15 CFR 922