95-19633. Jade Collection in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 1995)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 40540-40542]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-19633]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    
    15 CFR Part 944
    
    [Docket No. 950609150-5150-01]
    RIN 0648-AI06
    
    
    Jade Collection in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
    
    agency: Sanctuaries and Reserve Division (SRD), Office of Ocean and 
    Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), National Ocean Service (NOS), 
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of 
    Commerce (DOC).
    
    action: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.
    
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    summary: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
    considering amending the regulations for the Monterey Bay National 
    Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) to allow small-scale, non-
    intrusive collection of jade from the Sanctuary. This advance notice of 
    proposed rulemaking (ANPR) discusses the reasons NOAA is considering 
    authorizing jade collection in the MBNMS, and, if it is determined to 
    proceed with rulemaking to allow jade collection, the possible 
    restrictions NOAA might place on such collection to ensure that 
    Sanctuary resources or qualities would not be adversely impacted. NOAA 
    is issuing this ANPR specifically to invite advice, recommendations, 
    information and other comments from interested parties on whether to 
    allow jade collection in 
    
    [[Page 40541]]
    the MBNMS and, if so, what restrictions might be necessary.
    
    dates: Comments must be received by September 8, 1995.
    
    addresses: Comments should be sent to Scott Kathey, Monterey Bay 
    National Marine Sanctuary office, 299 Foam Street, Suite D, Monterey, 
    California, 93940, or Elizabeth Moore, Sanctuaries and Reserves 
    Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East 
    West Highway, SSMC4, 12th Floor, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. 
    Comments will be available for public inspection at the same addresses.
    
    for further information contact: Scott Kathey at (408) 647-4251 or 
    Elizabeth Moore at (301) 713-3141.
    
    supplementary information: In recognition of the national significance 
    of the unique marine environment centered around Monterey Bay, 
    California, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or 
    Sanctuary) was designated on September 18, 1992. SRD issued final 
    regulations, effective January, 1993, to implement the Sanctuary 
    designation (15 CFR Part 944). The MBNMS regulations at 15 CFR 944.5(a) 
    prohibit a relatively narrow range of activities and thus makes it 
    unlawful for any person to conduct them or cause them to be conducted.
        The leasing, exploration, development or production of oil or gas 
    in the Sanctuary is statutorily prohibited (Section 2203 of Pub. L. 
    102-587). As such, the final MBNMS implementing regulations absolutely 
    prohibited exploration, production or development of oil, gas or 
    minerals in the MBNMS (57 FR 43310, 43315-43317; 15 CFR 944.5(a)(1)). 
    Further, the regulations and Designation Document (the constitution for 
    the Sanctuary) prohibit NOAA from issuing a permit or other approval 
    for this activity in the Sanctuary (15 CFR 944.5(h); Designation 
    Document, Article V).
        There is a region within the Sanctuary known as the Jade Cove area. 
    Jade Cove consists of a series of small coves located south of Big Sur, 
    near the town of Gorda. Jade (also called nephrite) occurs in veins in 
    the serpentine bedrock formation, extending down the cliffs and into 
    the seabed. The area is very dynamic, subject to strong waves and 
    tides, which erode the veins and sometimes free the jade. Jade is found 
    primarily as pebbles or larger stones on the shore and seabed, and as 
    revealed deposits in the seafloor.
        For a number of years prior to the designation of the MBNMS, 
    tourists and local residents routinely visited the Jade Cove area to 
    explore for and collect pieces of the naturally occurring jade. Even 
    prior to the designation of the MBNMS, extraction of minerals from 
    State submerged lands was prohibited by State law, unless permitted by 
    the State. The National Forest Service also prohibits the removal 
    without a lease of any rocks or minerals within the Los Padres National 
    Forest, which abuts the inshore boundary of the Sanctuary in the Jade 
    Cove area.
        NOAA is considering amending the regulations for the MBNMS to allow 
    small-scale, non-intrusive collection of jade from the Sanctuary. NOAA 
    is considering this action for a variety of reasons, foremost of which 
    is that preliminary indications suggest that small scale, non-intrusive 
    collection of loose pieces of jade may not destroy, cause the loss of, 
    or injure resources or qualities of the MBNMS. Further, the MBNMS 
    Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council) has recommended to SRD that the 
    regulations be amended to allow jade collection. The Council has 
    devoted several of its meetings to obtain information and public 
    testimony, and convened a work group to review this issue. There has 
    also been consistent public support for the proposed course of action.
        It may be possible to allow people to ``beach comb'' or dive for 
    loose pieces of jade, much like what already occurs in this Sanctuary 
    for items such as driftwood, without any resulting harm to Sanctuary 
    resources or qualities. Jade is a non-living resource of the MBNMS. See 
    15 CFR 944.3. However, allowing small-scale, non-intrusive collection 
    of small pieces already loose (``in float'') and that would otherwise 
    naturally disintegrate or be washed out to sea would not seem to pose a 
    risk of harm to this resource. Further, it appears that collection of 
    loose pieces of jade from the Sanctuary could be conducted without 
    creating a risk of harm to other Sanctuary resources or qualities or 
    the MBNMS ecosystem. NOAA will likely limit collection to hand picking 
    pebbles or small stones already ``in float'' and devoid of any marine 
    life, including algae and benthic organisms. If collection were 
    allowed, no tools would be permitted that could injure Sanctuary 
    resources or qualities, such as wedges, crowbars, picks, chisels and 
    other tools used for digging, excavating, boring, breaking, prying, 
    drilling, piercing, scraping, wedging, or other intrusive activities. 
    No vehicles, winches, carts or other removal equipment would be 
    permitted to be used in the Sanctuary to collect jade. However, NOAA 
    may consider allowing the use of lift bags to float loose submerged 
    jade to the shore. Any regulatory exception for the small-scale, non-
    intrusive collection of loose pieces of jade would not extend to oil or 
    gas. As indicated earlier, there is a statutory prohibition against 
    leasing, exploration, development, or production of oil or gas in the 
    Sanctuary.
        The prohibition against permitting or otherwise approving the 
    exploration, development, or production of oil, gas, or minerals in the 
    Sanctuary is a term of the Designation Document. Therefore, to allow 
    small-scale, non-intrusive jade collection in the Sanctuary NOAA must 
    comply with the procedures for altering a term of designation for a 
    National Marine Sanctuary. As provided by section 304(a)(4) of the 
    National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1434(a)(4), the 
    terms of designation may be modified only by the same procedures by 
    which the original designation is made. Designations of National Marine 
    Sanctuaries are governed by sections 303 and 304 of the NMSA, 16 U.S.C. 
    Secs. 1433, 1434. Section 304 requires the preparation of an 
    environmental impact statement, state consultation, at least one public 
    hearing, and gubernatorial non-objection to the proposal as it pertains 
    to state waters within the Sanctuary.
        Although NOAA is considering providing a limited exception for 
    small-scale, non-intrusive jade collection from the regulatory 
    prohibition against exploring for, producing or developing oil, gas or 
    minerals, any jade collection that alters the seabed of the Sanctuary 
    (e.g., digging into the seabed) would remain subject to the prohibition 
    against alteration of the seabed (15 CFR 944.5(a)(5)). NOAA would not 
    allow jade collection that alters the seabed of the Sanctuary. Further, 
    any collection in California State waters would require a State permit 
    because of the State's prohibitions against taking minerals from State 
    submerged lands and disturbing State subsurface lands.
        NOAA is seeking advice, recommendations, information and other 
    comments, with reasons, on whether NOAA should amend the MBNMS 
    regulations to allow small-scale, non-intrusive jade collection in the 
    MBNMS. If NOAA allows jade collection, comments are requested on: (1) 
    whether collection should be limited to loose pebbles or small stones; 
    (2) whether the use of tools should be permitted to collect jade from 
    the Sanctuary; (3) whether there should be limits on the amount of jade 
    allowed to be taken from the Sanctuary and, if so, what limits; (4) 
    what conditions or restrictions should be placed on jade collection; 
    and (5) any other information 
    
    [[Page 40542]]
    or other comments that may be pertinent to this issue.
    
    Executive Order 12866
    
        For purposes of Executive Order 12866, this advance notice of 
    proposed rulemaking is determined to be not significant.
    
    List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 944
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Coastal zone, Education, 
    Environmental protection, Marine resources, Natural resources, 
    Penalties, Recreation and recreation areas, Reporting and recordkeeping 
    requirements, Research.
    
    Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429, Marine Sanctuary 
    Program
    
        Dated: June 9, 1995.
    David Evans,
    Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal 
    Zone Management.
    [FR Doc. 95-19633 Filed 8-8-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-08-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
08/09/1995
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.
Document Number:
95-19633
Dates:
Comments must be received by September 8, 1995.
Pages:
40540-40542 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 950609150-5150-01
RINs:
0648-AI06: Allowance of Small-Scale Non-Intrusive Jade Collecting in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-AI06/allowance-of-small-scale-non-intrusive-jade-collecting-in-monterey-bay-national-marine-sanctuary
PDF File:
95-19633.pdf
CFR: (1)
15 CFR 944