97-23982. Proposed Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47611-47612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23982]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922

[Docket No. 970404078-7078-01]
RIN 0648-AE41


Proposed Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

AGENCY: Sanctuaries and Reserves 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: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (NOAA/SRD) issued a proposed rule on 
June 23, 1997 (62 FR 33768) to designate an approximately 808 square-
mile area of Great Lakes waters on Lake Huron, Michigan, over and 
surrounding Thunder Bay, and the submerged lands thereunder, off the 
northeastern coast of the State of Michigan, as a National Marine 
Sanctuary. The original public comment period on this proposal was to 
close on September 22, 1997. During July 1997, representatives of a 
variety of interests in the communities adjoining the proposal area 
formed a group to work with NOAA and the State of Michigan on 
completion of the process to consider the designation of Thunder Bay as 
a National Marine Sanctuary. Those communities requested additional 
time to review the proposal and to develop recommendations for NOAA and 
the State. On July 23, 1997, NOAA extended the public comment period 
through October 31, 1997 (62 FR 39494). Pursuant to requests from 
community representatives, a Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) has been 
established to facilitate public review and discussion of the proposal, 
and to make written recommendations to NOAA and the State of Michigan 
regarding various alternatives, and other comments on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Draft Management Plan by October 3, 
1997. The SAC conducted its first meeting on August 26, 1997, and has 
recommended an additional extension to the comment period, to allow 
time for completion of the SAC's responsibilities. NOAA has adopted 
this recommendation. This notice extends the comment period through 
November 14, 1997.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS/DMP must be received by November 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Ellen L. Brody, On-Site 
Liaison, Thunder Bay Project, Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Lakes 
Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), 2205 Commonwealth Boulevard, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-2945. Comments will be available for public 
inspection at the GLERL offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Brubeck at [phone], Ellen 
Brody at [phone], or Sherrard Foster at [phone], ext. 
151.


[[Page 47612]]


    Dated: September 4, 1997.
Nancy Foster,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 97-23982 Filed 9-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M