Notice2021-27315
Notice of Availability of a Draft Management Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary; Announcement of Public Meetings
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Published
December 17, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has prepared a draft management plan (DMP) as part of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) management plan review. The DMP, which replaces a 2009 sanctuary management plan, addresses current and emerging threats in CINMS and reflects changes in new science and technologies, how people use the sanctuary, and community needs. The DMP 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 information provided in the 2019 Notice of Intent, NOAA is not proposing modifications to the sanctuary regulations at this time, but may consider regulatory changes in the future. NOAA also prepared a draft environmental assessment (DEA), which evaluates the environmental impacts of implementing the DMP, ongoing field activities, and the existing sanctuary regulations. NOAA is soliciting public comments on the DMP and DEA at this time.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 240 (Friday, December 17, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 240 (Friday, December 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71620-71622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27315]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice of Availability of a Draft Management Plan and Draft
Environmental Assessment for the Channel Islands National Marine
Sanctuary; Announcement of Public Meetings
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability and public meetings.
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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has
prepared a draft management plan (DMP) as part of the Channel Islands
National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) management plan review.
The DMP, which replaces a 2009 sanctuary management plan, addresses
current and emerging threats in CINMS and reflects changes in new
science and technologies, how people use the sanctuary, and community
needs. The DMP 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 information provided in the
2019 Notice of Intent, NOAA is not proposing modifications to the
sanctuary regulations at this time, but may consider regulatory changes
in the future. NOAA also prepared a draft environmental assessment
(DEA), which evaluates the environmental impacts of implementing the
DMP, ongoing field activities, and the existing sanctuary regulations.
NOAA is soliciting public comments on the DMP and DEA at this time.
DATES: Comments are due by February 24, 2022. NOAA will host virtual
public scoping meetings at the following dates and times:
<bullet> Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Pacific Time
<bullet> Thursday, January 27, 2022, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Pacific Time
NOAA may end a meeting before the time noted above if all those
participating have completed their oral comments.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the DMP and DEA by the following
methods:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and enter ``NOAA-NOS-2019-0110'' in the
Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required
fields, and enter or attach your comments.
<bullet> Mail: Written comments may also be mailed to NOAA/CINMS,
UCSB Ocean Science Education, Building 514/MC 6155, Santa Barbara,
California 93106, Attn: Chris Mobley, Superintendent.
<bullet> Public Scoping Meetings: Provide oral comments during
virtual public scoping meetings, as described under DATES. Webinar
registration details and additional information about how to
participate in these public scoping meetings is available at <a href="https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/revision.html">https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/revision.html</a>.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NOAA. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personally identifiable
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive
[[Page 71621]]
information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly
accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Murray, Deputy Superintendent
for Programs, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, 805-893-6418,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2043494e4d534d414e4147454d454e54504c414e604e4f41410e474f56"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5a3933343729373b343b3d3f373f342e2a363b341a34353b3b743d352c">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or 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 encompasses 1,470 square miles (3,807 square kilometers) of
ocean 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 fulfill the
purposes and policies outlined in Section 301(b) of the National Marine
Sanctuaries Act (NMSA; 16 U.S.C. 1431(b)) in order to protect and
manage 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 (NGOs), and sanctuary
volunteers and advisory council members.
Proposed updates to the CINMS management plan are based on ONMS
evaluation and advisory council input on the current management plan,
analysis of comments received during public scoping, 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, 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 Chumash people.
III. Action Plans
The DMP includes ten action plans covering issue- and program-based
themes that would 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.
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 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. Zone Management: This action plan focuses on implementing
effective management and enforcement strategies of existing protective
zones established within the sanctuary, including but not limited to
the Channel Islands network of marine reserves and conservation areas
designated by NOAA and the State of California.
5. 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, study and, where possible, control
populations of introduced species already introduced or established in
the sanctuary.
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 diverse
coastal communities adjacent to the sanctuary. 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
[[Page 71622]]
resources in the sanctuary from known, emerging, and future unknown
threats.
9. Cultural Resources and Maritime Heritage: To identify, protect,
and raise awareness of the maritime cultural, historical, and
archeological resources within the sanctuary, this action plan proposes
to improve the sanctuary's collaborative partnership with members of
the Chumash community, as well as inventory and monitor historic
shipwreck and aircraft wreck sites.
10. 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 (NEPA) Compliance
As required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NOAA has prepared a DEA to evaluate the potential
impacts on the human environment of implementing NOAA's proposed
action. The proposed action is to update NOAA's management activities
conducted within CINMS that relate to research, monitoring, education,
outreach, community engagement, and resource protection. The proposed
management activities include revising the sanctuary management plan
and implementing routine field activities and existing sanctuary
regulations. No significant impacts to resources and the human
environment are expected to result from this proposed action.
Accordingly, under NEPA, an Environmental Assessment is the appropriate
document to analyze the potential impacts of this action. Following the
close of the public comment period and the satisfaction of consultation
requirements under any applicable natural and cultural resource
statutes, NOAA will finalize its NEPA analysis and prepare a final NEPA
document and decision document.
NOAA is seeking public comment on the DMP and DEA, which are
available at <a href="https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/revision.html">https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/revision.html</a>
or may be obtained by contacting the individual listed under the
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-27315 Filed 12-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P
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