Notice2022-02473
Review of Nomination for St. George Unangan Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 7, 2022
Effective
January 27, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
On November 17, 2021, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requested written comments to facilitate the ONMS five-year review of the nomination for St. George Unangan Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (NMS). NOAA requested relevant information as it pertains to its 11 evaluation criteria for the nomination to remain in the inventory. NOAA has synthesized the information gathered through the public process, completed an internal analysis, and the ONMS Director has made a final determination that the St. George Unangan Heritage NMS nomination will remain in the inventory beyond the January 27, 2022 expiration date.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 25 (Monday, February 7, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6850-6851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02473]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Review of Nomination for St. George Unangan Heritage National
Marine Sanctuary
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On November 17, 2021, the Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
requested written comments to facilitate the ONMS five-year review of
the nomination for St. George Unangan Heritage National Marine
Sanctuary (NMS). NOAA requested relevant information as it pertains to
its 11 evaluation criteria for the nomination to remain in the
inventory. NOAA has synthesized the information gathered through the
public process, completed an internal analysis, and the ONMS Director
has made a final determination that the St. George Unangan Heritage NMS
nomination will remain in the inventory beyond the January 27, 2022
expiration date.
DATES: This determination took effect on January 27, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Paul Michel, Regional Policy Coordinator, NOAA Sanctuaries
West Coast Region, 99 Pacific Street, Bldg. 100F, Monterey, CA 93940,
or at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f1a190849ddfbc989299949db19f9e9090df969e87"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="237342564f0d6e4a404b464f634d4c42420d444c55">[email protected]</span></a>, or 831-241-4217.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Michel, Regional Policy
Coordinator, NOAA Sanctuaries West Coast Region, 99 Pacific Street,
Bldg. 100F, Monterey, CA 93940, or at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cd9dacb8a1e380a4aea5a8a18da3a2acace3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dd8dbca8b1f390b4beb5b8b19db3b2bcbcf3bab2ab">[email protected]</span></a>, or 831-241-
4217.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information
In 2014, NOAA issued a final rule establishing the sanctuary
nomination process (SNP), a process by which communities may submit
nominations of areas of the marine and Great Lakes environment for NOAA
to consider for designation as a national marine sanctuary (79 FR
33851). The final rule establishing the SNP included a five-year limit
on any nomination added to the inventory that NOAA does not advance for
designation. The nomination for St. George Unangan Heritage NMS was
accepted to the national inventory on January 27, 2017, and was
scheduled to expire in January 2022.
In November 2019, NOAA issued a notice (84 FR 61546) to clarify
procedures for evaluating and updating a nomination as it approaches
the five-year mark on the inventory of areas that could be considered
for national marine sanctuary designation. This notice explained that
if a nomination remains responsive to the 11 evaluation criteria for
inclusion on the inventory, it may be appropriate to allow the
nomination to remain on the inventory for another five years. The
notice also established a process for NOAA to consider the continuing
viability of nominations nearing the five-year expiration mark. The 11
evaluation criteria can be found at <a href="https://nominate.noaa.gov">https://nominate.noaa.gov</a>.
On November 17, 2021, NOAA issued a request for public comments on
this nomination (86 FR 64190). NOAA requested relevant information
pertaining to the 11 evaluation criteria that NOAA applied to evaluate
the St. George Unangan Heritage NMS nomination for inclusion in the
national inventory of areas that NOAA may consider for future
designation as a national marine sanctuary. During the comment period,
32 public comments were received, and the nominator provided additional
information as well, which NOAA has used in evaluating the nomination.
Comments can be found at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> (search for Docket Number
NOAA-NOS-2021-0094). In analyzing this material, particular attention
was given to new scientific information about the national significance
of natural and cultural resources, as well as increases or decreases in
the threats to resources originally proposed for protection, and
changes to the management framework of the area. NOAA also assessed the
level of community-based support for the nomination from a broad range
of interests.
Following NOAA's review of information provided regarding the
nomination's merit for remaining on the inventory after five years, it
was determined that new information shows: There are still significant
threats to the area; it is still an area of national significance; and,
there is still broad community support for the nomination remaining on
the inventory of possible designations, among other criteria that the
nomination still continues to meet. Therefore, the ONMS Director has
determined the nomination for the St. George Unangan Heritage NMS
should remain on the inventory. NOAA is not proposing to designate St.
George Unangan Heritage NMS or any other new national marine sanctuary
with this action. This notice serves to inform the
[[Page 6851]]
public of this decision to extend the nomination on the inventory.
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. 2022-02473 Filed 2-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 7, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.