Notice2023-04973
Notice of Availability of a Final Management Plan and Final Environmental Assessment for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
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Published
March 10, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has prepared a final management plan (FMP) as part of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) management plan review. The FMP, which replaces a 2009 sanctuary management plan, addresses current and emerging threats in CINMS and reflects changes in new science and technologies, how the public uses the sanctuary, and community needs. The FMP 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, and information gathered through public scoping to prepare a draft environmental assessment (DEA) and draft management plan (DMP) for the sanctuary, and public comments received on the DMP, NOAA is not making modifications to the sanctuary regulations at this time, but may consider regulatory changes in the future. NOAA also prepared a final environmental assessment (FEA) and a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for this action.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14989-14991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04973]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice of Availability of a Final Management Plan and Final
Environmental Assessment for the Channel Islands National Marine
Sanctuary
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has
prepared a final management plan (FMP) as part of the Channel Islands
National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) management plan review.
The FMP, which replaces a 2009 sanctuary management plan, addresses
current and emerging threats in CINMS and reflects changes in new
science and technologies, how the public uses the sanctuary, and
community needs. The FMP 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
[[Page 14990]]
information provided in the 2019 Notice of Intent, and information
gathered through public scoping to prepare a draft environmental
assessment (DEA) and draft management plan (DMP) for the sanctuary, and
public comments received on the DMP, NOAA is not making modifications
to the sanctuary regulations at this time, but may consider regulatory
changes in the future. NOAA also prepared a final environmental
assessment (FEA) and a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for
this action.
DATES: The final management plan and environmental assessment for
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is now available.
ADDRESSES: The FMP, FEA, and FONSI are available at <a href="https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/">https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/</a>. The DMP is available at <a href="https://nmschannelislands.blob.core.windows.net/channelislands-prod/media/docs/2021-cinms-draft-management-plan.pdf">https://nmschannelislands.blob.core.windows.net/channelislands-prod/media/docs/2021-cinms-draft-management-plan.pdf</a>, and the DEA is available at
<a href="https://nmschannelislands.blob.core.windows.net/channelislands-prod/media/docs/2021-cinms-draft-environmental-assessment.pdf">https://nmschannelislands.blob.core.windows.net/channelislands-prod/media/docs/2021-cinms-draft-environmental-assessment.pdf</a>. All comments
on the DMP and DEA can be viewed via the 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.
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#3d5e5453504e505c535c5a58505853494d515c537d53525c5c135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="690a0007041a040807080e0c040c071d190508072907060808470e061f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Channel Islands National Marine 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 consists of an
area of approximately 1,110 square nautical miles (nmi\2\) (3,807
square kilometers) of coastal and ocean waters 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 ensure the
sanctuary is fulfilling the purposes and policies outlined in section
301(b) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA; 16 U.S.C.
1431(b)), and effectively protecting and managing 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, and sanctuary volunteers
and advisory council members.
Updates to the CINMS management plan are based on ONMS's
evaluation, advisory council input on the 2009 management plan,
analysis of comments received on the 2019 Notice of Intent, DMP, and
DEA, 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 to the sanctuary, 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 Indigenous Chumash people.
NOAA received 36 comments (letters and oral testimony) on the DMP
and DEA during the December 17, 2021, through February 24, 2022, public
review period. Altogether, the comments received contained 159 specific
requests and suggestions for consideration. NOAA hosted two virtual
public meetings on January 18, and January 27, 2022.
III. Action Plans
The FMP includes 11 action plans covering issue- and program-based
themes that are intended to 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. The
following is a list of the 11 action plans:
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 the 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. 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,
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study, and, where possible, control populations of introduced species
already established in the sanctuary.
5. Zone Management: This action plan focuses on implementing
effective management and enforcement strategies of existing protective
zones established within the sanctuary, including the Channel Islands
network of marine reserves and conservation areas designated by NOAA
and the State of California.
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 our diverse
coastal communities. 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 resources in the sanctuary from known,
emerging, and future unknown threats.
9. Cultural Heritage: To respectfully honor, celebrate, and protect
the unique Indigenous cultural heritage resources connected to the
sanctuary, this action plan features strategies and activities that
support meaningful Chumash Community collaborations, engagement with
Chumash Community partners revitalizing maritime traditions, and
appropriate integration of traditional ecological knowledge.
10. Maritime Heritage: This action plan describes strategies and
activities focused on the understanding, protection, and interpretation
of the unique maritime heritage resources and values connected to
sanctuary waters.
11. 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 Compliance
As required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NOAA has prepared an FEA to evaluate the
potential impacts on the human environment of implementing NOAA's
proposed action. With this action, NOAA is updating its management
activities conducted within CINMS that relate to research, monitoring,
education, outreach, community engagement, and resource protection. The
management activities include the revised sanctuary management plan and
implementing routine field activities and existing sanctuary
regulations. As described in the FEA and FONSI, no significant impacts
to resources and the human environment are expected to result from this
action. Accordingly, under NEPA, an Environmental Assessment is the
appropriate document to analyze the potential impacts of this action.
NOAA has also prepared, as an appendix to the FEA, responses to public
comments on the draft management plan and draft environmental
assessment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-04973 Filed 3-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P
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