Initiation of Review of Management Plan for Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary; Request for Information

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is initiating a comprehensive review of the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary management plan, to evaluate progress toward implementing the goals of the sanctuary and to revise the management plan as necessary to fulfill the purposes and policies of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. NOAA is requesting information from individuals, companies, organizations, Tribes, and government agencies on the scope, types, and significance of issues that NOAA should address in its process to revise the management plan. In addition to receiving written comments, NOAA will hold public meetings to provide information on the management plan review process and to gather comments.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 210 (Monday, November 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 210 (Monday, November 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68947-68949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22287]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Initiation of Review of Management Plan for Gray's Reef National 
Marine Sanctuary; Request for Information

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Initiation of review of management plan; request for 
information.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is 
initiating a comprehensive review of the Gray's Reef National Marine 
Sanctuary management plan, to evaluate progress toward implementing the 
goals of the sanctuary and to revise the management plan as necessary 
to fulfill the purposes and policies of the National Marine Sanctuaries 
Act. NOAA is requesting information from individuals, companies, 
organizations, Tribes, and government agencies on the scope, types, and 
significance of issues that NOAA should address in its process to 
revise the management plan. In addition to receiving written comments, 
NOAA will hold public meetings to provide information on the management 
plan review process and to gather comments.

DATES: NOAA will consider all written comments in English that are 
received on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 17, 
2026.
    NOAA will host public meetings and will accept comments at the 
below locations, dates, and times. Please check the website (<a href="https://graysreef.noaa.gov/mpr">https://graysreef.noaa.gov/mpr</a>) for the most up-to-date information about 
public meeting locations, times, and special details.

Meeting #1: November 4, Brunswick, GA, Late Afternoon-Evening Session
Meeting #2: November 10, Okatie, SC, Late Afternoon-Evening Session
Meeting #3: November 13, Savannah, GA, Late Afternoon-Evening Session
Meeting #4: November 17, Conway, SC, Late Afternoon-Evening Session
Meeting #5: November 18, Charleston, SC, Late Afternoon-Evening Session

    In addition to the five public meetings, the Sanctuary Advisory 
Council will discuss the management plan review at its fall meeting 
scheduled for Nov. 12. NOAA may record all or part of the public 
meetings, including the public comment portion, for administrative 
purposes.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronic Submission: Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2026-2740">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2026-2740</a>. To submit electronic 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, visit <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket Number NOAA-NOS-2026-2740.
    <bullet> Mail: Written comments may also be mailed to Gray's Reef 
National Marine Sanctuary (Attn: Management Plan Review), at 10 Ocean 
Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411.
    <bullet> Public Meetings: Provide comments during public meetings, 
as described under DATES. Information on how to participate in these 
public meetings is available at: <a href="https://graysreef.noaa.gov/mpr/">https://graysreef.noaa.gov/mpr/</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, including the name of the 
commenter, email address, attachments, and other supporting materials 
will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business 
information or otherwise sensitive or protected information such as 
account numbers or Social Security numbers, and do not submit comments 
that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate 
language. NOAA will accept anonymous comments through 
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> (enter N/A in the required fields to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Kathey, Resource Protection 
Coordinator, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, Georgia 31411, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#771005160e0405121211591a0705371918161659101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d0b7a2b1a9a3a2b5b5b6febda0a290bebfb1b1feb7bfa6">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, or visit the sanctuary's website: <a href="https://graysreef.noaa.gov/mpr">https://graysreef.noaa.gov/mpr</a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) is located off the 
Georgia coast, about 19 miles east of Sapelo Island and 40 miles 
southeast of historic Savannah, Georgia. The sanctuary protects a 22-
square-mile area of vibrant, live-bottom reef and surrounding sand and 
open ocean habitats that are representative of the marine ecosystems 
off much of the southeastern United States. NOAA designated the area as 
a national marine sanctuary in 1981 to protect its diversity of species 
and abundance of marine life. The sanctuary is influenced by complex 
ocean currents and serves as a mixing zone for temperate (colder water) 
and sub-tropical species. The series of rock ledges and sand expanses 
provide a solid base upon which temperate and tropical marine flora and 
fauna attach and flourish. Almost 1,000 species of invertebrates and 
200 species of fish have been identified at Gray's Reef. NOAA manages 
GRNMS as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System, which comprises 
18 national marine sanctuaries, under the National Marine Sanctuaries 
Act of 1972 (NMSA), 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
    The sanctuary management plan is a road map that guides sanctuary 
management actions and programs toward achievement of the sanctuary's 
goals. Subsection 304(e) of the NMSA requires NOAA to periodically 
review sanctuary management plans to evaluate

[[Page 68948]]

the substantive progress toward implementing the management plan and 
goals for the sanctuary, and to revise the management plans and 
regulations as necessary. This review ensures that national marine 
sanctuaries continue to best conserve, protect, and enhance their 
nationally significant resources (16 U.S.C. 1434(e)). The current GRNMS 
management plan was published in 2014, and is available at <a href="https://graysreef.noaa.gov/management/plan/">https://graysreef.noaa.gov/management/plan/</a>. In 2019 NOAA conducted a rapid 
management plan review to evaluate the substantive progress made toward 
implementing the 2014 management plan, and determined that no urgent or 
immediate revisions to the management plan were needed at the time.
    The comprehensive management plan review process is composed of 
four major stages: (1) information collection, including through this 
request for information; (2) preparation and release of a draft 
management plan, an environmental analysis document as required under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and a notice of proposed 
rulemaking for any proposed changes to sanctuary regulations; (3) 
public review and comment on the draft documents; and (4) preparation 
and release of a final management plan, a final environmental analysis 
document, and a final rule for any changes to sanctuary regulations, if 
applicable. NOAA will also, as applicable, address other statutory and 
regulatory requirements pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Tribal consultation 
responsibilities under Executive Order 13175.

II. Condition Report

    To inform the management plan review, NOAA published a Condition 
Report for the GRNMS. The Condition Report, released in 2025, assessed 
the period from 2008-2022 and presents summary information describing 
the status and trends of sanctuary resources, covering the broad 
categories of human activities and pressures, water quality, habitat, 
living resources, and maritime heritage resources. This report also 
included the status and trends of ecosystem services--the ways that 
humans benefit from the natural and cultural resources of the 
sanctuary. The report is available to the public online at <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/grnms/">https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/grnms/</a>.

III. Preliminary Goals & Strategies From GRNMS Staff Workshop

    In August 2026, NOAA held a workshop to identify preliminary draft 
goals and strategies for effectively managing the sanctuary over the 
next ten years. Staff considered information from the existing 2014 
GRNMS Management Plan, the 2019 rapid management plan review, the 2025 
Condition Report, findings and recommendations of the Sanctuary 
Advisory Council, staff knowledge and expertise, and input from the 
public and partners since 2014.
    NOAA is interested in receiving public comment on these preliminary 
draft goals and strategies, which will seek to further the agency's 
work to conserve Gray's Reef while facilitating public and private uses 
that are compatible with the goals and objectives of the sanctuary. 
NOAA is also interested in hearing any additional topics raised by the 
public.
    GOAL 1: Improve our understanding of sanctuary resources and 
ecosystem services, their value to the regional and national economy, 
and their vulnerability to natural and human-related threats, in 
coordination/collaboration with partners.
    <bullet> Strategy 1.1. Assess the state of knowledge of sanctuary 
resources and habitats, and direct future research and monitoring.
    <bullet> Strategy 1.2. Enhance our understanding of sanctuary 
historical and cultural resources to inform management and 
interpretation activities.
    <bullet> Strategy 1.3. Identify and track socioeconomic value and 
ecosystem service benefits provided by the sanctuary and its resources.
    <bullet> Strategy 1.4. Facilitate scientific research and 
monitoring through local, regional, and national partners.
    GOAL 2: Support and sustain the condition of sanctuary resources 
and improve and restore ecosystem structure and function when needed 
and where possible.
    <bullet> Strategy 2.1. Water quality: Engage with local, regional 
and federal partners to monitor for emerging threats and maintain the 
water quality of the sanctuary.
    <bullet> Strategy 2.2. Habitat: Work with partners to maintain 
healthy habitat, mitigate negative impacts, and promote recovery of 
degraded resources.
    <bullet> Strategy 2.3. Living marine resources: Work with regional 
and federal partners to maintain the healthy condition and diversity of 
natural biological communities.
    GOAL 3: Reduce threats to and pressures on sanctuary resources.
    <bullet> Strategy 3.1. Identify and monitor patterns of human uses 
and their potential impacts.
    <bullet> Strategy 3.2. Reduce and mitigate adverse impacts of human 
activities and non-native fauna to key marine species and habitats.
    <bullet> Strategy 3.3. Facilitate and manage human use, ensuring 
use is compatible with sanctuary resource protection goals.
    GOAL 4: Increase awareness and support for Gray's Reef National 
Marine Sanctuary and its resources.
    <bullet> Strategy 4.1. Enhance public awareness through effective 
outreach, immersive interpretation, and quality education programs.
    <bullet> Strategy 4.2. Maintain and enhance community-based and 
partner engagement to improve collaboration and coordination.
    <bullet> Strategy 4.3. Optimize the impact of the Gray's Reef 
National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Discovery Center and research vessel to 
deliver impactful education programs and interpretation and enhance 
sanctuary outreach and management.
    GOAL 5: Advance and support collaborative and coordinated 
management.
    <bullet> Strategy 5.1. Enhance operational capabilities of the 
Sanctuary infrastructure (vessels, buildings, etc.) required to 
accomplish the mission and goals.
    <bullet> Strategy 5.2. Maintain and enhance cooperative management 
with our federal, state, and local partners to advance shared resource 
management priorities.
    GOAL 6. Improve understanding to support conservation of important 
natural and cultural resources across the South Atlantic Bight along 
the mid-Continental Shelf and beyond.
    <bullet> Strategy 6.1. Assess the ecological connections and health 
in the South Atlantic Bight to inform conservation and management of 
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
    <bullet> Strategy 6.2. Expand coordination and scope of the 
Southeast Regional Ecosystem Assessment Initiative to include mapping 
and habitat characterization efforts by NOAA and other federal and 
state agencies.
    <bullet> Strategy 6.3. Evaluate the need for additional protection 
of habitats and cultural resources in the South Atlantic Bight.

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    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. 2026-22287 Filed 10-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P


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