Initiation of Review of Management Plan/Regulations of the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary; Intent To Prepare Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan; Scoping Meetings, 5641-5642 [E9-2092]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 19 / Friday, January 30, 2009 / Notices
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: January 26, 2009.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9–1946 Filed 1–29–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–08–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Initiation of Review of Management
Plan/Regulations of the Fagatele Bay
National Marine Sanctuary; Intent To
Prepare Draft Environmental Impact
Statement and Management Plan;
Scoping Meetings
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
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/Regulations; Intent
To Prepare Environmental Impact
Statement; Scoping Meetings.
SUMMARY: Fagatele Bay National Marine
Sanctuary (FBNMS or Sanctuary) was
designated in April of 1986 in response
to a proposal from the American Samoa
Government to the (then) National
Marine Sanctuary Program. FBNMS
protects 163 acres (0.25 square miles) of
vibrant tropical coral reef ecosystem off
the southwest coast of Tutuila Island,
American Samoa. The present
management plan was written as part of
the sanctuary designation process and
published in the Final Environmental
Impact Statement in 1984. In
accordance with Section 304(e) of the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:54 Jan 29, 2009
Jkt 217001
National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as
amended, (NMSA) (16 U.S.C. 1431 et
seq.), the Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries (ONMS) of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) is initiating a
review of the FBNMS management plan,
to evaluate substantive progress toward
implementing the goals for the
Sanctuary, to initiate discussions on
possible site expansion, and to make
revisions to the plan and regulations as
necessary to fulfill the purposes and
policies of the NMSA. NOAA will
conduct public scoping meetings to
gather information and other comments
from individuals, organizations, and
government agencies on the scope, types
and significance of issues related to the
Sanctuary’s management plan and
regulations, and possible site expansion
(including expansion to include the
Rose Atoll Marine National Monument
designated on January 6, 2009). The
scoping meetings are scheduled as
detailed below.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before March 26, 2009.
Scoping meetings will be held on:
(1) February 10th, 4–6:30 p.m.,
Convention Center, Utulei, Tutuila,
American Samoa.
(2) February 11th, 4–6:30 p.m.,
Fagaitua High School Gym, Fagaitua,
Tutuila, American Samoa.
(3) February 12th, 4–6:30 p.m.,
American Samoa Community College,
Mapusaga, Tutuila, American Samoa.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
sent to the Fagatele Bay National Marine
Sanctuary (Management Plan Review),
P.O. Box 4318, Pago Pago, American
Samoa 96799; or faxed to (808) 397–
2662. Electronic comments may be sent
to fagatelebay@noaa.gov.
Comments will be available for public
review at the following street address:
Fagatele Bay National Marine
Sanctuary, 1 Convention Center Circle,
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799. All
comments received are a part of the
public record. All Personal Identifying
Information (for example, name,
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by
the commenter may be publicly
accessible. Do not submit confidential
business information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
NOAA will accept anonymous
comments. Attachments to electronic
comments will be accepted in Microsoft
Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats
only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kevin Grant, 808.397.2660 Ext. 238,
fagatelebay@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
proposed revised management plan will
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
5641
likely involve changes to existing
policies of the Sanctuary in order to
address contemporary issues and
challenges, and to better protect and
manage the Sanctuary’s resources and
qualities. The review process is
composed of four major stages: (1)
Information collection and
characterization; (2) preparation and
release of a draft management plan/
environmental impact statement, and
any proposed amendments to the
regulations; (3) public review and
comment; and (4) preparation and
release of a final management plan/
environmental impact statement, and
any final amendments to the
regulations. In the event that the
potential impacts of new actions
described in the management plan do
not warrant the need for an
environmental impact statement, NOAA
will publish the appropriate
environmental analysis and notify the
public. Depending upon the complexity
and level of any site expansion, NOAA
anticipates completion of the revised
management plan and concomitant
documents will require approximately
thirty-six to forty-eight months.
Preliminary Priority Topics
NOAA, in consultation with the
American Samoa Department of
Commerce, has prepared a list of
preliminary priority topics. This list
represents our best professional
judgment of the most important issues
NOAA should consider in preparation
of a new FBNMS management plan. We
are interested in the public’s comments
on these topics, as well as any other
topics of interest to the public or other
agencies. It is important to note that this
list does not preclude or in any way
limit the consideration of additional
topics raised through public comment,
government-to-government
consultations, and discussions with
partner agencies.
Improved Partnerships—Recent
initiatives regarding marine managed
areas provide the Sanctuary with new
opportunities to strengthen
partnerships, particularly with
Territorial and Federal agencies, the
American Samoa Community College,
and other entities. The Sanctuary will
work in active partnership to provide a
more transparent, cooperative, and
coordinated management structure of
marine resources within Territorial and
federal jurisdictions.
Characterization and Monitoring—
There is a need to develop an
understanding of baseline conditions of
marine resources within the sanctuary,
ecosystem functions, and status and
trends of biological and socioeconomic
E:\FR\FM\30JAN1.SGM
30JAN1
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
5642
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 19 / Friday, January 30, 2009 / Notices
resources to effectively inform
management. FBNMS, in conjunction
with Territorial and Federal agencies as
well as other entities, will work to
resolve these needs.
Spill Prevention, Contingency
Planning and Response—The risk from
vessel traffic and other hazards is a
significant threat to marine resources.
The potential for a catastrophic oil spill
remains a primary concern and while
advances in maritime safety have been
made since the sanctuary was
designated, better coordination is
needed for response to these threats. Oil
spills cause immediate and potentially
long term harm to marine resources as
well as socioeconomic impacts to
coastal communities.
Climate Change—Climate change is
widely acknowledged, yet there is
considerable uncertainty about current
and future consequences at local,
ecosystem, and oceanic scales.
Increased coordination and cooperation
among resource management agencies is
required to improve planning,
monitoring, and adaptive management
to address this phenomenon.
Ocean Literacy—Enhancing the
public’s awareness and appreciation of
marine, socio-economic, and cultural
resources is a cornerstone of the
Sanctuary’s mission. Management Plan
Review could offer opportunities for the
Sanctuary, in conjunction with the
American Samoa Community College
and other entities, to expand
educational contributions and reach a
larger audience.
Marine Debris—Coastal marine debris
is a persistent and poorly diagnosed
problem within the sanctuary that
negatively impacts natural and
socioeconomic resources and qualities.
Site Expansion—The Office of
National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS),
under the authority of the National
Marine Sanctuaries Act, has the ability
to develop protections for special areas
of the marine environment, including
those found in federal waters. Any
possible expansion of the ONMS
activities, such as the expansion of the
Sanctuary to include the newly
designated Rose Atoll Marine National
Monument, could supplement and
compliment existing MPA initiatives in
the Territory. Working cooperatively
with partner agencies, will allow all
parties to leverage resources and find
the best solutions to protecting the
marine resources of the Territory.
Condition Report
In preparation for management plan
review, NOAA produced a Fagatele Bay
National Marine Sanctuary Condition
Report in 2007. The Condition Report
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:54 Jan 29, 2009
Jkt 217001
provides a summary of resources in
FBNMS, pressures on those resources,
the current condition and trends, and
management responses to the pressures
that threaten the integrity of the marine
environment. Specifically, the
Condition Report includes information
on the status and trends of water
quality, habitat, living resources, and
maritime archaeological resources and
the human activities that affect them.
The report serves as a supporting
document for the Management Plan
Review Process to inform constituents
who desire to participate in that
process.
In addition, a State of the Sanctuary
Report was completed for 2002–2003.
This report outlines major
accomplishments and highlights
specific management plan activities. An
update covering accomplishments from
2003–2008 has also been created. The
condition report, State of the Sanctuary
Report and the 2003–2008 Update are
available to the general public in
advance of scoping meetings and on the
internet at: https://fagatelebay.noaa.gov/
html/management_plan.html.
Scoping Comments
Scoping meetings provide an
opportunity to make direct comments to
NOAA on the management of the
sanctuary’s natural and cultural
resources, including administrative
programs. We encourage the public to
participate and welcome any comments
related to the sanctuary. In particular,
we are interested in hearing about the
public’s view on:
• The Sanctuary’s potential
management priorities for the next five
to ten years;
• Effectiveness of the existing
management plan in protecting
sanctuary resources;
• Sanctuary programs, activities and
needs, including but not limited to
resource protection programs, research
and monitoring programs, education,
volunteer, and outreach programs;
• Implementation of regulations and
permits;
• Adequacy of existing boundaries to
protect sanctuary resources;
• Assessment of the existing
operational and administrative
framework (staffing, offices, vessels,
etc.).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq.
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog
Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program)
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Dated: January 26, 2009.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. E9–2092 Filed 1–29–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XM63
Magnuson–Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of a proposal to
conduct exempted fishing; request for
comments.
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant
Regional Administrator), has made a
preliminary determination that the
subject exempted fishing permit (EFP)
application submitted by the Gulf of
Maine Research Institute (GMRI), which
would exempt participating vessels
from Scallop gear restrictions,
possession restrictions, Great South
Channel (GSC) Southern New England
(SNE)/Georges Bank (GB) Yellowtail
Flounder Peak Spawning Closure
restrictions, and GSC Cape Cod (CC)/
Gulf of Maine (GOM) Yellowtail
Flounder Peak Spawning Closure
restrictions, should be issued for public
comment. The Assistant Regional
Administrator has also made a
preliminary determination that the
activities authorized under the EFP
would be consistent with the goals and
objectives of the Atlantic Sea Scallop
Fishery Management Plan (FMP), the
Northeast Multispecies FMP, and other
Northeast Regional FMPs. However,
further review and consultation may be
necessary before a final determination is
made.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before February 17, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by e–mail. The mailbox
address for providing e–mail comments
is scallop.efp.gmri@noaa.gov. Include in
the subject line of the e–mail comment
the following document identifier:
‘‘Comments on twine–top EFP.’’ Written
comments may also be mailed to
Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast
E:\FR\FM\30JAN1.SGM
30JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 19 (Friday, January 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5641-5642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2092]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Initiation of Review of Management Plan/Regulations of the
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary; Intent To Prepare Draft
Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan; Scoping Meetings
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/Regulations; Intent To
Prepare Environmental Impact Statement; Scoping Meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS or Sanctuary)
was designated in April of 1986 in response to a proposal from the
American Samoa Government to the (then) National Marine Sanctuary
Program. FBNMS protects 163 acres (0.25 square miles) of vibrant
tropical coral reef ecosystem off the southwest coast of Tutuila
Island, American Samoa. The present management plan was written as part
of the sanctuary designation process and published in the Final
Environmental Impact Statement in 1984. In accordance with Section
304(e) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, (NMSA) (16
U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS)
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
initiating a review of the FBNMS management plan, to evaluate
substantive progress toward implementing the goals for the Sanctuary,
to initiate discussions on possible site expansion, and to make
revisions to the plan and regulations as necessary to fulfill the
purposes and policies of the NMSA. NOAA will conduct public scoping
meetings to gather information and other comments from individuals,
organizations, and government agencies on the scope, types and
significance of issues related to the Sanctuary's management plan and
regulations, and possible site expansion (including expansion to
include the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument designated on January
6, 2009). The scoping meetings are scheduled as detailed below.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before March 26, 2009.
Scoping meetings will be held on:
(1) February 10th, 4-6:30 p.m., Convention Center, Utulei, Tutuila,
American Samoa.
(2) February 11th, 4-6:30 p.m., Fagaitua High School Gym, Fagaitua,
Tutuila, American Samoa.
(3) February 12th, 4-6:30 p.m., American Samoa Community College,
Mapusaga, Tutuila, American Samoa.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to the Fagatele Bay National
Marine Sanctuary (Management Plan Review), P.O. Box 4318, Pago Pago,
American Samoa 96799; or faxed to (808) 397-2662. Electronic comments
may be sent to fagatelebay@noaa.gov.
Comments will be available for public review at the following
street address: Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 1 Convention
Center Circle, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799. All comments received
are a part of the public record. All Personal Identifying Information
(for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the
commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential
business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
NOAA will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments
will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats
only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Grant, 808.397.2660 Ext. 238,
fagatelebay@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed revised management plan will
likely involve changes to existing policies of the Sanctuary in order
to address contemporary issues and challenges, and to better protect
and manage the Sanctuary's resources and qualities. The review process
is composed of four major stages: (1) Information collection and
characterization; (2) preparation and release of a draft management
plan/environmental impact statement, and any proposed amendments to the
regulations; (3) public review and comment; and (4) preparation and
release of a final management plan/environmental impact statement, and
any final amendments to the regulations. In the event that the
potential impacts of new actions described in the management plan do
not warrant the need for an environmental impact statement, NOAA will
publish the appropriate environmental analysis and notify the public.
Depending upon the complexity and level of any site expansion, NOAA
anticipates completion of the revised management plan and concomitant
documents will require approximately thirty-six to forty-eight months.
Preliminary Priority Topics
NOAA, in consultation with the American Samoa Department of
Commerce, has prepared a list of preliminary priority topics. This list
represents our best professional judgment of the most important issues
NOAA should consider in preparation of a new FBNMS management plan. We
are interested in the public's comments on these topics, as well as any
other topics of interest to the public or other agencies. It is
important to note that this list does not preclude or in any way limit
the consideration of additional topics raised through public comment,
government-to-government consultations, and discussions with partner
agencies.
Improved Partnerships--Recent initiatives regarding marine managed
areas provide the Sanctuary with new opportunities to strengthen
partnerships, particularly with Territorial and Federal agencies, the
American Samoa Community College, and other entities. The Sanctuary
will work in active partnership to provide a more transparent,
cooperative, and coordinated management structure of marine resources
within Territorial and federal jurisdictions.
Characterization and Monitoring--There is a need to develop an
understanding of baseline conditions of marine resources within the
sanctuary, ecosystem functions, and status and trends of biological and
socioeconomic
[[Page 5642]]
resources to effectively inform management. FBNMS, in conjunction with
Territorial and Federal agencies as well as other entities, will work
to resolve these needs.
Spill Prevention, Contingency Planning and Response--The risk from
vessel traffic and other hazards is a significant threat to marine
resources. The potential for a catastrophic oil spill remains a primary
concern and while advances in maritime safety have been made since the
sanctuary was designated, better coordination is needed for response to
these threats. Oil spills cause immediate and potentially long term
harm to marine resources as well as socioeconomic impacts to coastal
communities.
Climate Change--Climate change is widely acknowledged, yet there is
considerable uncertainty about current and future consequences at
local, ecosystem, and oceanic scales. Increased coordination and
cooperation among resource management agencies is required to improve
planning, monitoring, and adaptive management to address this
phenomenon.
Ocean Literacy--Enhancing the public's awareness and appreciation
of marine, socio-economic, and cultural resources is a cornerstone of
the Sanctuary's mission. Management Plan Review could offer
opportunities for the Sanctuary, in conjunction with the American Samoa
Community College and other entities, to expand educational
contributions and reach a larger audience.
Marine Debris--Coastal marine debris is a persistent and poorly
diagnosed problem within the sanctuary that negatively impacts natural
and socioeconomic resources and qualities.
Site Expansion--The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS),
under the authority of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, has the
ability to develop protections for special areas of the marine
environment, including those found in federal waters. Any possible
expansion of the ONMS activities, such as the expansion of the
Sanctuary to include the newly designated Rose Atoll Marine National
Monument, could supplement and compliment existing MPA initiatives in
the Territory. Working cooperatively with partner agencies, will allow
all parties to leverage resources and find the best solutions to
protecting the marine resources of the Territory.
Condition Report
In preparation for management plan review, NOAA produced a Fagatele
Bay National Marine Sanctuary Condition Report in 2007. The Condition
Report provides a summary of resources in FBNMS, pressures on those
resources, the current condition and trends, and management responses
to the pressures that threaten the integrity of the marine environment.
Specifically, the Condition Report includes information on the status
and trends of water quality, habitat, living resources, and maritime
archaeological resources and the human activities that affect them. The
report serves as a supporting document for the Management Plan Review
Process to inform constituents who desire to participate in that
process.
In addition, a State of the Sanctuary Report was completed for
2002-2003. This report outlines major accomplishments and highlights
specific management plan activities. An update covering accomplishments
from 2003-2008 has also been created. The condition report, State of
the Sanctuary Report and the 2003-2008 Update are available to the
general public in advance of scoping meetings and on the internet at:
https://fagatelebay.noaa.gov/html/management_plan.html.
Scoping Comments
Scoping meetings provide an opportunity to make direct comments to
NOAA on the management of the sanctuary's natural and cultural
resources, including administrative programs. We encourage the public
to participate and welcome any comments related to the sanctuary. In
particular, we are interested in hearing about the public's view on:
The Sanctuary's potential management priorities for the
next five to ten years;
Effectiveness of the existing management plan in
protecting sanctuary resources;
Sanctuary programs, activities and needs, including but
not limited to resource protection programs, research and monitoring
programs, education, volunteer, and outreach programs;
Implementation of regulations and permits;
Adequacy of existing boundaries to protect sanctuary
resources;
Assessment of the existing operational and administrative
framework (staffing, offices, vessels, etc.).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq.
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary
Program)
Dated: January 26, 2009.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. E9-2092 Filed 1-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P
