Revisions of Boundaries for the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve; Intent To Prepare Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Scoping Meetings, 21878-21880 [2012-8831]
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mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
21878
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2012 / Proposed Rules
ii. Assume that, under the terms of a
credit card account, a consumer is
required to pay $125 in fees for the
issuance or availability of credit during
the first year after account opening. At
account opening on January 1 of year
one, the credit limit for the account is
$500. Section 1026.52(a)(1) permits the
card issuer to charge the $125 in fees to
the account. However, § 1026.52(a)(1)
prohibits the card issuer from requiring
the consumer to make payments to the
card issuer for additional non-exempt
fees with respect to the account [prior
to account opening or] during the first
year after account opening. Section
1026.52(a)(1) also prohibits the card
issuer from requiring the consumer to
open a separate credit account with the
card issuer to fund the payment of
additional non-exempt fees [prior to the
opening of the credit card account or]
during the first year after the credit card
account is opened.
[iii. Assume that, on January 1 of year
one, a consumer is required to pay a
$100 fee in order to apply for a credit
card account. On January 5, the card
issuer approves the consumer’s
application, assigns the account a credit
limit of $1,000, and provides the
consumer with account-opening
disclosures consistent with § 1026.6.
The date on which the account may first
be used by the consumer to engage in
transactions is January 5. The consumer
is required to pay $150 in fees for the
issuance or availability of credit, which
§ 1026.52(a)(1) permits the card issuer to
charge to the account on January 5.
However, because the $100 application
fee is subject to the 25 percent limit in
§ 1026.52(a)(1), the card issuer is
prohibited from requiring the consumer
to pay any additional non-exempt fees
with respect to the account until
January 5 of year two.]
*
*
*
*
*
3. Changes in credit limit during first
year.
i. Increases in credit limit. If a card
issuer increases the credit limit during
the first year after the account is
opened, § 1026.52(a)(1) does not permit
the card issuer to require the consumer
to pay additional fees that would
otherwise be prohibited (such as a fee
for increasing the credit limit). For
example, assume that, at account
opening on January 1, the credit limit
for a credit card account is $400 and the
consumer is required to pay $100 in fees
for the issuance or availability of credit.
On July 1, the card issuer increases the
credit limit for the account to $600.
Section 1026.52(a)(1) does not permit
the card issuer to require the consumer
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17:11 Apr 11, 2012
Jkt 226001
to pay additional fees based on the
increased credit limit.
ii. Decreases in credit limit. If a card
issuer decreases the credit limit during
the first year after the account is
opened, § 1026.52(a)(1) requires the card
issuer to waive or remove any fees
charged to the account that exceed 25
percent of the reduced credit limit or to
credit the account for an amount equal
to any fees the consumer was required
to pay with respect to the account that
exceed 25 percent of the reduced credit
limit within a reasonable amount of
time but no later than the end of the
billing cycle following the billing cycle
during which the credit limit was
reduced. For example[:]fl,fi
[A. Assume]fl assumefi that, at
account opening on January 1, the credit
limit for a credit card account is $1,000
and the consumer is required to pay
$250 in fees for the issuance or
availability of credit. The billing cycles
for the account begin on the first day of
the month and end on the last day of the
month. On July 30, the card issuer
decreases the credit limit for the
account to $500. Section 1026.52(a)(1)
requires the card issuer to waive or
remove $175 in fees from the account or
to credit the account for an amount
equal to $175 within a reasonable
amount of time but no later than August
31.
[B. Assume that, on June 25 of year
one, a consumer is required to pay a $75
fee in order to apply for a credit card
account. At account opening on July 1
of year one, the credit limit for the
account is $500 and the consumer is
required to pay $50 in fees for the
issuance or availability of credit. The
billing cycles for the account begin on
the first day of the month and end on
the last day of the month. On February
15 of year two, the card issuer decreases
the credit limit for the account to $250.
Section 1026.52(a)(1) requires the card
issuer to waive or remove fees from the
account or to credit the account for an
amount equal to $62.50 within a
reasonable amount of time but no later
than March 31 of year two.]
*
*
*
*
*
52(a)(2) Fees not subject to
limitations.
1. Covered fees. Except as provided in
§ 1026.52(a)(2), § 1026.52(a) applies to
any fees or other charges that a card
issuer will or may require the consumer
to pay with respect to a credit card
account [prior to account opening and]
during the first year after account
opening, other than charges attributable
to periodic interest rates. For example,
§ 1026.52(a) applies to:
i. Fees that the consumer is required
to pay for the issuance or availability of
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
credit described in § 1026.60(b)(2),
including any fee based on account
activity or inactivity and any fee that a
consumer is required to pay in order to
receive a particular credit limit;
ii. Fees for insurance described in
§ 1026.4(b)(7) or debt cancellation or
debt suspension coverage described in
§ 1026.4(b)(10) written in connection
with a credit transaction, if the
insurance or debt cancellation or debt
suspension coverage is required by the
terms of the account;
iii. Fees that the consumer is required
to pay in order to engage in transactions
using the account (such as cash advance
fees, balance transfer fees, foreign
transaction fees, and fees for using the
account for purchases);
iv. Fees that the consumer is required
to pay for violating the terms of the
account (except to the extent
specifically excluded by
§ 1026.52(a)(2)(i));
v. Fixed finance charges; and
vi. Minimum charges imposed if a
charge would otherwise have been
determined by applying a periodic
interest rate to a balance except for the
fact that such charge is smaller than the
minimum.
*
*
*
*
*
Dated: April 4, 2012.
Richard Cordray,
Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection.
[FR Doc. 2012–8534 Filed 4–11–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–AM–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
15 CFR Part 922
Revisions of Boundaries for the
Thunder Bay National Marine
Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve;
Intent To Prepare Draft Environmental
Impact Statement; Scoping Meetings
Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of intent to revise
boundaries; intent to prepare
environmental impact statement;
scoping meetings.
AGENCY:
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
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\12APP1.SGM
12APP1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2012 / Proposed Rules
Administration (NOAA) has initiated a
review of the Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary and Underwater
Preserve (TBNMS or sanctuary)
boundaries, to evaluate the opportunity
and effects of expanding the sanctuary’s
boundary. The process required by
NMSA will be conducted concurrently
with a public process under the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). This
notice also informs the public that
NOAA will coordinate its
responsibilities under section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA, 16 U.S.C. 470) with its ongoing
NEPA process, pursuant to 36 CFR
800.8(a) including the use of NEPA
documents and public and stakeholder
meetings to also meet the requirements
of section 106. NOAA anticipates
completion of the final environmental
impact statement and concomitant
documents will require approximately
twelve months from the date of
publication of this notice of intent.
DATES: Comments must be received by
May 25, 2012. Dates for scoping
meetings are:
1. April 17, 2012.
2. April 18, 2012.
3. April 19, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by any one of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Submit electronic
comments via the Federal eRulemaking
Portal with Docket Number NOAA–
NOS–2012–0077.
• Mail: Jeff Gray, Sanctuary
Superintendent, Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary, 500 West Fletcher
Street, Alpena, MI 49707.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Instructions
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 (enter N/A in the
required fields to remain anonymous).
Attachments to electronic comments
will be accepted in Microsoft Word,
Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brody, Great Lakes Regional
Coordinator, Telephone: (734) 741–
2270.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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17:11 Apr 11, 2012
Jkt 226001
Background Information
In 2000, NOAA designated the 448square-mile Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS or
sanctuary), which is jointly managed by
NOAA and the State of Michigan (65 FR
39041). The sanctuary’s mission is to
preserve nationally significant
shipwrecks and other maritime heritage
resources through resource protection,
education, and research. Well-preserved
by Lake Huron’s cold, fresh water, these
shipwrecks span a century and a half of
Great Lakes maritime history and
include virtually all types of vessels
used on the Great Lakes. Within the
existing sanctuary boundary are
approximately one hundred shipwrecks.
NOAA has received a number of
comments expressing interest in
expanding the sanctuary’s boundary to
include the waters adjacent to Alcona
and Presque Isle Counties since the
scoping process in 2006 for the
sanctuary’s management plan review.
Several local government and nongovernmental organizations passed
resolutions or submitted written letters
of support for boundary expansion (see
www.thunderbay.noaa.gov/
management/mpr/boundexp for copies
of those documents). In 2007, the
Thunder Bay Sanctuary Advisory
Council adopted a resolution to increase
the boundary to include Alcona,
Alpena, and Presque Isle Counties to the
international border with Canada to
provide protection for those known
maritime heritage resources and those
yet to be discovered. The expanded
sanctuary could include all or part of a
study area proposed by the Thunder Bay
Sanctuary Advisory Council. The study
area for possible expansion contains
approximately one hundred shipwrecks.
Among them are a number of
historically, archaeologically, and
recreationally significant shipwrecks
not currently included in the sanctuary.
The sanctuary’s final management
plan (2009) included the following
strategy: ‘‘Evaluate and assess a
proposed expansion of the sanctuary to
a 3,662-square-mile area from Alcona
County to Presque Isle County, east to
the international border with Canada to
protect, manage, and interpret
additional shipwrecks and other
potential maritime heritage resources.’’
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 Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary boundaries to
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21879
‘‘evaluate and assess a proposed
expansion’’ for the sanctuary.
Expanding the sanctuary boundary to
include some of the best preserved
shipwrecks in the Great Lakes would
provide protection to maritime heritage
resources under the NMSA. Designation
as a sanctuary draws public attention to
the fact that these cultural resources
have national significance and inclusion
in the national marine sanctuary system
could provide additional opportunities
for tourism and economic growth.
Review Process
The review process is composed of
four primary stages:
1. Information collection and
characterization, including public
scoping meetings;
2. Preparation and release of a draft
environmental impact statement (DEIS)
as required by Section 304(a) of the
NMSA that identifies boundary
expansion alternatives, as well as a
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
to amend the sanctuary regulations to
reflect any new boundary if proposed.
3. Public review and comment on the
DEIS and NPRM; and
4. Preparation and release of a final
environmental impact statement,
including a response to public
comments, with a final rule if
appropriate.
NOAA anticipates that the completion
of the final environmental impact
statement and concomitant documents
will require approximately twelve
months.
At this time, NOAA is opening a
public comment period to:
1. Gather information and public
comments from individuals,
organizations, and government agencies
on whether TBNMS should expand its
boundary, suggestions for the extent of
an expanded boundary, and the
potential effects of a boundary
expansion;
2. Help determine the scope of issues
to be addressed in the preparation of an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), if warranted; and
3. Conduct a series of public scoping
meetings to collect public comment.
The public scoping meeting schedule is
presented below.
Public Scoping Meetings: The public
scoping meetings will be held on the
following dates and at the following
locations beginning at 5:30 p.m. unless
otherwise noted:
1. Alpena, MI
Date: April 17, 2012.
E:\FR\FM\12APP1.SGM
12APP1
21880
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2012 / Proposed Rules
Dated: April 3, 2012.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director for the Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries.
Location: Michigan Great Lakes
Maritime Heritage Center.
Address: 500 W. Fletcher Street,
Alpena, MI 49707.
[FR Doc. 2012–8831 Filed 4–11–12; 8:45 am]
2. Rogers City, MI
BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P
Date: April 18, 2012.
Location: Presque Isle District Library.
Address: 181 East Erie Street, Roger
City, MI 49779.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
3. Harrisville, MI
24 CFR Part 200
Date: April 19, 2012.
Location: Alcona County EMS
Building.
Address: 2600 E. M–72, Harrisville,
MI 48740.
[Docket No. FR–5444–P–01]
RIN 2502–AJ09
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Consultation Under National Historic
Preservation Act
This notice confirms that NOAA will
fulfill its responsibility under section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA, 16 U.S.C. 470)
through the ongoing NEPA process,
pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(a) including
the use of NEPA documents and public
and stakeholder meetings to meet the
section 106 requirements. The NHPA
specifically applies to any agency
undertaking that may affect historic
properties. Pursuant to 36 CFR
800.16(1)(1), historic properties
includes: ‘‘Any prehistoric or historic
district, site, building, structure or
object included in, or eligible for
inclusion in, the National Register of
Historic Places maintained by the
Secretary of the Interior. The term
includes artifacts, records, and remains
that are related to and located within
such properties. The term includes
properties of traditional religious and
cultural importance to an Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization and that
meet the National Register criteria.’’
In fulfilling its responsibility under
the NHPA and NEPA, NOAA intends to
identify consulting parties; identify
historic properties and assess the effects
of the undertaking on such properties;
initiate formal consultation with the
State Historic Preservation Officer, the
Advisory Council of Historic
Preservation, and other consulting
parties; involve the public in
accordance with NOAA’s NEPA
procedures, and develop in consultation
with identified consulting parties
alternatives and proposed measures that
might avoid, minimize or mitigate any
adverse effects on historic properties
and describe them in any environmental
assessment or draft environmental
impact statement.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 16
U.S.C. 470.
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17:11 Apr 11, 2012
Jkt 226001
Federal Housing Administration (FHA):
Multifamily Accelerated Processing—
Enhancing and Strengthening
Multifamily Accelerated Processing
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing
Commissioner, HUD.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
Multifamily Accelerated
Processing (MAP) is a processing system
introduced in 2000 as a pilot program to
facilitate the accelerated processing of
loan applications for FHA multifamily
mortgage insurance, which generally
involve the refinance, purchase, new
construction, or rehabilitation of
multifamily properties. These
transactions are costly, complicated,
and time-consuming to process. Prior to
MAP, HUD field offices were
encouraged to develop and test
individual fast-track processing systems
for use by qualified FHA-approved
lenders that were experienced in
processing loan applications for
multifamily mortgages. The intent was
to considerably reduce the processing
time of applications. These test
procedures included providing qualified
lenders with the option of preparing
FHA forms and undertaking preliminary
underwriting for certain types of loan
applications. Fast-track processing
procedures developed by individual
HUD offices that facilitated processing
applications without sacrificing quality
or increasing risk were consolidated
into a national test of fast-track style
processing of multifamily mortgage
insurance applications under the name
‘‘MAP.’’ MAP has been administered to
date through direct instructions to FHAapproved lenders under a MAP Guide.
Given its experience to date with MAP,
HUD believes the MAP accelerated
processing procedures have been
successful. To ensure the continued
quality and efficiency of MAP
procedures, HUD is codifying in
regulations key provisions of MAP and
introducing new provisions to
SUMMARY:
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Frm 00006
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
strengthen MAP, to assure the integrity
and competency of FHA-approved
lenders as directed by the Helping
Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009.
DATES: Comment Due Date: June 11,
2012.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit comments regarding
this proposed rule to the Regulations
Division, Office of General Counsel,
Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room
10276, Washington, DC 20410–0500.
Communications must refer to the above
docket number and title. There are two
methods for submitting public
comments. All submissions must refer
to the above docket number and title.
1. Submission of Comments by Mail.
Comments may be submitted by mail to
the Regulations Division, Office of
General Counsel, Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 451
7th Street SW., Room 10276,
Washington, DC 20410–0500.
2. Electronic Submission of
Comments. Interested persons may
submit comments electronically through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly
encourages commenters to submit
comments electronically. Electronic
submission of comments allows the
commenter maximum time to prepare
and submit a comment, ensures timely
receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to
make them immediately available to the
public. Comments submitted
electronically through the
www.regulations.gov Web site can be
viewed by other commenters and
interested members of the public.
Commenters should follow the
instructions provided on that site to
submit comments electronically.
Note: To receive consideration as public
comments, comments must be submitted
through one of the two methods specified
above. Again, all submissions must refer to
the docket number and title of the rule.
No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile
(FAX) comments are not acceptable.
Public Inspection of Public
Comments. All properly submitted
comments and communications
submitted to HUD will be available for
public inspection and copying between
8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the above
address. Due to security measures at the
HUD Headquarters building, an
appointment to review the public
comments must be scheduled in
advance by calling the Regulations
Division at 202–708–3055 (this is not a
toll-free number). Individuals with
speech or hearing impairments may
access this number via TTY by calling
the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–
E:\FR\FM\12APP1.SGM
12APP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21878-21880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8831]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
15 CFR Part 922
Revisions of Boundaries for the Thunder Bay National Marine
Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve; Intent To Prepare Draft
Environmental Impact Statement; Scoping Meetings
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of intent to revise boundaries; intent to prepare
environmental impact statement; scoping meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: 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
[[Page 21879]]
Administration (NOAA) has initiated a review of the Thunder Bay
National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve (TBNMS or sanctuary)
boundaries, to evaluate the opportunity and effects of expanding the
sanctuary's boundary. The process required by NMSA will be conducted
concurrently with a public process under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). This notice also informs the
public that NOAA will coordinate its responsibilities under section 106
of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA, 16 U.S.C. 470) with
its ongoing NEPA process, pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(a) including the use
of NEPA documents and public and stakeholder meetings to also meet the
requirements of section 106. NOAA anticipates completion of the final
environmental impact statement and concomitant documents will require
approximately twelve months from the date of publication of this notice
of intent.
DATES: Comments must be received by May 25, 2012. Dates for scoping
meetings are:
1. April 17, 2012.
2. April 18, 2012.
3. April 19, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any one of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Submit electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal with
Docket Number NOAA-NOS-2012-0077.
Mail: Jeff Gray, Sanctuary Superintendent, Thunder Bay
National Marine Sanctuary, 500 West Fletcher Street, Alpena, MI 49707.
Instructions
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 (enter N/A in the
required fields to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic
comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or
Adobe PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brody, Great Lakes Regional
Coordinator, Telephone: (734) 741-2270.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information
In 2000, NOAA designated the 448-square-mile Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS or sanctuary), which is jointly managed by NOAA
and the State of Michigan (65 FR 39041). The sanctuary's mission is to
preserve nationally significant shipwrecks and other maritime heritage
resources through resource protection, education, and research. Well-
preserved by Lake Huron's cold, fresh water, these shipwrecks span a
century and a half of Great Lakes maritime history and include
virtually all types of vessels used on the Great Lakes. Within the
existing sanctuary boundary are approximately one hundred shipwrecks.
NOAA has received a number of comments expressing interest in
expanding the sanctuary's boundary to include the waters adjacent to
Alcona and Presque Isle Counties since the scoping process in 2006 for
the sanctuary's management plan review. Several local government and
non-governmental organizations passed resolutions or submitted written
letters of support for boundary expansion (see www.thunderbay.noaa.gov/management/mpr/boundexp for copies of those documents). In 2007, the
Thunder Bay Sanctuary Advisory Council adopted a resolution to increase
the boundary to include Alcona, Alpena, and Presque Isle Counties to
the international border with Canada to provide protection for those
known maritime heritage resources and those yet to be discovered. The
expanded sanctuary could include all or part of a study area proposed
by the Thunder Bay Sanctuary Advisory Council. The study area for
possible expansion contains approximately one hundred shipwrecks. Among
them are a number of historically, archaeologically, and recreationally
significant shipwrecks not currently included in the sanctuary.
The sanctuary's final management plan (2009) included the following
strategy: ``Evaluate and assess a proposed expansion of the sanctuary
to a 3,662-square-mile area from Alcona County to Presque Isle County,
east to the international border with Canada to protect, manage, and
interpret additional shipwrecks and other potential maritime heritage
resources.''
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 Thunder
Bay National Marine Sanctuary boundaries to ``evaluate and assess a
proposed expansion'' for the sanctuary. Expanding the sanctuary
boundary to include some of the best preserved shipwrecks in the Great
Lakes would provide protection to maritime heritage resources under the
NMSA. Designation as a sanctuary draws public attention to the fact
that these cultural resources have national significance and inclusion
in the national marine sanctuary system could provide additional
opportunities for tourism and economic growth.
Review Process
The review process is composed of four primary stages:
1. Information collection and characterization, including public
scoping meetings;
2. Preparation and release of a draft environmental impact
statement (DEIS) as required by Section 304(a) of the NMSA that
identifies boundary expansion alternatives, as well as a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the sanctuary regulations to
reflect any new boundary if proposed.
3. Public review and comment on the DEIS and NPRM; and
4. Preparation and release of a final environmental impact
statement, including a response to public comments, with a final rule
if appropriate.
NOAA anticipates that the completion of the final environmental impact
statement and concomitant documents will require approximately twelve
months.
At this time, NOAA is opening a public comment period to:
1. Gather information and public comments from individuals,
organizations, and government agencies on whether TBNMS should expand
its boundary, suggestions for the extent of an expanded boundary, and
the potential effects of a boundary expansion;
2. Help determine the scope of issues to be addressed in the
preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), if
warranted; and
3. Conduct a series of public scoping meetings to collect public
comment. The public scoping meeting schedule is presented below.
Public Scoping Meetings: The public scoping meetings will be held
on the following dates and at the following locations beginning at 5:30
p.m. unless otherwise noted:
1. Alpena, MI
Date: April 17, 2012.
[[Page 21880]]
Location: Michigan Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.
Address: 500 W. Fletcher Street, Alpena, MI 49707.
2. Rogers City, MI
Date: April 18, 2012.
Location: Presque Isle District Library.
Address: 181 East Erie Street, Roger City, MI 49779.
3. Harrisville, MI
Date: April 19, 2012.
Location: Alcona County EMS Building.
Address: 2600 E. M-72, Harrisville, MI 48740.
Consultation Under National Historic Preservation Act
This notice confirms that NOAA will fulfill its responsibility
under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA, 16
U.S.C. 470) through the ongoing NEPA process, pursuant to 36 CFR
800.8(a) including the use of NEPA documents and public and stakeholder
meetings to meet the section 106 requirements. The NHPA specifically
applies to any agency undertaking that may affect historic properties.
Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.16(1)(1), historic properties includes: ``Any
prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure or object
included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of
Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. The term
includes artifacts, records, and remains that are related to and
located within such properties. The term includes properties of
traditional religious and cultural importance to an Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization and that meet the National Register
criteria.''
In fulfilling its responsibility under the NHPA and NEPA, NOAA
intends to identify consulting parties; identify historic properties
and assess the effects of the undertaking on such properties; initiate
formal consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer, the
Advisory Council of Historic Preservation, and other consulting
parties; involve the public in accordance with NOAA's NEPA procedures,
and develop in consultation with identified consulting parties
alternatives and proposed measures that might avoid, minimize or
mitigate any adverse effects on historic properties and describe them
in any environmental assessment or draft environmental impact
statement.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 470.
Dated: April 3, 2012.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2012-8831 Filed 4-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P
