Updates to List of National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), 23464-23466 [2012-9301]

Download as PDF 23464 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 76 / Thursday, April 19, 2012 / Notices Notice of issuance of a Letter of Authorization. ACTION: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC) to take two species of pinnipeds incidental to space vehicle and missile launch operations at the Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC) in Kodiak, Alaska. DATES: Effective from April 30, 2012, through April 29, 2013. ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting documentation are available for review by writing to Tammy C. Adams, Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3225, by telephoning the contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, or on the Internet at: https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm#applications. Documents cited in this notice may also be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Magliocca, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 301–427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued. Under the MMPA, the term ‘‘take’’ means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill marine mammals. Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the identified species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth in the regulations. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘* * * an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:10 Apr 18, 2012 Jkt 226001 reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’ Regulations governing the taking of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), by harassment, and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) (adults by harassment and pups by injury or mortality), incidental to space vehicle and missile launch operations at the KLC, were issued on March 22, 2011 (76 FR 16311, March 23, 2011), and remain in effect until March 21, 2016. For detailed information on the action, please refer to that document. The regulations include mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements for the incidental take of marine mammals during space vehicle and missile launch operations at the KLC. Summary of Request On February 27, 2012, NMFS received a request from the AAC for renewal of an LOA issued on April 30, 2011, authorizing the take of marine mammals incidental to a maximum of 12 space launch vehicles, long-range ballistic target missiles, and other smaller missile systems at the KLC. The AAC has complied with the measures required in 50 CFR 217.70–75, as well as the associated 2011–2012 LOA, and submitted the reports and other documentation required by the final rule and the 2011–2012 LOA. Summary of Activity Under the 2011– 2012 LOA As described in the AAC’s 2011–2012 annual report, launch activities conducted at the KLC were within the scope and amounts authorized by the 2011–2012 LOA and the levels of take remain within the scope and amounts contemplated by the final rule. Only one launch occurred at the KLC under the 2011–2012 LOA. Planned Activities and Estimated Take for 2012–2013 In 2012–2013, the AAC expects to conduct the same type and amount of launches identified in the 2011–2012 LOA. Similarly, the authorized take will remain within the annual estimates analyzed in the final rule. Summary of Monitoring and Reporting Under the 2011–2012 LOA The AAC submitted their annual monitoring report within the required timeframe and the report is posted on NMFS Web site: https://www.nmfs.noaa. gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm# applications. NMFS has reviewed the report and it contains the information required by the 2011–2012 LOA. The AAC’s monitoring activities included a PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 quarterly aerial survey on September 21, 2011, and launch-related monitoring on September 26–27, 2011, using a remote camera system. One of the planned quarterly aerial surveys was postponed twice due to stormy weather. Another aerial survey is scheduled to occur before the 2011–2012 LOA expires. The annual report for last year’s LOA reported no Steller sea lions observed in the area before or after the launch and there were no sightings of injury or mortality to Pacific harbor seals. Last year, no launches occurred during harbor seal pupping season (May 15–June 30). Authorization The AAC complied with the requirements of the 2011–2012 LOA. Based on our review of the record, NMFS has determined that the marine mammal take resulting from the 2011– 2012 launch operations falls within the levels previously anticipated, analyzed, and authorized. The record supports NMFS’ conclusion that the number of marine mammals taken by the 2012– 2013 launch operations will have no more than a negligible impact on the affected species or stock of marine mammals and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of these species or stocks for taking for subsistence uses. Accordingly, NMFS has issued a 1-year LOA for launch operations conducted at the KLC from April 30, 2012, through April 29, 2013. Dated: April 11, 2012. Helen M. Golde, Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2012–9480 Filed 4–18–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Updates to List of National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) NOAA, Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of updates to the List of National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and response to comments on nominations of existing MPAs to the national system. AGENCY: The National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides a mechanism for MPAs managed by diverse government agencies to work together on common conservation priorities. In July 2011, NOAA and the Department of the Interior (DOI) invited federal, state, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 76 / Thursday, April 19, 2012 / Notices commonwealth, territorial and tribal MPA programs with potentially eligible existing MPAs to nominate their sites to the National System of MPAs (national system). A total of 58 nominations were received, including three from the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, 40 from the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, three from the National Park Service, one from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, five from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, two from the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, one from the Virgin Islands Department Of Planning and Natural Resources and three from the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Following a 45day public review period, two public comments were received by the National Marine Protected Areas Center (MPA Center). Both comments were supportive of the Fort Pulaski National Monument, which was nominated by the National Park Service. The managing agencies listed above were asked to make a final determination of sites to nominate to the national system. Finding them to be eligible for the national system, the MPA Center has accepted the nominations for 58 sites and placed them on the List of National System MPAs. The national system and the nomination process are described in the Framework for the National System of Marine Protected Areas of the United States of America (Framework), developed in response to Executive Order 13158 on Marine Protected Areas. The final Framework was published on November 19,2008, and provides guidance for collaborative efforts among federal, state, commonwealth, territorial, tribal and local governments and stakeholders to develop a national system that includes existing MPAs meeting national system criteria as well as new sites that may be established by managing agencies to fill key conservation gaps in important ocean areas. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Wenzel, NOAA, at 301–713– 3100, ext. 136 or via email at mpa.comments@noaa.gov. A detailed electronic copy of the List of National System MPAs is available for download at https://www.mpa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background on National System The national system of MPAs is made up of member MPA sites, networks and systems established and managed by federal, state, commonwealth, VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:10 Apr 18, 2012 Jkt 226001 territorial, tribal and/or local governments that collectively enhance conservation of the nation’s natural and cultural marine heritage and represent its diverse ecosystems and resources. Although participating sites continue to be managed independently, national system MPAs also work together at the regional and national levels to achieve common objectives for conserving the nation’s important natural and cultural resources, with emphasis on achieving the priority conservation objectives of the Framework. MPAs include sites with a wide range of protection, from multiple use areas to no take reserves where all extractive uses are prohibited. The term MPA refers only to the marine portion of a site (below the mean high tide mark) that may include both terrestrial and marine components. The national system is a mechanism to foster greater collaboration among participating MPA sites and programs in order to enhance stewardship in the waters of the United States. The act of joining the national system does not create new MPAs, or create new restrictions for the existing MPAs that become members. In fact, a site must have existing protections of natural and/ or cultural resources in place in order to be eligible to join the national system, as well as meeting other criteria described in the Framework. Joining the national system does not establish new regulatory authority or change existing regulations in any way, require changes affecting the designation process or management of member MPAs or bring state, territorial, tribal or local sites under federal authority. Benefits of joining the national system, which are expected to increase over time as the system matures, include a facilitated means to work with other sites in the MPA’s region, and nationally on issues of common conservation concern; fostering greater public and international recognition of U.S. MPAs and the resources they protect; priority in the receipt of available technical and other support for cross-cutting needs; and the opportunity to influence federal and regional ocean conservation and management initiatives (such as integrated ocean observing systems, systematic monitoring and evaluation, targeted outreach to key user groups, and helping to identify and address MPA research needs). In addition, the national system provides a forum for coordinated regional planning about place-based conservation priorities that does not otherwise exist. PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 23465 Nomination Process The Framework describes two major focal areas for building the national system of MPAs—a nomination process to allow existing MPAs that meet the entry criteria to become part of the system and a collaborative regional gap analysis process to identify areas of significance for natural or cultural resources that may merit additional protection through existing federal, state, commonwealth, territorial, tribal or local MPA authorities. A call for nominations is issued annually, and may also be issued at the request of an MPA management agency. This round of nominations began on July 6, 2011 and the deadline for nominations was October 31, 2011. A public comment period was held from December 30, 2011 through February 13, 2012. There are three entry criteria for existing MPAs to join the national system, plus a fourth for cultural heritage. Sites that meet all pertinent criteria are eligible for the national system. 1. Meets the definition of an MPA as defined in the Framework. 2. Has a management plan (can be site-specific or part of a broader programmatic management plan; must have goals and objectives and call for monitoring or evaluation of those goals and objectives). 3. Contributes to at least one priority conservation objective as listed in the Framework (see below). 4. Cultural heritage MPAs must also conform to criteria for the National Register for Historic Places. Additional sites not currently meeting the management plan criterion can be evaluated for eligibility to be nominated to the system on a case-by-case basis based on their ability to fill gaps in the national system coverage of the priority conservation objectives and design principles described in the Framework. The MPA Center used existing information in the MPA Inventory to determine which MPAs meet the first and second criteria. The inventory is online at https://www.mpa.gov/ dataanalysis/mpainventory/ and potentially eligible sites are posted online at https://www.mpa.gov/ nationalsystem/nominationprocess/. As part of the nomination process, the managing entity for each potentially eligible site is asked to provide information on the third and fourth criteria. Updates to List of National System MPAs The following MPAs have been nominated by the American Samoa E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1 23466 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 76 / Thursday, April 19, 2012 / Notices Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Natural Resources to join the national system of MPAs. The complete List of National System MPAs, which now includes 355 members, is available at www.mpa.gov. Response to Public Comments On December 30, 2011, NOAA and DOI (agencies) published the Nomination of Existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to the National System of Marine Protected Areas for public comment, for the nomination of fifty-eight existing MPAs. By the end of the 45-day comment period, two public comments had been received. Both comments expressed support for the nomination of the Fort Pulaski National Monument, noting that its membership in the national system provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the area, highlight opportunities for research and increase cooperation with other protected areas and marine research institutions in the region. John Dwight Exempt Site Kershaw Exempt Site Kiowa Exempt Site Lackawana Exempt Site Lunet Exempt Site Mars Exempt Site Pemberton Exempt Site Pendleton Exempt Site Pinthis Exempt Site Port Hunter Exempt Site Pottstown Exempt Site Romance Exempt Spite Seaconnet Exempt Site Trojan Exempt Site U.S.S. Grouse Exempt Site U.S.S. New Hampshire Exempt Site U.S.S. Triana Exempt Site U.S.S. Yankee Exempt Site U.S.S. YSD Exempt Site H.M.C.S. Saint Francis Exempt Site French Van Gilder Exempt Site Vineyard Sound Lightship Exempt Site Puerto Rico Arrecifes de la Cordillera Natural Reserve Canal Luis Pen, a Natural Reserve Isla de Desecheo Marine Reserve Isla de Mona Natural Reserve Tres Palmas de Rinco ’n Marine Reserve South Carolina Cooper River Heritage Dive Trail Ashley River Heritage Canoe Trail U.S. Virgin Islands St. Thomas East End Reserve Federal Marine Protected Areas Washington Cumberland Island National Seashore (GA) Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve (WA) Farallon National Wildlife Refuge (CA) Fort Pulaski National Monument (GA) Smith and Minor Island Aquatic Reserve Protection Island Aquatic Reserve Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve American Samoa Aoa Village Marine Protected Area Sa’ilele Village Marine Protected Area Amanave Village Marine Protected Area mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Massachusetts (Shipwrecks) Albert Gallatin Exempt Site Alice M. Colburn Exempt Site Alice M. Lawrence Exempt Site Ardandhu Exempt Site Barge and Crane Exempt Site California Exempt Site State Charles S. Haight Exempt Site Chester A. Poling Exempt Site Chelsea Exempt Site City of Salisbury Exempt Site Corvan Exempt Site Dixie Sword Exempt Site Edward Rich Exempt Site Henry Endicott Exempt Site Herbert Exempt Site Herman Winter Exempt Site Hilda Garston Exempt Site James S. Longstreet Exempt Site VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:10 Apr 18, 2012 Jkt 226001 Dated: March 28, 2012. David M. Kennedy, Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2012–9301 Filed 4–18–12; 8:45 am] Council’s Web site (https:// www.serve.gov/communitysolutions) by Tuesday, May 8. PUBLIC COMMENT: The public is invited to submit publicly available comments through the Council’s Web site. To send statements to the Council, please send written statements to the Council’s electronic mailbox at WhiteHouseCouncil@cns.gov. The public can also follow the Council’s work by visiting its Web site: https:// www.serve.gov/communitysolutions. STATUS: Open. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The purpose of this meeting is to review and make decisions on the Council’s recommendations that will be included in its final report to the President. The Report will be available to the public on the Council’s Web site referenced above when sent to the President. The report will provide a record of the work of the Council from its establishment in December 2010. CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kathy Bendheim, Executive Director, White House Council for Community Solutions, Corporation for National and Community Service, 10th Floor, Room 10911, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20525. Phone: (202) 491–3809. Fax: (202) 606–3464. Email: WhiteHouseCouncil@cns.gov. Dated: April 17, 2012. Kathryn Bendheim, Executive Director, White House Council for Community Solutions. [FR Doc. 2012–9619 Filed 4–17–12; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 6050–$$–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Defense Acquisition University Board of Visitors; Notice of Meeting BILLING CODE 3510–08–M Defense Acquisition University, DoD. ACTION: Meeting notice. AGENCY: CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Sunshine Act Meeting The White House Council for Community Solutions gives notice of the following meeting: DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 1:15–2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. PLACE: The Council will meet via phone conference call. The meeting will be open to the public in Listen-Only mode and it will be recorded. To dial in, please call 866–525–0652. More details and materials will be available on the PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102–3.150, the Department of Defense announces that the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Defense Acquisition University Board of Visitors will take place. DATES: Wednesday, May 9, 2012, from 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. ADDRESSES: DAU Mid-Atlantic Region, 23330 Cottonwood Pkwy, California, MD 20619. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23464-23466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9301]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION


Updates to List of National System of Marine Protected Areas 
(MPAs)

AGENCY: NOAA, Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of updates to the List of National System of Marine 
Protected Areas (MPAs) and response to comments on nominations of 
existing MPAs to the national system.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides 
a mechanism for MPAs managed by diverse government agencies to work 
together on common conservation priorities. In July 2011, NOAA and the 
Department of the Interior (DOI) invited federal, state,

[[Page 23465]]

commonwealth, territorial and tribal MPA programs with potentially 
eligible existing MPAs to nominate their sites to the National System 
of MPAs (national system). A total of 58 nominations were received, 
including three from the American Samoa Department of Marine and 
Wildlife Resources, 40 from the Massachusetts Board of Underwater 
Archaeological Resources, three from the National Park Service, one 
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, five from the Puerto Rico 
Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, two from the South 
Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, one from the Virgin 
Islands Department Of Planning and Natural Resources and three from the 
Washington Department of Natural Resources. Following a 45-day public 
review period, two public comments were received by the National Marine 
Protected Areas Center (MPA Center). Both comments were supportive of 
the Fort Pulaski National Monument, which was nominated by the National 
Park Service. The managing agencies listed above were asked to make a 
final determination of sites to nominate to the national system. 
Finding them to be eligible for the national system, the MPA Center has 
accepted the nominations for 58 sites and placed them on the List of 
National System MPAs.
    The national system and the nomination process are described in the 
Framework for the National System of Marine Protected Areas of the 
United States of America (Framework), developed in response to 
Executive Order 13158 on Marine Protected Areas. The final Framework 
was published on November 19,2008, and provides guidance for 
collaborative efforts among federal, state, commonwealth, territorial, 
tribal and local governments and stakeholders to develop a national 
system that includes existing MPAs meeting national system criteria as 
well as new sites that may be established by managing agencies to fill 
key conservation gaps in important ocean areas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Wenzel, NOAA, at 301-713-3100, 
ext. 136 or via email at mpa.comments@noaa.gov. A detailed electronic 
copy of the List of National System MPAs is available for download at 
https://www.mpa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on National System

    The national system of MPAs is made up of member MPA sites, 
networks and systems established and managed by federal, state, 
commonwealth, territorial, tribal and/or local governments that 
collectively enhance conservation of the nation's natural and cultural 
marine heritage and represent its diverse ecosystems and resources. 
Although participating sites continue to be managed independently, 
national system MPAs also work together at the regional and national 
levels to achieve common objectives for conserving the nation's 
important natural and cultural resources, with emphasis on achieving 
the priority conservation objectives of the Framework. MPAs include 
sites with a wide range of protection, from multiple use areas to no 
take reserves where all extractive uses are prohibited. The term MPA 
refers only to the marine portion of a site (below the mean high tide 
mark) that may include both terrestrial and marine components.
    The national system is a mechanism to foster greater collaboration 
among participating MPA sites and programs in order to enhance 
stewardship in the waters of the United States. The act of joining the 
national system does not create new MPAs, or create new restrictions 
for the existing MPAs that become members. In fact, a site must have 
existing protections of natural and/or cultural resources in place in 
order to be eligible to join the national system, as well as meeting 
other criteria described in the Framework. Joining the national system 
does not establish new regulatory authority or change existing 
regulations in any way, require changes affecting the designation 
process or management of member MPAs or bring state, territorial, 
tribal or local sites under federal authority.
    Benefits of joining the national system, which are expected to 
increase over time as the system matures, include a facilitated means 
to work with other sites in the MPA's region, and nationally on issues 
of common conservation concern; fostering greater public and 
international recognition of U.S. MPAs and the resources they protect; 
priority in the receipt of available technical and other support for 
cross-cutting needs; and the opportunity to influence federal and 
regional ocean conservation and management initiatives (such as 
integrated ocean observing systems, systematic monitoring and 
evaluation, targeted outreach to key user groups, and helping to 
identify and address MPA research needs). In addition, the national 
system provides a forum for coordinated regional planning about place-
based conservation priorities that does not otherwise exist.

Nomination Process

    The Framework describes two major focal areas for building the 
national system of MPAs--a nomination process to allow existing MPAs 
that meet the entry criteria to become part of the system and a 
collaborative regional gap analysis process to identify areas of 
significance for natural or cultural resources that may merit 
additional protection through existing federal, state, commonwealth, 
territorial, tribal or local MPA authorities. A call for nominations is 
issued annually, and may also be issued at the request of an MPA 
management agency. This round of nominations began on July 6, 2011 and 
the deadline for nominations was October 31, 2011. A public comment 
period was held from December 30, 2011 through February 13, 2012.
    There are three entry criteria for existing MPAs to join the 
national system, plus a fourth for cultural heritage. Sites that meet 
all pertinent criteria are eligible for the national system.
    1. Meets the definition of an MPA as defined in the Framework.
    2. Has a management plan (can be site-specific or part of a broader 
programmatic management plan; must have goals and objectives and call 
for monitoring or evaluation of those goals and objectives).
    3. Contributes to at least one priority conservation objective as 
listed in the Framework (see below).
    4. Cultural heritage MPAs must also conform to criteria for the 
National Register for Historic Places.
    Additional sites not currently meeting the management plan 
criterion can be evaluated for eligibility to be nominated to the 
system on a case-by-case basis based on their ability to fill gaps in 
the national system coverage of the priority conservation objectives 
and design principles described in the Framework.
    The MPA Center used existing information in the MPA Inventory to 
determine which MPAs meet the first and second criteria. The inventory 
is online at https://www.mpa.gov/dataanalysis/mpainventory/ and 
potentially eligible sites are posted online at https://www.mpa.gov/nationalsystem/nominationprocess/. As part of the nomination process, 
the managing entity for each potentially eligible site is asked to 
provide information on the third and fourth criteria.

Updates to List of National System MPAs

    The following MPAs have been nominated by the American Samoa

[[Page 23466]]

Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, the Massachusetts Board of 
Underwater Archaeological Resources, the National Park Service, the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural 
and Environmental Resources, the South Carolina Institute of 
Archaeology and Anthropology, the Virgin Islands Department of Planning 
and Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Natural 
Resources to join the national system of MPAs. The complete List of 
National System MPAs, which now includes 355 members, is available at 
www.mpa.gov.

Response to Public Comments

    On December 30, 2011, NOAA and DOI (agencies) published the 
Nomination of Existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to the National 
System of Marine Protected Areas for public comment, for the nomination 
of fifty-eight existing MPAs. By the end of the 45-day comment period, 
two public comments had been received. Both comments expressed support 
for the nomination of the Fort Pulaski National Monument, noting that 
its membership in the national system provides an opportunity to raise 
awareness of the area, highlight opportunities for research and 
increase cooperation with other protected areas and marine research 
institutions in the region.

Federal Marine Protected Areas

Cumberland Island National Seashore (GA)
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (WA)
Farallon National Wildlife Refuge (CA)
Fort Pulaski National Monument (GA)

American Samoa

Aoa Village Marine Protected Area
Sa'ilele Village Marine Protected Area
Amanave Village Marine Protected Area

Massachusetts (Shipwrecks)

Albert Gallatin Exempt Site
Alice M. Colburn Exempt Site
Alice M. Lawrence Exempt Site
Ardandhu Exempt Site
Barge and Crane Exempt Site
California Exempt Site
State Charles S. Haight Exempt Site
Chester A. Poling Exempt Site
Chelsea Exempt Site
City of Salisbury Exempt Site
Corvan Exempt Site
Dixie Sword Exempt Site
Edward Rich Exempt Site
Henry Endicott Exempt Site
Herbert Exempt Site
Herman Winter Exempt Site
Hilda Garston Exempt Site
James S. Longstreet Exempt Site
John Dwight Exempt Site
Kershaw Exempt Site
Kiowa Exempt Site
Lackawana Exempt Site
Lunet Exempt Site
Mars Exempt Site
Pemberton Exempt Site
Pendleton Exempt Site
Pinthis Exempt Site
Port Hunter Exempt Site
Pottstown Exempt Site
Romance Exempt Spite
Seaconnet Exempt Site
Trojan Exempt Site
U.S.S. Grouse Exempt Site
U.S.S. New Hampshire Exempt Site
U.S.S. Triana Exempt Site
U.S.S. Yankee Exempt Site
U.S.S. YSD Exempt Site
H.M.C.S. Saint Francis Exempt Site
French Van Gilder Exempt Site
Vineyard Sound Lightship Exempt Site

Puerto Rico

Arrecifes de la Cordillera Natural Reserve
Canal Luis Pen, a Natural Reserve
Isla de Desecheo Marine Reserve
Isla de Mona Natural Reserve
Tres Palmas de Rinco 'n Marine Reserve

South Carolina

Cooper River Heritage Dive Trail
Ashley River Heritage Canoe Trail

U.S. Virgin Islands

St. Thomas East End Reserve

Washington

Smith and Minor Island Aquatic Reserve
Protection Island Aquatic Reserve
Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve

     Dated: March 28, 2012.
David M. Kennedy,
Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic 
Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-9301 Filed 4-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M
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