Notice of Availability of a Draft Management Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary; Announcement of Public Meetings, 71620-71622 [2021-27315]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 240 (Friday, December 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71620-71622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27315]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Availability of a Draft Management Plan and Draft 
Environmental Assessment for the Channel Islands National Marine 
Sanctuary; Announcement of Public Meetings

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has 
prepared a draft management plan (DMP) as part of the Channel Islands 
National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) management plan review. 
The DMP, which replaces a 2009 sanctuary management plan, addresses 
current and emerging threats in CINMS and reflects changes in new 
science and technologies, how people use the sanctuary, and community 
needs. The DMP supports continued protection of sanctuary resources 
through enforcement of existing sanctuary regulations, education and 
outreach strategies that promote ocean stewardship, and community-
inclusive involvement. Consistent with the information provided in the 
2019 Notice of Intent, NOAA is not proposing modifications to the 
sanctuary regulations at this time, but may consider regulatory changes 
in the future. NOAA also prepared a draft environmental assessment 
(DEA), which evaluates the environmental impacts of implementing the 
DMP, ongoing field activities, and the existing sanctuary regulations. 
NOAA is soliciting public comments on the DMP and DEA at this time.

DATES: Comments are due by February 24, 2022. NOAA will host virtual 
public scoping meetings at the following dates and times:

 Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Pacific Time
 Thursday, January 27, 2022, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Pacific Time

NOAA may end a meeting before the time noted above if all those 
participating have completed their oral comments.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the DMP and DEA by the following 
methods:
     Electronic Submission: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 
https://www.regulations.gov and enter ``NOAA-NOS-2019-0110'' in the 
Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required 
fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Written comments may also be mailed to NOAA/CINMS, 
UCSB Ocean Science Education, Building 514/MC 6155, Santa Barbara, 
California 93106, Attn: Chris Mobley, Superintendent.
     Public Scoping Meetings: Provide oral comments during 
virtual public scoping meetings, as described under DATES. Webinar 
registration details and additional information about how to 
participate in these public scoping meetings is available at https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/revision.html.
    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 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personally identifiable 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive

[[Page 71621]]

information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly 
accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the 
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Murray, Deputy Superintendent 
for Programs, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, 805-893-6418, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or sanctuary) 
surrounds five of the eight Channel Islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, 
Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara off the coast of California. The 
sanctuary encompasses 1,470 square miles (3,807 square kilometers) of 
ocean extending an average distance of 6 nautical miles (11.1 
kilometers) from island shorelines, and at its deepest point, reaches 
5,597 feet (1,706 meters). The sanctuary is home to numerous species of 
marine mammals, seabirds, fishes, invertebrates, and algae in a 
remarkably productive coastal environment. Within its boundary is a 
rich array of habitats, from rugged rocky shores and lush kelp forests 
to deep canyons and seagrass beds. These habitats abound with life, 
from tiny microscopic plants to enormous blue whales. The islands and 
surrounding sanctuary waters have been, and remain, sacred to 
Indigenous Chumash people. In addition, while the offshore location of 
the sanctuary limits human presence, the area supports a variety of 
human uses, such as recreation, tourism, commercial fishing, research, 
and education.

II. Management Plan Review

    The purpose of this management plan review is to fulfill the 
purposes and policies outlined in Section 301(b) of the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act (NMSA; 16 U.S.C. 1431(b)) in order to protect and 
manage the resources of the sanctuary. As required by Section 304(e) of 
the NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1434(e)), a management plan review enables NOAA to 
evaluate the substantive progress toward implementing the sanctuary's 
existing management plan and the goals for the sanctuary and to revise 
the sanctuary's management plan and regulations as necessary to fulfill 
the purposes and policies of the NMSA. A revised sanctuary management 
plan enables NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) to 
adjust the allocation of time and resources to focus on new priority 
issues, partnerships, technologies and opportunities that have emerged 
since the existing sanctuary management was published. A revised 
management plan also prioritizes use of collaborative and community-
based approaches to pursuing sanctuary goals, supported by a variety of 
partnerships with government agencies, scientific entities, Tribal 
communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and sanctuary 
volunteers and advisory council members.
    Proposed updates to the CINMS management plan are based on ONMS 
evaluation and advisory council input on the current management plan, 
analysis of comments received during public scoping, and findings from 
the latest CINMS condition report. While the condition report, using 
quantitative data gathered through 2016, found overall that sanctuary 
resources were doing well in comparison to many other ocean areas, it 
also highlighted several pressures and activities causing impacts, such 
as vessel traffic, introduction of non-native species, ocean noise, 
marine debris, harmful algal blooms, and climate-driven changes to 
ocean conditions. The condition report's ecosystem services assessment 
also provided an important reminder about the unique and profound value 
of the sanctuary environment to the Chumash people.

III. Action Plans

    The DMP includes ten action plans covering issue- and program-based 
themes that would guide sanctuary staff over the coming five to ten 
years. Across these action plans, ONMS also emphasizes four important 
cross-cutting themes and approaches: Addressing climate change, 
fostering diversity and inclusion, relying on partnerships and 
collaborations, and supporting community-based engagement.
    1. Climate Change: Sanctuary waters, as well as surrounding coastal 
areas and communities, are experiencing climate-related stressors 
(e.g., ocean acidification, thermal stress, and hypoxia) that will 
increase in frequency and intensity over the coming decades. This 
action plan outlines strategies to better understand and mitigate the 
effects of climate change on sanctuary resources through capacity 
building and collaborative partnerships.
    2. Marine Debris: This action plan prioritizes the assessment of 
marine debris within CINMS and development of a better understanding of 
how marine debris affects sanctuary resources. Strategies include 
sustaining and expanding island shoreline cleanup efforts, pursuing 
collaborative efforts with the local fishing community, and 
implementing education and outreach initiatives with partners.
    3. Vessel Traffic: A wide array of public and private vessels carry 
visitors and cargo while transiting through the sanctuary year-round. 
This action plan outlines strategies to facilitate vessel activity 
while protecting sanctuary resources. Some strategies include engaging 
boaters and the shipping industry, tracking and monitoring vessel 
traffic, and enacting policies to foster safe navigation and protect 
sanctuary resources in coordination with other agencies and partners.
    4. Zone Management: This action plan focuses on implementing 
effective management and enforcement strategies of existing protective 
zones established within the sanctuary, including but not limited to 
the Channel Islands network of marine reserves and conservation areas 
designated by NOAA and the State of California.
    5. Introduced Species: Introduced species are an increasingly 
common global threat, and the rate of invasion of introduced species 
continues to accelerate. The strategies in this action plan outline 
efforts to reduce the introduction, spread, and establishment of 
introduced species, and to track, study and, where possible, control 
populations of introduced species already introduced or established in 
the sanctuary.
    6. Education and Outreach: This action plan seeks to increase 
appreciation and stewardship of sanctuary resources by building greater 
public understanding, engagement, and awareness throughout diverse 
coastal communities adjacent to the sanctuary. This action plan also 
focuses on support for sanctuary recreational activities and tourism.
    7. Research and Monitoring: To expand our understanding of the 
sanctuary ecosystems, this action plan outlines five strategies for 
research and monitoring that are responsive to existing resource 
protection and management concerns, yet are also forward-looking to 
support ecosystem-based management decision making, resource protection 
initiatives, and education and outreach programs.
    8. Resource Protection: This action plan identifies five strategies 
to reduce human impacts to marine wildlife and other sanctuary 
resources. Through collaborative management with local stakeholders and 
in partnership and consultation with relevant local, State and Federal 
government agencies, this action plan seeks to protect the biological, 
historical and cultural

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resources in the sanctuary from known, emerging, and future unknown 
threats.
    9. Cultural Resources and Maritime Heritage: To identify, protect, 
and raise awareness of the maritime cultural, historical, and 
archeological resources within the sanctuary, this action plan proposes 
to improve the sanctuary's collaborative partnership with members of 
the Chumash community, as well as inventory and monitor historic 
shipwreck and aircraft wreck sites.
    10. Operations and Administration: This action plan addresses the 
necessary operational and administrative activities required for 
implementing an effective program, including staffing, infrastructure 
needs, and operational improvements.

IV. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance

    As required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NOAA has prepared a DEA to evaluate the potential 
impacts on the human environment of implementing NOAA's proposed 
action. The proposed action is to update NOAA's management activities 
conducted within CINMS that relate to research, monitoring, education, 
outreach, community engagement, and resource protection. The proposed 
management activities include revising the sanctuary management plan 
and implementing routine field activities and existing sanctuary 
regulations. No significant impacts to resources and the human 
environment are expected to result from this proposed action. 
Accordingly, under NEPA, an Environmental Assessment is the appropriate 
document to analyze the potential impacts of this action. Following the 
close of the public comment period and the satisfaction of consultation 
requirements under any applicable natural and cultural resource 
statutes, NOAA will finalize its NEPA analysis and prepare a final NEPA 
document and decision document.
    NOAA is seeking public comment on the DMP and DEA, which are 
available at https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/revision.html 
or may be obtained by contacting the individual listed under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    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. 2021-27315 Filed 12-16-21; 8:45 am]
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