Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary, 32198-32200 [2023-10644]

Download as PDF 32198 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 2023 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent to hold public scoping meetings and prepare a draft environmental impact statement; request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and based on the area’s qualities and boundaries described in the community-based nomination on December 31, 2015 (https://nominate.noaa.gov/), NOAA is initiating a scoping process to consider designating a national marine sanctuary in the eastern Lake Erie adjacent to Pennsylvania. The nomination provides a description of the cultural and historical resources in the region, the potential benefits of a national marine sanctuary designation, recommendations for management of the sanctuary, and a proposed sanctuary boundary. As a first step in this scoping process, NOAA invites comments on the factors that will contribute to its determination of whether and how to designate the area as a national marine sanctuary. The results of this scoping process will inform NOAA’s next steps in the designation process, which would include the preparation and release of draft designation documents, as well as the formulation of action alternatives for the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). This scoping process will also inform the initiation of consultations with Indigenous Nations and Tribes, Federal, State, and local agencies, and other interested parties, as appropriate. In support of the scoping process, the nomination package and additional information regarding the qualities of the Lake Erie Quadrangle area can be found at https:// sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-erie. DATES: Comments due: July 18, 2023. Public Meetings: NOAA will host three public meetings during the scoping process, two virtual and one inperson. The in-person scoping meeting ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 May 18, 2023 Jkt 259001 will occur at the following day and time: • Erie, Pennsylvania. Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Location: Erie County Public Library—Blasco. Address: H.O. Hirt Auditorium, 160 E Front St., Erie, PA 16507. Time: 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The virtual public scoping meetings will occur at the following dates and times: • Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 2:00 p.m.– 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. • Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Please check https:// sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-erie for meeting links and the most up-to-date information, should plans for these public meetings change. NOAA may end a virtual or in-person meeting before the time noted above if all participants have concluded their oral comments. You may submit comments, identified by docket number NOAA– NOS–2023–0039, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ‘‘NOAA–NOS–2023–0039’’ in the Search box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comment. • Mail: Send any hard copy public comments by mail to: Ellen Brody, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 4840 South State Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Note the docket number at the top of the comment. • Public Scoping Meetings: Provide oral comments during public scoping meetings, as described under DATES. Webinar registration details and additional information about how to participate in these virtual and inperson public scoping meetings is available at www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/ lake-erie. 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 https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personally identifiable information (for example, name, address), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the commenter will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 anonymous). Comments that are not responsive or contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language will not be considered. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brody, (734) 741–2270, ellen.brody@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background on the Area Under Consideration The National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended (NMSA), 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to designate and protect as national marine sanctuaries areas of the marine environment that are of special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archeological, educational, or aesthetic qualities. A primary objective of the NMSA is to protect the resources of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Day-to-day management of national marine sanctuaries has been delegated by the Secretary to ONMS. In December 2015, Erie County, Pennsylvania, submitted a nomination to NOAA through the Sanctuary Nomination Process (79 FR 33851), proposing consideration of the Lake Erie Quadrangle as a national marine sanctuary to conserve its nationally significant underwater cultural and historical resources and to expand upon existing local and state efforts to study, interpret, and promote them. Along with support from the Governor of Pennsylvania, the nomination was endorsed by a diverse coalition of organizations and individuals at local, State, and national levels including elected officials, agencies, businesses, recreational users, local charters, academic organizations, tourism organizations, non-profit organizations, economic development organizations, historical societies, and education groups. In February 2016, NOAA added the Lake Erie Quadrangle proposal to its inventory of successful nominations that are eligible for designation, and extended it on the inventory in March 2021 after a required five-year review of the nomination (87 FR 11049). NOAA is initiating the process to designate this area as a national marine sanctuary based primarily on the information included in the nomination. NOAA’s goal in considering the designation of the Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary (LEQNMS) in Lake Erie is to recognize the national significance of the area’s historical, archaeological, and cultural resources and to manage the area as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System. If E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 2023 / Notices NOAA finalizes the designation, the agency would delineate the boundaries of the sanctuary; manage the area as a part of the National Marine Sanctuary System under NMSA; establish sanctuary regulations; and implement a management plan. The area being considered for designation as a national marine sanctuary in Lake Erie includes approximately 740 square miles (1917 square kilometers) of lake waters and bottomlands. The area would be adjacent to approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) of coastline bordering Erie County, Pennsylvania, that extends westward to the Ohio state line, northward to the international border with Ontario, Canada, and eastward to the New York State line. The nomination proposes to exclude the Erie Port from the sanctuary boundaries to ensure compatible use with shipping and other commercial activities. This area represents a historically rich region where the long relationship between human activity and the maritime environment has created meaning and a sense of place, which is expressed and preserved in a wide variety of maritime cultural resources from sacred places and cultural practices to lighthouses and historic shipwrecks. Together, these tangible and intangible elements form a rich maritime cultural landscape. Lake Erie hosted one of the busiest waterways of the mid-19th century. Pennsylvania supported the Great Lakes’ largest commercial fishing fleet during the 19th century, some of the earliest shipbuilding on the Great Lakes, and major naval yards during the War of 1812. Nearly every type of vessel that operated on the Great Lakes during the historic period is represented in the area being considered for sanctuary designation. Based on historical records, 196 vessels may have sunk within the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie, and 35 of these shipwrecks have been identified. The known shipwrecks span from the 1838 steamboat Chesapeake to speedboats, tugs, barges, and workboats lost before 1940. The collection includes schooners, brigs, and barks; barges and schooner barges; dredges and sand suckers; fishing tugs and trawlers; and sidewheel steamboats and propellers. This area also includes the potential for submerged prehistoric sites and historic properties that may be of religious and cultural significance to Indigenous Nations and Tribes. Designation of a national marine sanctuary under the NMSA would allow NOAA to complement the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 May 18, 2023 Jkt 259001 efforts to preserve and interpret the area’s marine resources, including its collection of nationally significant historic shipwrecks and other underwater cultural resources. NOAA could use its research and monitoring assets to further locate, document, and monitor the area’s significant cultural resources, expand education and outreach to interpret sanctuary resources for the public, and promote the responsible use of sanctuary resources. Furthermore, a sanctuary has the potential to increase tourism and economic opportunities in local coastal communities. NOAA plans to establish a predesignation sanctuary advisory council to bring members of the local community together to provide advice to NOAA, to serve as a liaison with the nominating community, and to assist in guiding NOAA through the designation process. NOAA will publish additional information on the pre-designation Sanctuary Advisory Council at a later date. II. Items of Particular Interest During the Public Scoping Process While the public may comment on all matters viewed as relevant to the potential designation of a national marine sanctuary in Lake Erie, NOAA is requesting input on the following specific topics to help guide the scoping process: • boundary alternatives for the proposed sanctuary; • the location, nature, and value of the cultural and historical resources in the area under consideration; • specific threats to these resources; • information on the Indigenous heritage of the area; • the potential socioeconomic, cultural, and biological impacts resulting from designation as a national marine sanctuary; • the non-regulatory actions NOAA should prioritize within its draft management plan for the proposed sanctuary; • the regulatory framework most appropriate for management of the proposed sanctuary; • the benefits to the economy of the region, including promoting sustainable tourism and recreation; and • a permanent name for the proposed sanctuary. Comments may be submitted to NOAA by July 18, 2023 using the methods described in ADDRESSES. NOAA will host public scoping meetings during the public comment period, as described under DATES. PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32199 III. National Marine Sanctuary Designation Process The national marine sanctuary designation process includes the following well-established and highly participatory stages: 1. Public Scoping—Collection and characterization of initial public comments on the proposed designation; 2. Preparation of Draft Documents— Preparation and release of draft designation documents, including: a DEIS, prepared pursuant to NEPA, that identifies boundary and/or regulatory alternatives; a draft management plan; and a notice of proposed rulemaking to define proposed sanctuary regulations. Draft documents would be used to initiate consultations with Indigenous Nations and Tribes, Federal, State, and local agencies, and other interested parties, as appropriate; 3. Public Comment on Draft Documents—Through public meetings and in writing, allow for public review and comment on a DEIS, draft management plan, and notice of proposed rulemaking; 4. Preparation of Final Documents— Preparation and release of a final environmental impact statement (FEIS); final management plan, including a response to public comments; and a final rule. 5. Review Period—The sanctuary designation and regulations would take effect after the end of a review period of forty-five days of a continuous session of Congress. During this same period, should the designation include State waters, the Governor of the State has the opportunity to concurrently review the terms of designation including boundaries within State waters. IV. Development of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement In accordance with the NMSA, NOAA must draft an environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to NEPA when designating a new national marine sanctuary. The input gathered during the public scoping process is fundamental to NOAA’s development of a DEIS. A. Purpose and Need for Sanctuary Designation The NMSA directs NOAA to identify and designate as national marine sanctuaries areas of the marine and Great Lakes environments that are of special national significance, provide authority for comprehensive and coordinated conservation and management of these marine areas, and protect the resources of these areas. The purpose and need for the proposed E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1 32200 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 2023 / Notices action is to consider whether a sanctuary designation in the Lake Erie Quadrangle would fulfill the purposes and policies outlined in section 301(b) of the NMSA, 16 U.S.C. 1431(b), and meet the sanctuary designation standards in section 303 of the NMSA, 16 U.S.C. 1433. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 B. Preliminary Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives NOAA’s proposed action is to consider designating the Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary in accordance with the sanctuary designation process described in section 304 of the NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1434). Through the public scoping process and as part of the sanctuary designation process, NOAA will develop draft designation documents including a draft sanctuary management plan, proposed sanctuary regulations, and proposed terms of designation. The NEPA process for sanctuary designation will include preparation of a DEIS to consider alternatives and describe potential effects of the sanctuary designation on the human environment. A DEIS will evaluate a reasonable range of action alternatives that could include different options for management plan goals, sanctuary regulations, and potential boundaries. A DEIS will also consider a No Action Alternative, wherein NOAA would not designate a national marine sanctuary. C. Summary of Expected Impacts of Sanctuary Designation A DEIS will identify and describe the potential effects of the proposed action and reasonable alternatives on the human environment. Potential impacts may include, but are not limited to, impacts on the area’s biological and physical resources, including habitats, plants, birds, fish, and special status species; underwater cultural and historical resources; and human uses and socioeconomics of the area. Based on a preliminary evaluation of the resources listed above, NOAA expects potential positive impacts to the environment from enhanced protection of the area’s underwater cultural and historical resources; improved planning and coordination of research, monitoring, and management actions; reduced harmful human activities; and reduced threats and stressors to resources. D. Schedule for the Decision-Making Process NOAA expects to make a DEIS and other draft documents available to the public by winter 2024. NOAA expects to make a FEIS available to the public by VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 May 18, 2023 Jkt 259001 winter 2025. A Record of Decision will be issued no sooner than 30 days after the FEIS is made available to the public, in accordance with 40 CFR 1506.11. E. NEPA Lead and Cooperating Agency Roles NOAA is the lead Federal agency for the NEPA process for the proposed action. NOAA may invite other Federal agencies, or State, Tribal, or local agencies of similar qualifications to become cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS for the proposed action. NEPA regulations specify that a cooperating agency means any Federal agency (and a Tribal, State, or local agency with agreement of the lead agency) that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposal (or a reasonable alternative) (40 CFR 1508.1(e)). F. Anticipated Permits, Authorizations, and Consultations Federal permits, authorizations, or consultations may be required for the proposed action, including consultation or review under the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.; Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments); consistency review under the Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.; and possibly reviews under other laws and regulations determined to be applicable to the proposed action. To the fullest extent possible, NOAA will prepare a DEIS concurrently and integrate analyses required by other Federal environmental review requirements. A DEIS will list all Federal permits, licenses, and other authorizations that must be obtained in implementing the proposed action. 40 CFR 1502.24. V. Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Executive Order 13175 This notice confirms that NOAA will coordinate its responsibilities under section 106 of the NHPA during the sanctuary designation process and is soliciting public and stakeholder input to meet section 106 compliance requirements. The NHPA section 106 consultation process specifically applies to any agency undertaking that may affect historic properties. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.16(l)(1), historic properties include: ‘‘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 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Secretary of the Interior. This 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 that meet the National Register criteria.’’ This notice also confirms that, with respect to the proposed sanctuary designation process, NOAA will fulfill its responsibilities under Executive Order 13175, ‘‘Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,’’ and NOAA’s implementing policies and procedures. Executive Order 13175 requires Federal agencies to establish procedures for meaningful consultation and coordination with Tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have Tribal implications. NOAA implements Executive Order 13175 through NOAA Administrative Order 218–8 (Policy on Government-toGovernment Consultation with Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations), and the NOAA Tribal Consultation Handbook. Under these policies and procedures, NOAA offers government-to-government consultation at the earliest practicable time it can reasonably anticipate that a proposed policy or initiative may have Tribal implications. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR 1500–1508 (NEPA Implementing Regulations); NOAA Administrative Order 216–6A. John Armor, Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2023–10644 Filed 5–18–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XC982] Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery; Applications for Exempted Fishing Permits; 2023–2024 Fishing Year National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of receipt of application; request for comments. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32198-32200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10644]



[[Page 32198]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lake Erie Quadrangle 
National Marine Sanctuary

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold public scoping meetings and prepare a 
draft environmental impact statement; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) 
and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and based on the area's 
qualities and boundaries described in the community-based nomination on 
December 31, 2015 (https://nominate.noaa.gov/), NOAA is initiating a 
scoping process to consider designating a national marine sanctuary in 
the eastern Lake Erie adjacent to Pennsylvania. The nomination provides 
a description of the cultural and historical resources in the region, 
the potential benefits of a national marine sanctuary designation, 
recommendations for management of the sanctuary, and a proposed 
sanctuary boundary. As a first step in this scoping process, NOAA 
invites comments on the factors that will contribute to its 
determination of whether and how to designate the area as a national 
marine sanctuary. The results of this scoping process will inform 
NOAA's next steps in the designation process, which would include the 
preparation and release of draft designation documents, as well as the 
formulation of action alternatives for the draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS). This scoping process will also inform the initiation 
of consultations with Indigenous Nations and Tribes, Federal, State, 
and local agencies, and other interested parties, as appropriate. In 
support of the scoping process, the nomination package and additional 
information regarding the qualities of the Lake Erie Quadrangle area 
can be found at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-erie.

DATES: 
    Comments due: July 18, 2023.
    Public Meetings: NOAA will host three public meetings during the 
scoping process, two virtual and one in-person. The in-person scoping 
meeting will occur at the following day and time:
     Erie, Pennsylvania.
    Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
    Location: Erie County Public Library--Blasco.
    Address: H.O. Hirt Auditorium, 160 E Front St., Erie, PA 16507.
    Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
    The virtual public scoping meetings will occur at the following 
dates and times:
     Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
     Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time.
    Please check https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-erie for meeting 
links and the most up-to-date information, should plans for these 
public meetings change. NOAA may end a virtual or in-person meeting 
before the time noted above if all participants have concluded their 
oral comments.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number NOAA-
NOS-2023-0039, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ``NOAA-NOS-2023-0039'' in the Search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comment.
     Mail: Send any hard copy public comments by mail to: Ellen 
Brody, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 4840 South State 
Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Note the docket number at the top of the 
comment.
     Public Scoping Meetings: Provide oral comments during 
public scoping meetings, as described under DATES. Webinar registration 
details and additional information about how to participate in these 
virtual and in-person public scoping meetings is available at 
www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-erie.
    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 
https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personally identifiable 
information (for example, name, address), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the commenter will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept 
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to 
remain anonymous). Comments that are not responsive or contain 
profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language will not 
be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brody, (734) 741-2270, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background on the Area Under Consideration

    The National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended (NMSA), 16 U.S.C. 
1431 et seq., authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to 
designate and protect as national marine sanctuaries areas of the 
marine environment that are of special national significance due to 
their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, 
cultural, archeological, educational, or aesthetic qualities. A primary 
objective of the NMSA is to protect the resources of the National 
Marine Sanctuary System. Day-to-day management of national marine 
sanctuaries has been delegated by the Secretary to ONMS.
    In December 2015, Erie County, Pennsylvania, submitted a nomination 
to NOAA through the Sanctuary Nomination Process (79 FR 33851), 
proposing consideration of the Lake Erie Quadrangle as a national 
marine sanctuary to conserve its nationally significant underwater 
cultural and historical resources and to expand upon existing local and 
state efforts to study, interpret, and promote them. Along with support 
from the Governor of Pennsylvania, the nomination was endorsed by a 
diverse coalition of organizations and individuals at local, State, and 
national levels including elected officials, agencies, businesses, 
recreational users, local charters, academic organizations, tourism 
organizations, non-profit organizations, economic development 
organizations, historical societies, and education groups. In February 
2016, NOAA added the Lake Erie Quadrangle proposal to its inventory of 
successful nominations that are eligible for designation, and extended 
it on the inventory in March 2021 after a required five-year review of 
the nomination (87 FR 11049).
    NOAA is initiating the process to designate this area as a national 
marine sanctuary based primarily on the information included in the 
nomination. NOAA's goal in considering the designation of the Lake Erie 
Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary (LEQNMS) in Lake Erie is to 
recognize the national significance of the area's historical, 
archaeological, and cultural resources and to manage the area as part 
of the National Marine Sanctuary System. If

[[Page 32199]]

NOAA finalizes the designation, the agency would delineate the 
boundaries of the sanctuary; manage the area as a part of the National 
Marine Sanctuary System under NMSA; establish sanctuary regulations; 
and implement a management plan.
    The area being considered for designation as a national marine 
sanctuary in Lake Erie includes approximately 740 square miles (1917 
square kilometers) of lake waters and bottomlands. The area would be 
adjacent to approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) of coastline 
bordering Erie County, Pennsylvania, that extends westward to the Ohio 
state line, northward to the international border with Ontario, Canada, 
and eastward to the New York State line. The nomination proposes to 
exclude the Erie Port from the sanctuary boundaries to ensure 
compatible use with shipping and other commercial activities.
    This area represents a historically rich region where the long 
relationship between human activity and the maritime environment has 
created meaning and a sense of place, which is expressed and preserved 
in a wide variety of maritime cultural resources from sacred places and 
cultural practices to lighthouses and historic shipwrecks. Together, 
these tangible and intangible elements form a rich maritime cultural 
landscape. Lake Erie hosted one of the busiest waterways of the mid-
19th century. Pennsylvania supported the Great Lakes' largest 
commercial fishing fleet during the 19th century, some of the earliest 
shipbuilding on the Great Lakes, and major naval yards during the War 
of 1812.
    Nearly every type of vessel that operated on the Great Lakes during 
the historic period is represented in the area being considered for 
sanctuary designation. Based on historical records, 196 vessels may 
have sunk within the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie, and 35 of these 
shipwrecks have been identified. The known shipwrecks span from the 
1838 steamboat Chesapeake to speedboats, tugs, barges, and workboats 
lost before 1940. The collection includes schooners, brigs, and barks; 
barges and schooner barges; dredges and sand suckers; fishing tugs and 
trawlers; and sidewheel steamboats and propellers. This area also 
includes the potential for submerged prehistoric sites and historic 
properties that may be of religious and cultural significance to 
Indigenous Nations and Tribes.
    Designation of a national marine sanctuary under the NMSA would 
allow NOAA to complement the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's efforts to 
preserve and interpret the area's marine resources, including its 
collection of nationally significant historic shipwrecks and other 
underwater cultural resources. NOAA could use its research and 
monitoring assets to further locate, document, and monitor the area's 
significant cultural resources, expand education and outreach to 
interpret sanctuary resources for the public, and promote the 
responsible use of sanctuary resources. Furthermore, a sanctuary has 
the potential to increase tourism and economic opportunities in local 
coastal communities.
    NOAA plans to establish a pre-designation sanctuary advisory 
council to bring members of the local community together to provide 
advice to NOAA, to serve as a liaison with the nominating community, 
and to assist in guiding NOAA through the designation process. NOAA 
will publish additional information on the pre-designation Sanctuary 
Advisory Council at a later date.

II. Items of Particular Interest During the Public Scoping Process

    While the public may comment on all matters viewed as relevant to 
the potential designation of a national marine sanctuary in Lake Erie, 
NOAA is requesting input on the following specific topics to help guide 
the scoping process:
     boundary alternatives for the proposed sanctuary;
     the location, nature, and value of the cultural and 
historical resources in the area under consideration;
     specific threats to these resources;
     information on the Indigenous heritage of the area;
     the potential socioeconomic, cultural, and biological 
impacts resulting from designation as a national marine sanctuary;
     the non-regulatory actions NOAA should prioritize within 
its draft management plan for the proposed sanctuary;
     the regulatory framework most appropriate for management 
of the proposed sanctuary;
     the benefits to the economy of the region, including 
promoting sustainable tourism and recreation; and
     a permanent name for the proposed sanctuary.
    Comments may be submitted to NOAA by July 18, 2023 using the 
methods described in ADDRESSES. NOAA will host public scoping meetings 
during the public comment period, as described under DATES.

III. National Marine Sanctuary Designation Process

    The national marine sanctuary designation process includes the 
following well-established and highly participatory stages:
    1. Public Scoping--Collection and characterization of initial 
public comments on the proposed designation;
    2. Preparation of Draft Documents--Preparation and release of draft 
designation documents, including: a DEIS, prepared pursuant to NEPA, 
that identifies boundary and/or regulatory alternatives; a draft 
management plan; and a notice of proposed rulemaking to define proposed 
sanctuary regulations. Draft documents would be used to initiate 
consultations with Indigenous Nations and Tribes, Federal, State, and 
local agencies, and other interested parties, as appropriate;
    3. Public Comment on Draft Documents--Through public meetings and 
in writing, allow for public review and comment on a DEIS, draft 
management plan, and notice of proposed rulemaking;
    4. Preparation of Final Documents--Preparation and release of a 
final environmental impact statement (FEIS); final management plan, 
including a response to public comments; and a final rule.
    5. Review Period--The sanctuary designation and regulations would 
take effect after the end of a review period of forty-five days of a 
continuous session of Congress. During this same period, should the 
designation include State waters, the Governor of the State has the 
opportunity to concurrently review the terms of designation including 
boundaries within State waters.

IV. Development of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement

    In accordance with the NMSA, NOAA must draft an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) pursuant to NEPA when designating a new national 
marine sanctuary. The input gathered during the public scoping process 
is fundamental to NOAA's development of a DEIS.

A. Purpose and Need for Sanctuary Designation

    The NMSA directs NOAA to identify and designate as national marine 
sanctuaries areas of the marine and Great Lakes environments that are 
of special national significance, provide authority for comprehensive 
and coordinated conservation and management of these marine areas, and 
protect the resources of these areas. The purpose and need for the 
proposed

[[Page 32200]]

action is to consider whether a sanctuary designation in the Lake Erie 
Quadrangle would fulfill the purposes and policies outlined in section 
301(b) of the NMSA, 16 U.S.C. 1431(b), and meet the sanctuary 
designation standards in section 303 of the NMSA, 16 U.S.C. 1433.

B. Preliminary Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives

    NOAA's proposed action is to consider designating the Lake Erie 
Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary in accordance with the sanctuary 
designation process described in section 304 of the NMSA (16 U.S.C. 
1434). Through the public scoping process and as part of the sanctuary 
designation process, NOAA will develop draft designation documents 
including a draft sanctuary management plan, proposed sanctuary 
regulations, and proposed terms of designation. The NEPA process for 
sanctuary designation will include preparation of a DEIS to consider 
alternatives and describe potential effects of the sanctuary 
designation on the human environment. A DEIS will evaluate a reasonable 
range of action alternatives that could include different options for 
management plan goals, sanctuary regulations, and potential boundaries. 
A DEIS will also consider a No Action Alternative, wherein NOAA would 
not designate a national marine sanctuary.

C. Summary of Expected Impacts of Sanctuary Designation

    A DEIS will identify and describe the potential effects of the 
proposed action and reasonable alternatives on the human environment. 
Potential impacts may include, but are not limited to, impacts on the 
area's biological and physical resources, including habitats, plants, 
birds, fish, and special status species; underwater cultural and 
historical resources; and human uses and socioeconomics of the area. 
Based on a preliminary evaluation of the resources listed above, NOAA 
expects potential positive impacts to the environment from enhanced 
protection of the area's underwater cultural and historical resources; 
improved planning and coordination of research, monitoring, and 
management actions; reduced harmful human activities; and reduced 
threats and stressors to resources.

D. Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    NOAA expects to make a DEIS and other draft documents available to 
the public by winter 2024. NOAA expects to make a FEIS available to the 
public by winter 2025. A Record of Decision will be issued no sooner 
than 30 days after the FEIS is made available to the public, in 
accordance with 40 CFR 1506.11.

E. NEPA Lead and Cooperating Agency Roles

    NOAA is the lead Federal agency for the NEPA process for the 
proposed action. NOAA may invite other Federal agencies, or State, 
Tribal, or local agencies of similar qualifications to become 
cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS for the proposed 
action. NEPA regulations specify that a cooperating agency means any 
Federal agency (and a Tribal, State, or local agency with agreement of 
the lead agency) that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with 
respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposal (or a 
reasonable alternative) (40 CFR 1508.1(e)).

F. Anticipated Permits, Authorizations, and Consultations

    Federal permits, authorizations, or consultations may be required 
for the proposed action, including consultation or review under the 
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; National Historic 
Preservation Act (NHPA), 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.; Executive Order 
13175 (Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments); 
consistency review under the Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 
1451 et seq.; and possibly reviews under other laws and regulations 
determined to be applicable to the proposed action. To the fullest 
extent possible, NOAA will prepare a DEIS concurrently and integrate 
analyses required by other Federal environmental review requirements. A 
DEIS will list all Federal permits, licenses, and other authorizations 
that must be obtained in implementing the proposed action. 40 CFR 
1502.24.

V. Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act and Executive Order 13175

    This notice confirms that NOAA will coordinate its responsibilities 
under section 106 of the NHPA during the sanctuary designation process 
and is soliciting public and stakeholder input to meet section 106 
compliance requirements. The NHPA section 106 consultation process 
specifically applies to any agency undertaking that may affect historic 
properties. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.16(l)(1), historic properties 
include: ``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. This 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 that meet the National 
Register criteria.''
    This notice also confirms that, with respect to the proposed 
sanctuary designation process, NOAA will fulfill its responsibilities 
under Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and Coordination with 
Indian Tribal Governments,'' and NOAA's implementing policies and 
procedures. Executive Order 13175 requires Federal agencies to 
establish procedures for meaningful consultation and coordination with 
Tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have 
Tribal implications. NOAA implements Executive Order 13175 through NOAA 
Administrative Order 218-8 (Policy on Government-to-Government 
Consultation with Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native 
Corporations), and the NOAA Tribal Consultation Handbook. Under these 
policies and procedures, NOAA offers government-to-government 
consultation at the earliest practicable time it can reasonably 
anticipate that a proposed policy or initiative may have Tribal 
implications.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR 
1500-1508 (NEPA Implementing Regulations); NOAA Administrative Order 
216-6A.

John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-10644 Filed 5-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P


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